Job 36 · Verse 31

Job 36:31

For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
Job 36:31, King James Version

Job 36:31 in other translations

BSBFor by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
WEBFor by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
ASVFor by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.
YLTFor by them He doth judge peoples, He giveth food in abundance.
DARBYFor with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.
BBEFor by these he gives food to the peoples, and bread in full measure.
WebsterFor by them he judgeth the people; he giveth food in abundance.

What does Job 36:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. 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).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 By 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 vapours, and thus render it fit for respiration; and without these it would soon become a stagnant, putrid, and deadly mass, in which neither animals could live, nor vegetables thrive. And by dews, rains, snows, frosts, winds, cold, and heat, he fructifies the earth, and causes it to bring forth abundantly, so that every thing living is filled with plenteousness. Some critics translate this latter clause thus: - He passeth sentence amain. I cannot see this meaning in the original words. Not one of the versions has so understood them; nor does this translation, supposing even that the Hebrew would bear it, give so fine and so elegant an idea as that of the common version. I always feel reluctant to give a sense in any case that is not supported in some of its parts by any of the ancient versions, and more especially when it is contrary to the whole of them; and still more particularly when opposed to the Arabic, which in the Book of Job, containing so many Arabisms, I consider to be of very great importance.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 36:24-33

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…

Read the full comment on Job 36:24-33 →

Job 36:31 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.

כִּי\־ki-forH3588
בָ֭םvamby them
יָדִ֣יןya.Dinhe judgesH1777
עַמִּ֑ים'a.MimpeoplesH5971
יִֽתֶּן\־yi.ten-he givesH5414
אֹ֥כֶל'O.khelfoodH400
לְמַכְבִּֽיר\׃le.makh.Birto abundanceH4342

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

Cross references for Job 36:31

  • Psalms 136:25

    Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

  • Job 37:13

    He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

  • Acts 14:17

    Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

  • Psalms 104:13-15

    He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

  • Psalms 65:9-13

    Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. …

  • Psalms 104:27-28

    These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

  • Job 38:26-27

    To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

  • Job 38:22-23

    Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

  • Genesis 7:17-24

    And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. …

  • Deuteronomy 8:15

    Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

  • Genesis 19:24

    Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

  • 1 Samuel 7:10

    And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
by
37:13; 38:22,23; Ge 6:17; 7:17-24; 19:24; Ex 9:23-25; De 8:2,15
Jos 10:11; 1Sa 2:10; 7:10; 12:18
he giveth.
38:26,27; Ps 65:9-13; 104:13-15,27,28; 136:25; Ac 14:17

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

Context

  • Job 36:30

    Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

  • Job 36:31

    For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

  • Job 36:32

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

Read all of Job 36

Job 36:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Bien que por esos medios castiga á los pueblos, á la multitud da comida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car par ces choses il juge les peuples, il donne la nourriture en abondance.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn durch dieses richtet er Völker, gibt Speise im Überfluß.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Per hæc enim judicat populos, et dat escas multis mortalibus.