Job 38:24

Job 38:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
• New International Version (NIV)What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
• English Standard Version (ESV)What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
• New King James Version (NKJV)By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?

Context of Job 38:24

22Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, 23which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle? In which direction is the lightning dispersed, or the east wind scattered over the earth? 25Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt, 26to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives,

Job 38:24 word by word

אֵי־זֶ֣ה הַ֭דֶּרֶךְ יֵחָ֣לֶק א֑וֹר יָפֵ֖ץ קָדִ֣ים עֲלֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

• In whichאַי'ay · where?H335
• In whichזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• directionדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: directionH1870
• is the lightningאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• dispersedחָלַקchâlaq · to divideH2505
• or the east windקָדִיםqâdîym qâdim · eastH6921
• scatteredפּוּץpûts · to scatterH6327
• overעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for Job 38:24

• Job 38:12In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place,
• Jonah 4:8As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
• Matthew 24:27For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Commentaries on Job 38:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24By what way is the light parted - Who can accurately describe the cause and operation of a thunder cloud, the cause, nature, and mode of operation of the lightning itself? Is it a simple element or compound substance? What is its velocity? and why not conductible by every kind of substance, as it is known to exist in all, and, indeed, to be diffused through every portion of nature? How is it parted? How does it take its zigzag form? this is the curious…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24By what way is the light parted - The reference here is to the light of the morning, that seems to come from one point, and to spread itself at once over the whole earth. It seems to be collected in the east, or, as it were, condensed or concentrated there, and then to divide itself, and to expand over the face of the world. God here asks Job whether he could explain this, or show in what manner it was done. This was one of the subjects which might be…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-24Verses 12-24 The Lord questions Job, to convince him of his ignorance, and shame him for his folly in prescribing to God. If we thus try ourselves, we shall soon be brought to own that what we know is nothing in comparison with what we know not. By the tender mercy of our God, the Day-spring from on high has visited us, to give light to those that sit in darkness, whose hearts are turned to it as clay to the seal, 2Co 4:6. God's way in the government of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24-27The east wind blows from the desert, drying up crops and seas (Genesis 41:6, 23, 27; Jeremiah 4:11; Jonah 4:8; Exodus 14:21; Isaiah 11:15). It is not like the heavy rain that causes floods. Helpful rain quenches a barren land (Psalms 104:10–11; 107:35; Isaiah 35:7; 58:11). This contrasts with both hot winds and flooding rains (Job 38:24, 25).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 38:24

• Blessing
• God
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena

In the dictionaries

• East wind
• Bar
• Consume
• Covert
• Dark
• Hitherto
• Loose
• Reserve
• Satisfy
• Spring

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