Job 38 · Verse 23

Job 38:23

Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Job 38:23, King James Version

Job 38:23 in other translations

BSBwhich I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?
WEBwhich I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
ASVWhich I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?
YLTThat I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.
DARBYWhich I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
BBEWhich I have kept for the time of trouble, for the day of war and fighting?
WebsterWhich I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

What does Job 38:23 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 23 Reserved against the time of trouble - לעת צר leeth tsar, "to the season of strictness," i.e., the season when the earth is constringed or bound by the frost. Against the day of battle and war? - Hailstones being often employed as instruments of God's displeasure against his enemies, and the enemies of his people. There is probably an allusion here to the plague of hail sent on the Egyptians. See Exo 9:23 (note), and the notes there, for more particulars concerning hailstones, remarkable showers of them, etc. There may be also a reference to Jos 10:10-11 (note), where a destructive shower of what are called hailstones fell upon the Canaanitish kings who fought against Israel. See the note there also.

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 38:23 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-whichH834
חָשַׂ֥כְתִּיcha.Sakh.tiI have kept backH2820
לְעֶת\־le.'et-for [the] time ofH6256
צָ֑רTzardistressH6862
לְי֥וֹםle.Yomfor [the] day ofH3117
קְ֝רָ֗בke.RavbattleH7128
וּמִלְחָמָֽה\׃u.mil.cha.Mahand warfareH4421

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

Cross references for Job 38:23

  • Joshua 10:11

    And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth–horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

  • Isaiah 30:30

    And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

  • Revelation 16:21

    And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

  • Exodus 9:18

    Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

  • Job 36:13

    But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

  • Ezekiel 13:11-13

    Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.

  • Exodus 9:24

    So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

  • Job 36:31

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

  • Matthew 7:27

    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:31; 36:13; Ex 9:18,24; Jos 10:11; Isa 30:30; Eze 13:11-13
Mt 7:27; Re 16:21

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

Context

  • Job 38:22

    Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

  • Job 38:23

    Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

  • Job 38:24

    By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Lo cual tengo yo reservado para el tiempo de angustia, para el día de la guerra y de la batalla?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que j’ai mis en réserve pour le temps de la détresse, pour le jour du combat et de la guerre?
German
Elberfelder 1871		die ich aufgespart habe für die Zeit der Bedrängnis, für den Tag des Kampfes und der Schlacht?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quæ præparavi in tempus hostis, in diem pugnæ et belli?