Job 37:16
Job 37:16 in Multiple Translations
Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Have you knowledge of the balancings of the clouds, the wonders of him who has all wisdom?
Do you know how clouds float in the sky—the wonderful work of him who knows everything.
Hast thou knowen the varietie of the cloude, and the wonderous workes of him, that is perfite in knowledge?
Dost thou know the balancings of a cloud? The wonders of the Perfect in knowledge?
Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Knowest thou the great paths of the clouds, and the perfect knowledges?
Only God knows everything perfectly; so ◄do you know how he causes the clouds to <move/float> <amazingly/wonderfully> across the sky?/you certainly do not know how he causes the clouds to <move/float> <amazingly/wonderfully> across the sky!► [RHQ]
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 37:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 37:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הֲ֭/תֵדַע
עַל
מִפְלְשֵׂי
עָ֑ב
מִ֝פְלְא֗וֹת
תְּמִ֣ים
דֵּעִֽים
הֲ֭/תֵדַע
yâdaʻ
H3045
to know
Part | V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
מִפְלְשֵׂי
miphlâs
H4657
swaying
N-mp
עָ֑ב
ʻâb
H5645
cloud
N-cs
מִ֝פְלְא֗וֹת
miphlâʼâh
H4652
wonder
N-fp
תְּמִ֣ים
tâmîym
H8549
unblemished
Adj
דֵּעִֽים
dêaʻ
H1843
knowledge
N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 37:16
הֲ֭/תֵדַע
yâdaʻ
H3045
"to know"
Part | V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) 1e1) to be known 1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle) 1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare 1g) (Hophal) to be made known 1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Usage: Occurs in 874 OT verses. KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. See also: Genesis 3:5; Leviticus 5:4; Judges 21:12.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
מִפְלְשֵׂי
miphlâs
H4657
"swaying"
N-mp
This word describes the act of swaying or balancing something. It is used in the Bible to describe the delicate balance of life. The book of Proverbs talks about balancing different aspects of life.
Definition: swaying, poising, balancing
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: balancing. See also: Job 37:16.
עָ֑ב
ʻâb
H5645
"cloud"
N-cs
In the Bible, this word means a dark cloud or a thicket, often used to describe a place of refuge or a sign of God's presence, as seen in 2 Chronicles 4:17. It can also refer to a cloudy or thick atmosphere. The word is used to describe natural phenomena and is found in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) darkness, cloud, thicket 1a) dark cloud 1b) cloud mass 1c) thicket (as refuge)
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: clay, (thick) cloud, [idiom] thick, thicket. Compare H5672 (עֲבִי). See also: Exodus 19:9; Psalms 18:13; Psalms 18:12.
מִ֝פְלְא֗וֹת
miphlâʼâh
H4652
"wonder"
N-fp
This word means a miracle or amazing work, like the wonders God performed in the book of Exodus. It describes something that inspires awe and wonder, showing God's power and might.
Definition: wondrous work
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: wondrous work. See also: Job 37:16.
תְּמִ֣ים
tâmîym
H8549
"unblemished"
Adj
This Hebrew word means unblemished or perfect, like an animal without defects. It describes something or someone that is whole and complete, like the sacrifices in Leviticus. It is used to describe integrity and truth.
Definition: : unblemished/perfect 1) complete, whole, entire, sound 1a) complete, whole, entire 1b) whole, sound, healthful 1c) complete, entire (of time) 1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity 1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)
Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole. See also: Genesis 6:9; Deuteronomy 18:13; Psalms 15:2.
דֵּעִֽים
dêaʻ
H1843
"knowledge"
N-mp
This word means knowledge or opinion, referring to God's understanding or human judgment. It is used to describe God's knowledge and human perspectives.
Definition: 1) knowledge, opinion 1a) God's knowledge 1b) judgment, opinion
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: knowledge, opinion. See also: Job 32:6; Job 32:17; Job 37:16.
Study Notes — Job 37:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 37:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 37:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 37:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 37:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 37:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 37:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 37:16
- Cambridge Bible on Job 37:16
- Barnes' Notes on Job 37:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 37:16
- Sermons on Job 37:16
Context — Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
14Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.
15Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?
16Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind, 18can you, like Him, spread out the skies, as strong as a mirror of bronze?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 36:4 | For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you. |
| 2 | Proverbs 3:19–20 | The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew. |
| 3 | Isaiah 40:22 | He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 10:12–13 | The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses. |
| 5 | Job 36:29 | Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion? |
| 6 | Psalms 104:24 | How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. |
| 7 | Psalms 104:2–3 | He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent, laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind. |
| 8 | Psalms 147:5 | Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. |
| 9 | Job 26:8 | He wraps up the waters in His clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their own weight. |
Job 37:16 Summary
This verse, Job 37:16, asks us to consider the amazing way clouds float in the air, which shows us how perfectly God knows and controls everything (as also seen in Jeremiah 32:17). It's like looking at a beautiful painting and realizing the skill of the artist. Just as the clouds float effortlessly, God works wonders in our lives, and we can trust in His perfect knowledge and care (like in Psalm 103:19). By focusing on God's wonders, we can grow in our appreciation and reverence for Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the clouds floating in Job 37:16?
The floating clouds represent the wonders of God's perfect knowledge, highlighting His power and majesty, as seen in Job 37:16 and also in Psalm 104:3 where it says He lays the beams of His upper chambers on the waters.
How does this verse relate to God's character?
This verse showcases God's perfect knowledge, emphasizing His omniscience and wisdom, which is also reflected in Romans 11:33 and Psalm 147:5.
What can we learn from the clouds in this context?
The clouds symbolize the mysterious and wonderful works of God, reminding us to trust in His sovereignty and provision, as expressed in Matthew 6:26 and Psalm 37:5.
Why is it important to consider the clouds as wonders of God?
Reflecting on the clouds as wonders of God helps us cultivate a sense of awe, reverence, and humility, recognizing our limitations and God's greatness, as seen in Isaiah 40:28 and Job 42:3.
Reflection Questions
- How does contemplating the floating clouds affect my perception of God's power and wisdom?
- In what ways can I apply the concept of God's perfect knowledge to my daily life and challenges?
- What are some personal experiences where I have witnessed God's wonders, similar to the floating clouds?
- How can I balance the awareness of my limitations with the trust in God's sovereignty, as implied in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Job 37:16
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds?.... How those ponderous bodies, as some of them are very weighty, full of water, are poised, and hang in the air, without turning this way or the other,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 37:16
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 37:16
The balancings; how God doth as it were weigh and suspend the clouds in balances; so that although they are ponderous and flail of water, yet they are by his power kept up in the thin air from falling down upon us in spouts and floods, as sometimes they have done, and generally would do, if not overruled by a higher Providence. Which is perfect in knowledge; who exactly knows the weight. These are effects and evidences of his infinite power and knowledge.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 37:16
Job 37:16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?Ver. 16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds?] i.e. How they are hung up even in the air, like Architas’ or Archimedes’ pigeon, equally poised with their own weight. But how they are upheld, and why they fall here, and now, we know not, and wonder. Some naturalists tell us that the clouds are upheld by the heat of the sun but that is more than they can tell, and there is much to be said against it. Wherefore it is better for men to confess their ignorance than so peremptorily to pronounce things they know not. Let it be proper to God to be perfect in knowledge. It was too much that some ascribed to Tertullian, to Jerome, to Tostatus, and some others, that they knew all that was knowable.
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 37:16
(16) The balancings of the clouds.—How they are poised and suspended in the sky. “Ye clouds, that far above me float and pause.”—Coleridge.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 37:16
Verse 16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds] How are the clouds suspended in the atmosphere? Art thou so well acquainted with the nature of evaporation, and the gravity of the air at different heights, to support different weights of aqueous vapour, so as to keep them floating for a certain portion of time, and then let them down to water the earth; dost thou know these things so as to determine the laws by which they are regulated? Wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge] This is a paraphrase. Mr. Good's translation is much better: - "Wonders, perfections of wisdom!"
Cambridge Bible on Job 37:16
16. the balancings] That is, how the clouds are poised in the heavens (comp. ch. Job 26:8), which Elihu regards as an unspeakable marvel.
Barnes' Notes on Job 37:16
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds? - That is, Dost thou know how the clouds are poised and suspended in the air?
Whedon's Commentary on Job 37:16
16. The balancings of the clouds — The suspension of the clouds in the atmosphere, especially those freighted with rain, has not yet been satisfactorily explained. Dr. Samuel Clarke has a sermon in loc.
Sermons on Job 37:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Attributes of God (Series 2): The Omniscience of God by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher uses the analogy of a cracked piece of glass being transformed into a beautiful piece of art to illustrate how God can turn our brokenness into somethi |
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(Through the Bible) Job 31-37 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about an interesting individual who was obsessed with timing everything. It is later revealed that this person was a bank robber and had |
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Attributes of God (Series 2): The Infinite Wisdom of God by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses how God, in His wisdom, has allowed the world to be under occupation by foreign soldiers. The preacher uses the book of Romans to explain tha |
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Our Awesome God - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | This sermon delves into the profound wisdom and knowledge of God as revealed in Romans 11, emphasizing the intricate design and balance in creation that sustains life on Earth. It |
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Recovery of the Lords Name - Part 4 of 6 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Gideon from the book of Judges and relates it to the letter to the Philippians. The preacher emphasizes that God calls specific |
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Hope for the Fallen by Shane Idleman | Shane Idleman delivers a powerful message titled 'Hope for the Fallen,' emphasizing that falling is not the end, but rather the failure to rise again is what truly harms us. He enc |
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June 8. 1678. the Seat of the Beast Became the Throne of the Lamb. by Jane Lead | Jane Lead preaches about the manifestation of God's power and wisdom through the Holy Spirit, transforming the hearts of believers to be the throne of the Lamb. She emphasizes the |