Job 38 6

Job 38:6 kjv

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

Job 38:6 nkjv

To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

Job 38:6 niv

On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?

Job 38:6 esv

On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,

Job 38:6 nlt

What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone

Job 38 verses

Job 38 6 Meaning

Job 38:6 presents two rhetorical questions posed by God to Job, challenging his understanding of the earth's creation. God asks by what means the earth's "foundations" were secured and who was responsible for laying its "cornerstone." These questions highlight God's sole, unchallenged, and infinitely wise agency in establishing the cosmos, asserting His unsearchable power and wisdom as the Earth's architect, contrasting sharply with human ignorance and inability.

Job 38 6 Context

Job chapter 38 marks a pivotal moment in the Book of Job, as God finally responds to Job's laments and challenges. After chapters of dialogue between Job and his friends, God speaks from a whirlwind, not directly addressing Job's suffering, but instead initiating a series of rhetorical questions designed to highlight Job's inherent limitations and God's absolute, unrivaled sovereignty and wisdom as the Creator. Verses 4-7 focus specifically on the initial cosmic creation. God brings Job's complaints about divine justice back to a foundational reality: human beings cannot comprehend the immense scale and meticulous detail of God's creative work, let alone question His governance of the universe. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures often described the earth's creation through mythological narratives involving cosmic battles or polytheistic deities cooperating. In stark contrast, Job 38 presents a monotheistic and omnipotent Creator God who single-handedly and effortlessly establishes order out of formlessness, without need for consultation or assistance, a clear polemic against contemporary polytheistic creation myths that featured chaotic origins or shared divine labor.

Job 38 6 Word analysis

• Whereupon: This introductory interrogative sets the stage, probing the very means, method, and support system by which such a monumental task—the establishment of the Earth—was achieved. It implicitly asks for Job's "architectural blueprint" for creation.
• are the foundations: The Hebrew term is adōneyhā (אֲדָנֶיהָ), meaning "its bases," "sockets," or "pedestals." This signifies the deep, stable, underlying supports that give the Earth its permanence. It is not a surface-level structure, but something firmly rooted. The ancient world conceived of foundations as deep pillars or bases preventing the earth from sinking into primordial waters.
• thereof fastened? / were its bases sunk?: The verb is yutabāʿu (יֻטַּבָּעוּ), meaning "sunk," "immersed," or "embedded." This emphasizes the profound security, the deliberate and permanent setting of the foundations, not merely placed on the surface. It speaks of divine precision and the enduring stability of God's work against any chaotic forces.
• or who: This emphasizes the singular agent of creation, implying that there could be no one else. It challenges Job to name an accomplice or an overseer. It highlights God's exclusive, unmatched power.
• laid: The verb is yārāh (יָרָה), to cast, to throw, but in this context implies a deliberate, precise placement. It's the act of the cosmic architect establishing the primary and essential component.
• the corner stone: The Hebrew phrase is even pinnātāh (אֶבֶן פִּנָּתָהּ), literally "the stone of its corner." In ancient architecture, the cornerstone was the first, most crucial stone laid at the corner of a building, ensuring its alignment, stability, and integrity. It dictates the direction and strength of the entire structure. Metaphorically, it represents the foundational truth or principle upon which everything else rests, signifying supreme importance and initial authority in construction.

Words-group analysis

• "Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened?": This rhetorical question inquires about the physical and metaphysical underpinnings of creation. It presses Job to articulate the modus operandi and the source of stability for the vast, self-sustaining earth, highlighting the divine, unfathomable engineering involved beyond any human comprehension or capability.
• "or who laid the corner stone thereof?": This question points to the ultimate Authority and the Master Designer behind creation. It focuses on the initial, defining act that set the blueprint for the entire cosmos. By asking "who," God underscores that this ultimate act was His alone, without external counsel, competition, or assistance, cementing His absolute sovereignty as the sole cosmic architect.

Job 38 6 Bonus section

The anthropomorphic language of building, complete with "foundations" and a "cornerstone," helps Job (and us) to grasp God's creative work by comparing it to something understandable, albeit on an infinitely larger and more complex scale. This divine "architectural blueprint" implies not only power but also intricate design, purpose, and pre-meditation. The "cornerstone" imagery, especially, is rich with theological significance beyond its literal architectural sense, being later applied prophetically to the Messiah, Christ Jesus, as the spiritual foundation of God's ultimate kingdom and His Church. Thus, the foundational work begun in Job 38:6 in cosmic creation finds its spiritual consummation in Christ's salvific work. This passage also stands in polemic contrast to ancient Near Eastern creation myths that often depicted the world emerging from chaos through conflict or the cooperative labor of many deities. Here, God alone is the unquestioned, sole Builder, bringing order out of nothingness with unchallenged wisdom and power, without struggle or help.

Job 38 6 Commentary

Job 38:6 serves as a profound interrogation from the Divine Architect to a limited human being. God's questions about the "foundations" and the "cornerstone" of the earth are not seeking information, but rather aiming to expose Job's vast ignorance concerning cosmic architecture and control. Every human structure, no matter how grand, relies on identifiable foundations and an appointed cornerstone; yet, for the entire earth, no human, not even the wise Job, was present at its founding or understood its underlying supports. This verse succinctly underscores God's singular omnipotence and omniscient wisdom in creation, depicting Him as the ultimate builder who precisely and securely established the entire world without assistance. The implication is clear: if Job cannot comprehend how the physical world was made or who was its architect, how can he possibly understand or challenge God's ways concerning justice and human suffering? This verse thus invites humanity to humble awe before the Creator, reminding us that ultimate wisdom and power belong to God alone, establishing a cosmic order far beyond our capacity to replicate or even fully grasp.