Job 36:31

Job 36:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
• New International Version (NIV)This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.

Context of Job 36:31

29But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the crashing of his pavilion? 30Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea. For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance. 32[His] hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike. 33His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.

Job 36:31 word by word

כִּי־בָ֭ם יָדִ֣ין עַמִּ֑ים יִֽתֶּן־אֹ֥כֶל לְמַכְבִּֽיר׃Read the interlinear

• peoplesעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• foodאֹ֫כֶל'ôkel · foodH400

Cross-references for Job 36:31

• Job 37:13Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.
• Job 38:22Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
• Genesis 6:17For I, behold, I bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy all flesh under the heavens in which is the breath of life: everything that is on the earth shall expire.
• Genesis 7:17And the flood was forty days on the earth. And the waters increased, and bore up the ark; and it was lifted up above the earth.
• Genesis 19:24And Jehovah rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven,
• Exodus 9:23And Moses stretched out his staff toward the heavens, and Jehovah gave thunder and hail; and the fire ran along the ground; and Jehovah rained hail on the land of Egypt.
• Deuteronomy 8:2And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or not.
• Joshua 10:11And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, — they were at the descent of Beth-horon, — that Jehovah cast down great stones from heaven upon them up to Azekah, and they died. They were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel had slain with the sword.
• 1 Samuel 2:10They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces; in the heavens will he thunder upon them. Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth; and he will give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
• 1 Samuel 7:10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines advanced to battle against Israel. And Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were routed before Israel.
• 1 Samuel 12:18And Samuel called to Jehovah; and Jehovah sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared Jehovah and Samuel.
• Job 38:26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
• Psalms 65:9Thou hast visited the earth, thou hast watered it; thou greatly enrichest it: the river of God is full of water; thou providest their corn, when thou hast so prepared it:
• Psalms 104:13He watereth the mountains from his upper-chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
• Psalms 136:25Who giveth food to all flesh, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.
• Acts 14:17though indeed he did not leave himself without witness, doing good, and giving to you from heaven rain and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.

Commentaries on Job 36:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31By them judgeth he the people - He makes storms, tempests, winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, thunder and lightning, drought and inundation, the instruments of his justice, to punish rebellious nations. He giveth meat in abundance - Though by these he punishes offenders, yet through the same, as instruments, he provides for the wants of men and animals in general. Storms, tempests, and hurricanes, agitate the lower regions of the atmosphere, disperse noxious…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31For by them judgeth he the people - By means of the clouds, the rain, the dew, the tempest, and the thunderbolt. The idea seems to be, that he makes use of all these to execute his purposes on mankind. He can either make them the means of imparting blessings, or of inflicting the severest, judgments. He can cause the tornado to sweep over the earth; he can arm the forked lightning against the works of art; he can withhold rain and dew, and spread over a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-33Verses 24-33 Elihu endeavours to fill Job with high thought of God, and so to persuade him into cheerful submission to his providence. Man may see God's works, and is capable of discerning his hand in them, which the beasts are not, therefore they ought to give him the glory. But while the worker of iniquity ought to tremble, the true believer should rejoice. Children should hear with pleasure their Father's voice, even when he speaks in terror to his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31The Hebrew yadin typically means he judges or he governs. But some commentators propose an alternate reading, yazun (meaning "he nourishes"). This aligns with the theme of God's provision (Job 38:26; Psalms 65:9–13; 104:13–15, 27–28). The more common meaning of yadin is “judge,” which would mean that God does all things to bless his people and judge his enemies (Job 37:11–13; 38:22–23; see Genesis 6:17; 19:24; Exodus 9:23–25; Joshua 10:11–14; 1 Samuel…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. These (rain and lightnings) are marvellous and not to be understood (Job 36:29), yet necessary. "For by them He judgeth (chastiseth on the one hand), &c. (and on the other, by them) He giveth meat" (food), &c. (Job 37:13; 38:23, 27; Ac 14:17).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 36:31

• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena

In the dictionaries

• Ascribe
• Elihu
• Esteem
• Hang
• Abound; Abundance; Abundant; Abundantly
• God

Commentaries on Job 36

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings