Job 38:4

Job 38:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
• New International Version (NIV)“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

Context of Job 38:4

2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

Job 38:4 word by word

אֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיָסְדִי־אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־יָדַ֥עְתָּ בִינָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Whereאֵיפֹה'êyphôh · where?H375
• wast thou when I laid the foundationsיָסַדyâsad · to foundH3245
• of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• declareנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• if thou hastיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• understandingבִּינָהbîynâh · understandingH998

Cross-references for Job 38:4

• Proverbs 8:22Yhwh possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
• Proverbs 30:4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
• Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
• Psalms 102:25Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
• Psalms 104:5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
• Hebrews 1:2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Commentaries on Job 38:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? - Thou hast a limited and derived being; thou art only of yesterday; what canst thou know? Didst thou see me create the world?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? - The first appeal is to the creation. The question here, “Where wast thou?” implies that Job was not present. He had not then an existence. He could not, therefore, have aided God, or counselled him, or understood what he was doing. How presumptuous, therefore, it was in one so short-lived to sit in judgment on the doings of him who had formed the world! How little could he expect to be able to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-11Verses 4-11 For the humbling of Job, God here shows him his ignorance, even concerning the earth and the sea. As we cannot find fault with God's work, so we need not fear concerning it. The works of his providence, as well as the work of creation, never can be broken; and the work of redemption is no less firm, of which Christ himself is both the Foundation and the Corner-stone. The church stands as firm as the earth.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-41God challenges Job. Job admits he cannot judge the moral world. God shows Job's ignorance of the natural world's elements related to the realm of heaven, weather, animals, and birds (38:4–21; 22–38; 39–39:30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. To understand the cause of things, man should have been present at their origin. The finite creature cannot fathom the infinite wisdom of the Creator (Job 28:12; 15:7, 8). hast--"knowest." understanding--(Pr 4:1).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 38:4

• Blessing
• Continents
• God
• Man

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