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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/38-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/18_Job_38_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 38:1 - God Challenges Job" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/job/38-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/job/38-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/job/">Job</a> > <a href="/job/38.htm">Chapter 38</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/37-24.htm" title="Job 37:24">◄</a> Job 38:1 <a href="/job/38-2.htm" title="Job 38:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/38.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/38.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/38.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/38.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/38.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/38.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/38.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/38.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/38.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/38.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/38.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/38.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/38.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/38.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind. He said: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/38.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/38.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />From out of a storm, the LORD said to Job: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/38.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/38.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/38.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then out of the storm the LORD spoke to Job. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/38.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD responded to Job from the whirlwind and said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/38.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/38.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/38.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/38.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/38.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/38.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And YHWH answers Job out of the whirlwind and says:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/38.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: -- <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/38.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jehovah will answer Job from the whirlwind, and he will say,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/38.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind, and said : <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/38.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But the Lord, responding to Job from a whirlwind, said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/38.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/38.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/38.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/38.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And LORD JEHOVAH answered and said to Job from a hurricane:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/38.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/38.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, <i>saying</i>,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/38-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=5860" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/38.htm">God Challenges Job</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">Then the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: way·ya·‘an- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To answer, respond.">answered</a> <a href="/hebrew/347.htm" title="347: ’î·yō·wḇ (N-proper-ms) -- A patriarch. From 'ayab; hated; Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience.">Job</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: min (Prep) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">out of</a> <a href="/hebrew/5591.htm" title="5591: has·sə·ʿå̄·rå̄h (Art:: N-fs) -- A hurricane. Or ctarah; from ca'ar; a hurricane.">the whirlwind</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and said:</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/19-9.htm">Exodus 19:9</a></span><br />The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/33-11.htm">Exodus 33:11</a></span><br />Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/19-11.htm">1 Kings 19:11-13</a></span><br />Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. / After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. / When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/18-13.htm">Psalm 18:13</a></span><br />The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/29-3.htm">Psalm 29:3-9</a></span><br />The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters. / The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. / The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-3.htm">Psalm 104:3</a></span><br />laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/66-6.htm">Isaiah 66:6</a></span><br />Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/1-4.htm">Ezekiel 1:4</a></span><br />I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/10-5.htm">Ezekiel 10:5</a></span><br />The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/1-3.htm">Nahum 1:3</a></span><br />The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/17-5.htm">Matthew 17:5</a></span><br />While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/9-7.htm">Mark 9:7</a></span><br />Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/9-34.htm">Luke 9:34-35</a></span><br />While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. / And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-28.htm">John 12:28-29</a></span><br />Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” / The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/9-3.htm">Acts 9:3-4</a></span><br />As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. / He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/37-1.htm">Job 37:1,2,9,14</a></b></br> At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/19-16.htm">Exodus 19:16-19</a></b></br> And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that <i>was</i> in the camp trembled… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/4-11.htm">Deuteronomy 4:11,12</a></b></br> And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/37-14.htm">Job</a> <a href="/job/37-9.htm">Storm</a> <a href="/job/37-9.htm">Storm-Wind</a> <a href="/job/37-9.htm">Whirlwind</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/40-1.htm">Job</a> <a href="/job/39-24.htm">Storm</a> <a href="/job/40-6.htm">Storm-Wind</a> <a href="/job/40-6.htm">Whirlwind</a><div class="vheading2">Job 38</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/38-1.htm">God challenges Job to answer</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/38-4.htm">God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/38-31.htm">and weakness</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/38.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/38.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then the LORD answered Job</b><br>This marks a pivotal moment in the Book of Job, where God Himself directly addresses Job. Throughout the preceding chapters, Job has been in dialogue with his friends, who have offered various explanations for his suffering. This divine response signifies a shift from human reasoning to divine revelation. The use of "LORD" in all caps indicates the Hebrew name Yahweh, emphasizing God's covenantal relationship with His people. This moment underscores the personal nature of God, who is not distant but actively engages with His creation. It also highlights the theme of divine sovereignty, as God chooses the timing and manner of His response.<p><b>out of the whirlwind</b><br>The whirlwind, or storm, is a powerful symbol of God's majesty and might. In the ancient Near Eastern context, storms were often associated with divine presence and power. This imagery is consistent with other biblical accounts where God reveals Himself through natural phenomena, such as the burning bush in <a href="/exodus/3.htm">Exodus 3</a> or the fire and smoke on Mount Sinai in <a href="/exodus/19.htm">Exodus 19</a>. The whirlwind signifies both the awe-inspiring and uncontrollable nature of God, reminding Job and the readers of God's ultimate authority over creation. It also serves as a reminder of the limitations of human understanding when faced with the divine.<p><b>and said:</b><br>The fact that God speaks directly to Job is significant. In the biblical narrative, divine speech often conveys authority and truth. God's words are not merely for Job's benefit but serve as a revelation for all readers of the text. This moment is a reminder of the power of God's word, which is creative, sustaining, and transformative. It also sets the stage for the subsequent chapters, where God will challenge Job's understanding of justice, creation, and divine wisdom. This divine discourse invites readers to reflect on their own perceptions of God and the nature of suffering.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His relationship with His people. In this context, God is the speaker, addressing Job directly.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A righteous man who has suffered immense loss and affliction. Throughout the book, Job seeks understanding and justice from God regarding his suffering.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_whirlwind.htm">The Whirlwind</a></b><br>A powerful natural phenomenon often associated with divine presence and revelation in the Old Testament. It signifies God's majesty and power as He speaks to Job.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_authority.htm">God's Sovereignty and Authority</a></b><br>God speaks from the whirlwind, demonstrating His control over creation and His authority to address human concerns.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_mystery_of_divine_revelation.htm">The Mystery of Divine Revelation</a></b><br>God's choice to speak from a whirlwind highlights the mystery and majesty of His ways, which are often beyond human understanding.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_humility_before_god.htm">The Importance of Humility Before God</a></b><br>Job's encounter with God reminds us of the need for humility and reverence when seeking answers from the Almighty.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_personal_engagement.htm">God's Personal Engagement</a></b><br>Despite His grandeur, God personally engages with Job, showing His willingness to communicate with His creation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_wisdom.htm">Trust in God's Wisdom</a></b><br>The context of God's response encourages believers to trust in His wisdom, even when circumstances are difficult to understand.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_38.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 38</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_appear_silent_or_absent.htm">Why does God appear silent or absent?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_are_the_sons_of_god_in_the_bible.htm">Who are the sons of God in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_unquenchable_fire.htm">How does Job remain faithful amidst immense suffering?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_ask_job_to_discredit_him.htm">Job 40:8: Why would an all-knowing God demand Job to “discredit” His justice, and is this consistent with the broader biblical portrayal of divine fairness?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/38.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XXXVIII.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">Then the Lord answered Job.</span>--This chapter brings the grand climax and catastrophe of the poem. Unless all was to remain hopelessly uncertain and dark, there could be no solution of the questions so fiercely and obstinately debated but by the intervention of Him whose government was the matter in dispute. And so the Lord answered Job out of <span class= "ital">the </span>whirlwind, or tempest: that is to say, the tempest which had been long gathering, and which had been the subject of Elihu's remarks. The one argument which is developed in the remaining chapters is drawn from man's ignorance. There is so much in nature that man knows not and cannot understand, that it is absurd for him to suppose that he can judge aright in matters touching God's moral government of the world. Though Job is afterwards (<a href="/job/42-8.htm" title="Therefore take to you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.">Job 42:8</a>) justified by God, yet the tone of all that God says to him is more or less mingled with reproach.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/38.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind</span>. It is remarked, with reason, that the special mention of Job as the person answered "implies that another speaker had intervened" (Wordsworth); while the attachment of the article to the word "whirlwind" implies some previous mention of that phenomenon, which is only to be found in the discourse of Elihu (<a href="/job/37-9.htm">Job 37:9</a>). Both points have an important bearing on the genuineness of the disputed section, ch. 32- 37. <span class="cmt_word">And said</span>. The question whether there was an objective utterance of human words out of the whirlwind, or only a subjective impression of the thoughts recorded on the minds of those present, is unimportant. In any case, there was a revelation direct from God, which furnished an authoritative solution of the questions debated to all who had been engaged in the debate. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/38-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">answered</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּֽעַן־</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘an-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Job</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֭יּוֹב</span> <span class="translit">(’î·yō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_347.htm">Strong's 347: </a> </span><span class="str2">Job -- a patriarch</span><br /><br /><span class="word">out of</span><br /><span class="heb">מִ֥ן ׀</span> <span class="translit">(min)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> </span><span class="str2">A part of, from, out of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the whirlwind</span><br /><span class="heb">הַסְּעָרָ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(has·sə·‘ā·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5591.htm">Strong's 5591: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hurricane</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and said:</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּאמַֽר׃</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/38-1.htm">Job 38:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/38-1.htm">OT Poetry: Job 38:1 Then Yahweh answered Job out (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/37-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 37:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 37:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/38-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 38:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 38:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>