Job 38 7

Job 38:7 kjv

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:7 nkjv

When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:7 niv

while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

Job 38:7 esv

when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:7 nlt

as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

Job 38 verses

Job 38 7 Meaning

Job 38:7 describes a sublime moment during creation when heavenly beings responded with immense joy and praise to God's divine work. It paints a picture of a universe inaugurated with order and purpose, witnessed and celebrated by the celestial host. This verse highlights the profound harmony and inherent goodness of God's original creation.

Job 38 7 Context

Job 38:7 is part of God's thunderous first speech to Job (chapters 38-39) delivered out of a whirlwind. For the first 37 chapters, Job and his friends have been debating the nature of suffering and divine justice, with Job demanding an explanation from God. In this speech, God responds not by directly addressing Job's complaints or offering justifications, but by confronting Job's ignorance and demonstrating His infinite wisdom, power, and sovereign control over creation.

God challenges Job with a series of rhetorical questions about the natural world, probing Job's knowledge of the earth's foundations, the seas, light, darkness, weather, and the creatures. Job 38:7 specifically refers to the moment the foundations of the earth were laid, setting a scene of creation in its primeval state. The immediate context of verse 6 asks, "On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone?" This sets the stage for the glorious and harmonious response of the "morning stars" and "sons of God," emphasizing that while Job was absent and powerless at creation, heavenly beings witnessed and celebrated God's mighty acts. The historical context reflects ancient Near Eastern understanding of cosmos and deities, often contrasted by the singular, sovereign, and benevolent God of Israel who creates with wisdom and is worshipped by a loyal heavenly court, unlike the often chaotic or malevolent deities of surrounding cultures.

Job 38 7 Word analysis

• when: (Hebrew: בְּ, be, meaning "in" or "when"). Establishes the temporal setting for the joyous event, anchoring it firmly in the very moment of creation's genesis.
• the morning stars: (Hebrew: כּוֹכְבֵי בֹקֶר, kokhve boker - literally "stars of morning"). This phrase is highly metaphorical. It denotes radiant, glorious celestial bodies that appear at the dawn of creation. The most prevalent interpretation among biblical scholars and early Jewish thought is that "morning stars" here refers to angelic beings. They are seen as luminous, watchful entities, often associated with light and revelation, actively involved in the celestial realm. Some interpretations link them to divine planning or council.
• sang together: (Hebrew: רָנוּ יַחַד, ranu yachad).
  • רָנוּ (ranu): From the verb רָנַן (ranan), meaning "to utter a ringing cry," "shout for joy," "rejoice loudly," or "sing." It conveys a loud, exultant, and unrestrained expression of happiness and triumph.
  • יַחַד (yachad): Meaning "together," "as one," "united." Emphasizes the harmony, unity, and shared exhilaration among these heavenly beings in their collective praise.
• and all the sons of God: (Hebrew: וְכָל-בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים, ve'khol bene Elohim).
  • כָל (khol): "All," signifying the entire, complete multitude or assembly.
  • בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים (bene Elohim): This precise phrase translates to "sons of God." In the Old Testament, particularly in Job, this consistently refers to heavenly beings, angelic host, or members of God's divine council (e.g., Job 1:6, 2:1, Ps 29:1). They are distinct from human beings and were present prior to the creation of the physical world as we know it.
• shouted for joy: (Hebrew: יִצְהֲלוּ, yitzhalu). From the verb צָהַל (tzahal), meaning "to neigh" (of a horse), or, in human/spiritual context, "to shout triumphantly," "to cheer loudly," "to exult." This parallel with "sang together" reinforces the intensity and volume of their joyful acclamation. It depicts a triumphant, almost boisterous, outburst of celebratory noise.

Words-group analysis:

• "the morning stars" and "all the sons of God": This pairing suggests either two distinct groups of heavenly beings participating in the same joyful event, or, more commonly, that "morning stars" is a poetic or metaphorical designation for the "sons of God" themselves. In either case, it points to the entire heavenly realm or God's celestial court. Their presence highlights the pre-existence of these beings before human creation, serving as celestial witnesses to the grandeur of God's initial work.
• "sang together" and "shouted for joy": These phrases form a powerful poetic parallelism, characteristic of Hebrew poetry. They are not merely synonyms but intensify the description of joyous celebration. "Singing" evokes harmonious praise, while "shouting" suggests an uncontainable outburst of elation. Together, they convey a universal and vociferous acknowledgment of the majesty and wonder of God's creative act, setting the cosmic stage with sounds of triumphant approval. This implies creation was a source of profound delight not only for the Creator but also for His spiritual household.

Job 38 7 Bonus section

The profound image of celestial beings celebrating creation's dawn serves as a theological counter-narrative to many ancient Near Eastern myths that depicted creation arising from chaotic struggles, conflict among gods, or as an incidental byproduct. Job 38:7 clearly posits a sovereign, unified God who creates purposefully, with design, and who is joyously worshipped by His heavenly host from the very outset. This accentuates the unparalleled order and deliberate intent of the biblical creation account. The phrase "sons of God" is pivotal for understanding the composition of the divine council, not merely as mythological elements but as real spiritual beings within God's administration of His creation, emphasizing their pre-existent state and integral role as observers and worshippers of the Almighty.

Job 38 7 Commentary

Job 38:7 offers a majestic glimpse into the cosmic celebration that accompanied God's laying the earth's foundations. This verse, presented within God's challenging discourse to Job, profoundly underscores the Creator's incomprehensible wisdom and power. By recalling a moment where even the most ancient and glorious celestial beings burst forth in unified praise, God demonstrates that His creative act was not a silent, obscure event but a glorious spectacle. The "morning stars" and "sons of God" — identified as angelic beings or the heavenly host — represent intelligent, spiritual witnesses to divine wisdom and craftsmanship. Their collective song and shouts of joy confirm the intrinsic goodness, beauty, and order of God's original creation, asserting that the universe, from its very inception, was met with joyous divine approval from its celestial audience. This refutes any notion of creation as haphazard or a result of conflict, presenting instead a harmonious symphony of divine command and spiritual adoration. The verse ultimately serves to humble Job by contrasting his limited human perspective with God's profound, foundational acts, understood and celebrated even by the earliest witnesses of the cosmos.