Job 37 · Verse 17

Job 37:17

How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
Job 37:17, King James Version

Job 37:17 in other translations

BSBYou whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
WEBYou whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
ASVHow thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
YLTHow thy garments are warm, In the quieting of the earth from the south?
DARBYHow thy garments become warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
BBEYou, whose clothing is warm, when the earth is quiet because of the south wind,
WebsterHow thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

What does Job 37:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. thy garments, &c.--that is, dost thou know how thy body grows warm, so as to affect thy garments with heat? south wind--literally, "region of the south." "When He maketh still (and sultry) the earth (that is, the atmosphere) by (during) the south wind" (So 4:16).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 How thy garments are warm - What are warmth and cold? How difficult this question! Is heat incontestably a substance, and is cold none? I am afraid we are in the dark on both these subjects. The existence of caloric, as a substance, is supposed to be demonstrated. Much, satisfactorily, has been said on this subject; but is it yet beyond doubt? I fear not. But supposing this question to be set at rest, is it demonstrated that cold is only a quality, the mere absence of heat? If it be demonstrated that there is such a substance as caloric, is it equally certain that there is no such substance as frigoric? But how do our garments keep us warm? By preventing the too great dissipation of the natural heat. And why is it that certain substances, worked into clothing, keep us warmer than others? Because they are bad conductors of caloric. Some substances conduct off the caloric or natural heat from the body; others do not conduct it at all, or imperfectly; hence those keep us warmest which, being bad conductors of caloric, do not permit the natural heat to be thrown off. In these things we know but little, after endless cares, anxieties, and experiments! But is the question yet satisfactorily answered, why the north wind brings cold, and the south wind heat? If it be so to my readers, it is not so to me; yet I know the reasons which are alleged.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 37:14-20

Due thoughts of the works of God will help to reconcile us to all his providences. As God has a powerful, freezing north wind, so he has a thawing, composing south wind: the Spirit is compared to both, because he both convinces and comforts, So 4:16. The best of men are much in the dark concerning the glorious perfections of the Divine nature and the Divine government. Those who, through grace, know much of God…

Read the full comment on Job 37:14-20 →

Job 37:17 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.

אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-[you] whomH834
בְּגָדֶ֥יךָbe.ga.Dei.khaclothes yourH899
חַמִּ֑יםcha.Mim[are] hotH2525
בְּהַשְׁקִ֥טbe.hash.Kitwhen is stillH8252
אֶ֝֗רֶץ'E.retz[the] earthH776
מִדָּרֽוֹם\׃mi.da.Romfrom [the] southH1864

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

Cross references for Job 37:17

  • Psalms 147:18

    He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

  • Luke 12:55

    And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

  • Job 6:17

    What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

  • Job 38:31

    Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he.
6:17; 38:31; Ps 147:18; Lu 12:55

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

Context

  • Job 37:16

    Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

  • Job 37:17

    How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

  • Job 37:18

    Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

Read all of Job 37

Job 37:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Por qué están calientes tus vestidos cuando se fija el viento del mediodía sobre la tierra?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pourquoi tes vêtements sont chauds quand il donne du repos à la terre par le vent du midi?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Du, dessen Kleider heiß werden, wenn das Land schwül wird von Süden her,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nonne vestimenta tua calida sunt, cum perflata fuerit terra austro?