Job 37

1 “Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.

2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.

3 He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

4 After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

6 For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

7 He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.

8 Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.

9 Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.

11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.

12 It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,

13 whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

14 “Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

16 Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

17 You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

18 Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?

19 Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.

20 Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

21 Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.

22 Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

23 We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.

24 Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”

Around Job 37

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

About Job as a whole · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this book is about

The storm comes at last. After chapters of grief, argument and silence from heaven, the LORD answers Job “out of the whirlwind”. He does not explain. He asks: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”

How Job got there is the rest of the book. He is a good man who loses his children, his wealth and his health. Three friends come to comfort him and end up arguing that he must have sinned to suffer so much. Job insists he has not, and demands an answer from God.

A younger man, Elihu, adds his view. Then God speaks, not with an explanation but with questions about the making and running of the world. Job is humbled. God says that Job spoke rightly and the friends did not, and Job is restored.

Background

The story is set in the land of Uz, outside Israel, in a time that resembles the age of Abraham. Its author and date are unknown. The opening and closing are prose; everything between is poetry, some of the most demanding in the Bible.

How Christians read it

The book rejects the idea that suffering is always punishment for sin, without offering a full account of why people suffer. Readers differ on what God's answer means: a rebuke, a comfort, or an invitation to trust a wisdom larger than our own. The accuser in the opening chapters is understood by most Christian tradition as Satan; the Hebrew uses the word as a title. James 5:11 holds up Job as an example of endurance.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 19 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes