Job 28 · Verse 26

Job 28:26

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Job 28:26, King James Version

Job 28:26 in other translations

BSBwhen He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt,
WEBWhen he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
ASVWhen he made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder;
YLTIn His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
DARBYIn appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
BBEWhen he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
WebsterWhen he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

What does Job 28:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. The decree regulating at what time and place, and in what quantity, the rain should fall. a way--through the parted clouds (Job 38:25; Zec 10:1).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 When he made a decree for the rain - When he determined how that should be generated, viz., By the heat of the sun evaporation is produced: the particles of vapor being lighter than the air on the surface, ascend into the atmosphere, till they come to a region where the air is of their own density; there they are formed into thin clouds, and become suspended. When, by the sudden passages of lightning, or by winds strongly agitating these clouds, the particles are driven together and condensed so as to be weightier than the air in which they float, then they fall down in the form of rain; the drops being greater or less according to the force or momentum, or suddenness, of the agitation by which they are driven together as well as to the degree of rarity in the lower regions of the atmosphere through which they fall. A way for the lightning of the thunder - ודרך לחזיז קולות vederech lachaziz koloth. קול kol signifies voice of any kind; and koloth is the plural and is taken for the frequent claps or rattlings of thunder. חז chaz signifies to notch, indentate, or serrate, as in the edges of the leaves of trees; חזיז chaziz must refer to the zigzag form which lightning assumes in passing from one cloud into another. We are informed that "this is a frequent occurrence in hot countries." Undoubtedly it is; for it is frequent in cold countries also. I have seen this phenomenon in England in the most distinct manner for hours together, with a few seconds of interval between each flash. Nothing can better express this appearance than the original word.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 28:20-28

There is a two-fold wisdom; one hid in God, which is secret, and belongs not to us; the other made known by him, and revealed to man. One day's events, and one man's affairs, have such reference to, and so hang one upon another, that He only, to whom all is open, and who sees the whole at one view, can rightly judge of every part. But the knowledge of God's revealed will is within our reach, and will do us good. Let…

Read the full comment on Job 28:20-28 →

Job 28:26 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בַּעֲשֹׂת֣וֹba.'a.sa.Mek.Towhen made heH6213
לַמָּטָ֣רla.ma.Tarfor the rainH4306
חֹ֑קChoka decreeH2706
וְ֝דֶ֗רֶךְve.De.rekhand a pathH1870
לַחֲזִ֥יזla.cha.Zizfor [the] storm ofH2385
קֹלֽוֹת\׃ko.Lotthunder clapsH6963

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 28:26

  • Job 38:25

    Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

  • Job 37:3

    He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

  • Zechariah 10:1

    Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

  • Jeremiah 14:22

    Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

  • Psalms 29:3-10

    The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. …

  • Job 36:32

    With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

  • Psalms 148:8

    Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

  • Job 36:26

    Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

  • Job 38:27

    To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

  • Amos 4:7

    And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

  • Job 37:11

    Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he made.
36:26,32; 38:25; Ps 148:8; Jer 14:22; Am 4:7; Zec 10:1
a way.
37:3; Ps 29:3-10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 28:25

    To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

  • Job 28:26

    When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

  • Job 28:27

    Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

Read all of Job 28

Job 28:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cuando él hizo ley á la lluvia, y camino al relámpago de los truenos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand il faisait une loi pour la pluie, et un chemin pour le sillon de la foudre:
German
Elberfelder 1871		als er dem Regen ein Gesetz bestimmte und eine Bahn dem Donnerstrahl:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quando ponebat pluviis legem, et viam procellis sonantibus: