Job 38:13

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Job 38:13 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

King James Version KJV

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

American Standard Version ASV

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

Bible in Basic English BBE

So that it might take a grip of the skirts of the earth, shaking all the evil-doers out of it?

Free Bible Version FBV

Have you ever told the dawn where to appear that it might take hold of the corners of the earth and shake the wicked out?

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

That it might take hold of the corners of the earth, and that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

Young's Literal Translation YLT

To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,

World English Bible WEB

that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?

Noah Webster Bible WBS

That it might take hold of the ends of earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking them, and hast thou shaken the ungodly out of it?

Translation for Translators T4T

Have you ever told the dawn to spread out over the whole earth, with the result that wicked people run away from the light?

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Job 38:13

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 38:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB לֶ֭/אֱחֹז בְּ/כַנְפ֣וֹת הָ/אָ֑רֶץ וְ/יִנָּעֲר֖וּ רְשָׁ מִמֶּֽ/נָּה

לֶ֭/אֱחֹז ʼâchaz H270 to grasp Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a

בְּ/כַנְפ֣וֹת kânâph H3671 wing Prep | N-fp

הָ/אָ֑רֶץ ʼerets H776 land Art | N-cs

וְ/יִנָּעֲר֖וּ nâʻar H5287 to shake Conj | V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp

רְשָׁ râshâʻ H7563 wicked Adj

מִמֶּֽ/נָּה min H4480 from Prep | Suff

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 38:13

לֶ֭/אֱחֹז ʼâchaz H270 "to grasp" Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a

The Hebrew word means to grasp or take hold of something, often holding it in possession. It can also mean to be caught or settled. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, including in the books of Exodus and Psalms.

Definition: 1) grasp, take hold, seize, take possession 1a) (Qal) to grasp, take hold of 1b) (Niphal) to be caught, grasped, be settled 1c) (Piel) to enclose, overlay 1d) (Hophal) fastened

Usage: Occurs in 63 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion). See also: Genesis 22:13; Nehemiah 7:3; Psalms 48:7.

בְּ/כַנְפ֣וֹת kânâph H3671 "wing" Prep | N-fp

The Hebrew word for wing, used to describe the edge or extremity of something, like a bird's wing or the corner of a garment. It appears in the Bible to describe various objects and locations, including the wing of a bird.

Definition: 1) wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt 1a) wing 1b) extremity 1b1) skirt, corner (of garment)

Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] bird, border, corner, end, feather(-ed), [idiom] flying, [phrase] (one an-) other, overspreading, [idiom] quarters, skirt, [idiom] sort, uttermost part, wing(-ed). See also: Genesis 1:21; Psalms 139:9; Psalms 17:8.

הָ/אָ֑רֶץ ʼerets H776 "land" Art | N-cs

The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.

Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.

וְ/יִנָּעֲר֖וּ nâʻar H5287 "to shake" Conj | V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp

To shake or tremble is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which is used in various forms throughout the Old Testament. It can describe physical shaking, like an earthquake, or emotional turmoil. The prophet Isaiah used this word to describe God's judgment.

Definition: 1) to shake, shake out or off 1a) (Qal) to shake out, show emptiness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be shaken 1b2) to shake oneself 1c) (Piel) to shake off or out 1d) (Hithpael) to shake oneself

Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: shake (off, out, self), overthrow, toss up and down. See also: Exodus 14:27; Psalms 109:23; Psalms 136:15.

רְשָׁ râshâʻ H7563 "wicked" Adj

This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.

Definition: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. See also: Genesis 18:23; Psalms 101:8; Psalms 1:1.

מִמֶּֽ/נָּה min H4480 "from" Prep | Suff

This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.

Definition: prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

Usage: Occurs in 1094 OT verses. KJV: above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 16:32; Leviticus 14:26.

Study Notes — Job 38:13

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Job 38:13 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Job 38:13
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 38:13
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 38:13
Trapp's Commentary on Job 38:13
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 38:13
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 38:13
Cambridge Bible on Job 38:13
Barnes' Notes on Job 38:13
Whedon's Commentary on Job 38:13
Sermons on Job 38:13

Context — The LORD Challenges Job

11and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’? 12In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place,

13that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

14The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its hills stand out like the folds of a garment. 15Light is withheld from the wicked, and their upraised arm is broken.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Psalms 104:35	May sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!
2	Job 37:3	He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
3	Exodus 14:27	So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea.
4	Job 24:13–17	Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths. When daylight is gone, the murderer rises to kill the poor and needy; in the night he is like a thief. The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face. In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light. For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!
5	Psalms 139:9–12	If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.
6	Psalms 104:21–22	The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they withdraw; they lie down in their dens.
7	Psalms 19:4–6	their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course, it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Job 38:13 Summary

This verse is talking about God's power and control over the earth, and how He desires to remove wickedness from it. It's like when you clean your room and get rid of all the things that are messy and bad - God wants to do the same thing with the earth. As it says in Psalm 24:1, 'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it', and God is the one who establishes and maintains order, as seen in Jeremiah 31:35-37. This means that we can trust in God's sovereignty and control over the world, and look forward to the day when He will create a new heaven and a new earth, as described in Revelation 21:1-4.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean for the earth to 'spread to the ends of the earth' in Job 38:13?

This phrase refers to the idea of the earth being fully established and stabilized by God, allowing it to reach its full extent and purpose, as seen in Psalm 104:5 and Isaiah 40:22.

Who are the 'wicked' being shaken out of the earth in this verse?

The 'wicked' refer to those who reject God and live in rebellion against Him, as described in Psalm 1:1-6 and Proverbs 10:30, and God's desire is to remove them from the earth, as seen in Psalm 37:9-10.

Is this verse talking about a specific event or a general principle?

This verse appears to be talking about God's general principle of establishing and maintaining order on the earth, as seen in Jeremiah 31:35-37, rather than a specific event or catastrophe.

How does this verse relate to God's sovereignty over creation?

This verse highlights God's sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His power and control over the earth and its inhabitants, as seen in Job 38:1-7 and Psalm 103:19.

Reflection Questions

What does it mean for God to 'shake the wicked out of' the earth, and how does this relate to my own life and relationship with God?
In what ways can I see God's power and control over the earth in my daily life, and how can I trust in His sovereignty?
How does this verse challenge or comfort me in my understanding of God's role in the world, and what does it mean for my faith?
What are some ways that I can 'spread' God's love and truth to the ends of the earth, as described in Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20?

Gill's Exposition on Job 38:13

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,.... As when the morning light springs forth, it quickly does, reaching in a short time the extreme part of the hemisphere; which, and what goes

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 38:13

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; Passing from creation to phenomena in the existing inanimate world. Verse 12. Hast thou - as God daily does.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 38:13

That this morning light should in a moment spread itself over the face of the whole earth, from one end of the hemisphere to the other. Shaken out of it, from the face of the earth. And this effect the morning light hath upon the wicked, partly because it discovers them, and drives them into their lurking holes; whereas the darkness hides them, and draws them forth, and gives them opportunity to execute their villanies without observation, ; and partly because it brings them to condign punishment, the morning being the most fit and the most usual time for executing judgment; of which see .

Trapp's Commentary on Job 38:13

Job 38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?Ver. 13. That it might take hold of the ends of the earth] That is, suddenly illighten the whole horizon; for which cause also David ascribeth wings to the morning, Psalms 139:9, so that the light is not a body, nor, as some will have it, a substance, but an accident. The truth is, no man can tell what it is of any certainty; an admirable creature it is, surely a divine and heavenly thing, than which nothing is more desirable, nothing more profitable. Two excellent uses of it are here set forth: 1. To refresh men by the sight of the earth, and the things thereon. 2. To set us upon serious employment, such as is the punishment of evil doers, for so some interpret those next words. That the wicked might be shaken out of it?] sc. By banishment, or rather by death, inflicted upon them in the light, for their deeds of darkness. Or, at least, that those Lucifugae, tenebriones, those inauspicate night birds, who hate the light, because their works are evil, might be shamed and shunned. Their motto is, Iam lux inimica propinquat (Virg.). See Job 24:13; Job 24:17.

Ellicott's Commentary on Job 38:13

(13) Shaken out of it.—The figure is that of a man shaking a cloth (Job 24:15-17).

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 38:13

Verse 13. That the wicked might be shaken out of it?] The meaning appears to be this: as soon as the light begins to dawn upon the earth, thieves, assassins, murderers, and adulterers, who all hate and shun the light, fly like ferocious beasts to their several dens and hiding places; for such do not dare to come to the light, lest their works be manifest, which are not wrought in God. To this verse the fifteenth appears to belong, as it connects immediately with it, which connection the introduction of the fourteenth verse disturbs. "And from the wicked," such as are mentioned above "their light is withholden;" they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; and as they prowl after their prey in the night-season, they are obliged to sleep in the day, and thus its "light is withholden" from them. "And the high arm shall be broken;" or, as Mr. Good translates, "The roving of wickedness is broken off." They can no longer pursue their predatory and injurious excursions.

Cambridge Bible on Job 38:13

13. ends of the earth] lit. skirts or wings of the earth. The figure is beautiful; the dawn as it pours forth along the whole horizon, on both sides of the beholder, lays hold of the borders of the earth, over which night lay like a covering; and seizing this covering by its extremities it shakes the wicked out of it. The wicked flee from the light. The dawn is not a physical phenomenon merely, it is a moral agent.

Barnes' Notes on Job 38:13

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth - Margin, as in Hebrew “wings.” Wings are in the Scriptures frequently given to the earth, because it seems to be spread out, and the expression refers to its extremities.

Whedon's Commentary on Job 38:13

13. Ends of the earth — See note on Job 37:3. Daylight, as it chases evil-doers back to their hiding places, seems “to take hold of the carpet of the earth, as it were, by the edges,” and shake from it the wicked.

Sermons on Job 38:13

	Sermon	Description
	(Exodus) Exodus 14:13-16 by J. Vernon McGee	In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. He emphasizes that it is God who works on their behalf and they simply need to a
	(Exodus) Exodus 14:26-31 by J. Vernon McGee	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the miraculous nature of the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea. He highlights that this event was a demonstration of God's power and a fulf
	On Through the Darkness by Mary Wilder Tileston	Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the importance of trusting in the Lord and waiting patiently for Him, even when the way seems dark. She emphasizes the need to bring our unwilli
	A Conscience Void of Offence by Hans R. Waldvogel	In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the authority of Jesus and his ability to demand a wholehearted surrender from believers. He uses the example of Jesus driving out the mone
	The Everlasting Arms by J.R. Miller	J.R. Miller emphasizes the comforting promise that 'the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,' illustrating how God's promises are timeless and appli
	The Eagle and Her Young by J.C. Philpot	J.C. Philpot preaches about God's tender care and guidance over His people, using the analogy of an eagle caring for her young. He emphasizes how God finds His people in a spiritua
	We Are Not Orphans by A.W. Tozer	A.W. Tozer emphasizes that Christian believers are not orphans, as they are guided by the divine Shepherd who leads them on a purposeful journey. He addresses a reader's inquiry ab