Job 38 · Verse 20

Job 38:20

That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
Job 38:20, King James Version

Job 38:20 in other translations

BSBso you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home?
WEBthat you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
ASVThat thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?
YLTThat thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
DARBYThat thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
BBESo that you might take it to its limit, guiding it to its house?
WebsterThat thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?

What does Job 38:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 38:19-38

19-38. The marvels in heaven. "What is the way (to the place wherein) light dwelleth?" The origin of light and darkness. In Ge 1:3-5, 14-18, "light" is created distinct from, and previous to, light-emitting bodies, the luminaries of heaven.

Read the full comment on Job 38:19-38 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Shouldest take it to the bound thereof? - Or, as Mr. Good, translates, "That thou shouldest lay hold of it in its boundary." That thou shouldest go to the very spot where light commences, and where darkness ends; and see the house where each dwells. Here darkness and light are personified, each as a real intelligent being, having a separate existence and local dwelling. But poetry animates everything. It is the region of fictitious existence. I believe this verse should be translated thus: - "For thou canst take Us to its boundary; for thou knowest the paths to its house." This is a strong irony, and there are several others in this Divine speech. Job had valued himself too much on his knowledge; and a chief object of this august speech is to humble his "knowing pride," and to cause him to seek true wisdom and humility where they are to be found.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 38:12-24

The Lord questions Job, to convince him of his ignorance, and shame him for his folly in prescribing to God. If we thus try ourselves, we shall soon be brought to own that what we know is nothing in comparison with what we know not. By the tender mercy of our God, the Day-spring from on high has visited us, to give light to those that sit in darkness, whose hearts are turned to it as clay to the seal, 2Co 4:6. God's…

Read the full comment on Job 38:12-24 →

Job 38:20 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.

כִּ֣יkithatH3588
תִ֭קָּחֶנּוּTi.ka.che.nuyou will take itH3947
אֶל\־'el-toH413
גְּבוּל֑וֹge.vu.Loterritory itsH1366
וְכִֽי\־ve.khi-and thatH3588
תָ֝בִ֗יןta.Vinyou will discernH995
נְתִיב֥וֹתne.ti.Vot[the] paths ofH5410
בֵּיתֽוֹ\׃bei.Tohouse itsH1004

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

Cross references for Job 38:20

  • Job 26:10

    He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

  • Genesis 10:19

    And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

  • Genesis 23:17

    And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
it to. or, it at. the bound.
Ge 10:19; 23:17

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

Context

  • Job 38:19

    Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

  • Job 38:20

    That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

  • Job 38:21

    Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Si llevarás tú ambas cosas á sus términos, y entenderás las sendas de su casa?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pour que tu les prennes à leur limite, et que tu connaisses les sentiers de leur maison?
German
Elberfelder 1871		daß du sie hinbrächtest zu ihrer Grenze, und daß du der Pfade zu ihrem Hause kundig wärest.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut ducas unumquodque ad terminos suos, et intelligas semitas domus ejus.