Job 38:36

Job 38:36 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
• New International Version (NIV)Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?

Context of Job 38:36

34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you? 35Can you send forth lightnings that they may go And say to you, ‘Here we are’? Who has put wisdom in the innermost being [of man, or in the layers of clouds] Or given understanding to the mind [of man, or to the heavenly display]? 37Who can count the clouds by [earthly] wisdom, Or pour out the water jars of the heavens, 38When the dust hardens into a mass And the clods stick together [because of the heat]?

Job 38:36 word by word

מִי־שָׁ֭ת בַּטֻּח֣וֹת חָכְמָ֑ה א֤וֹ מִֽי־נָתַ֖ן לַשֶּׂ֣כְוִי בִינָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Who hath putשִׁיתshîyth · to set: putH7896
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• in the inward partsטֻחוֹתţûchâh · inner partsH2910
• or who hath givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• understandingבִּינָהbîynâh · understandingH998
• to the heartשֶׂכְוִיώekvîy · heartH7907

Cross-references for Job 38:36

• Job 32:8But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
• Psalms 51:6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.
• Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Ecclesiastes 2:26For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.
• James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.
• Exodus 31:3I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and skill, in understanding and intelligence, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,
• Exodus 36:1“Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled person in whom the Lord has put ability and understanding to know how to do all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall work according to all that the Lord has commanded.”
• Isaiah 28:26For his God instructs [him correctly] and teaches him properly.

Commentaries on Job 38:36

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Who hath put wisdom in the in ward parts? - Who has given לשכוי lasechvi, to the contemplative person, understanding? Even the most sedulous attention to a subject, and the deepest contemplation, are not sufficient to investigate truth, without the inspiration of the Almighty, which alone can give understanding. But who has given man the power to conceive and understand? A power which he knows he has, but which he cannot comprehend. Man knows nothing of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? - There is great variety in the interpretation of this passage. Jerome renders it, Quis posuit in visceribus heminis sapienttam? Vel quis dedit gallo intelligentiam? “Who hath put wisdom in the inner parts of man? Or who has given to the cock intelligence?” Just as strangely, the Septuagint has: “Who hath given to women skill in weaving, and a knowledge of the art of embroidering?.” One of the Targums renders it…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-41Verses 25-41 Hitherto God had put questions to Job to show him his ignorance; now God shows his weakness. As it is but little that he knows, he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels; it is but little he can do, therefore he ought not to oppose the ways of Providence. See the all-sufficiency of the Divine Providence; it has wherewithal to satisfy the desire of every living thing. And he that takes care of the young ravens, certainly will not be wanting…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36heart … mind: These words can also mean "ibis" and "rooster." The Egyptians believed the ibis bird knew about the Nile's flooding, the most important event in Egypt. Israel’s rabbis (religious teachers with authority) believed the rooster bird could predict rain or its distinctive sound (crowing) marked day and night. The question would then be Who taught the ibis and the rooster? See also Psalm 51:6; Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5, 17.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3819-38. The marvels in heaven. "What is the way (to the place wherein) light dwelleth?" The origin of light and darkness. In Ge 1:3-5, 14-18, "light" is created distinct from, and previous to, light-emitting bodies, the luminaries of heaven.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 38:36

• Blessing
• God
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Bar
• Consume
• Covert
• Dark
• Hitherto
• Loose
• Reserve
• Satisfy
• Spring
• Sweet

Commentaries on Job 38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings