Job 38 · Verse 24

Job 38:24

By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
Job 38:24, King James Version

Job 38:24 in other translations

BSBIn which direction is the lightning dispersed, or the east wind scattered over the earth?
WEBBy what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
ASVBy what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
YLTWhere is this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
DARBYBy what way is the light parted, and the east wind scattered upon the earth?
BBEWhich is the way to the place where the wind is measured out, and the east wind sent out over the earth?
WebsterBy what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

What does Job 38:24 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 24 By what way is the light parted - Who can accurately describe the cause and operation of a thunder cloud, the cause, nature, and mode of operation of the lightning itself? Is it a simple element or compound substance? What is its velocity? and why not conductible by every kind of substance, as it is known to exist in all, and, indeed, to be diffused through every portion of nature? How is it parted? How does it take its zigzag form? this is the curious, indescribable, and unknown parting. Are all the causes of positive and negative electricity found out? What are its particles, and how do they cohere, and in what order are they propagated? Much has been said on all these points, and how little of that much satisfactorily! Scattereth the east wind upon the earth? - קדים kadim, the eastern storm, euroclydon, or levanter.

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 38:24 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.

אֵי\־'ei-where?H335
זֶ֣הzehthisH2088
הַ֭דֶּרֶךְHa.de.rekh[is] the wayH1870
יֵחָ֣לֶקye.Cha.lek[where] it is dividedH2505
א֑וֹר'orlightH216
יָפֵ֖ץya.Fetz[where] it scattersH6327
קָדִ֣יםka.Dim[the] east windH6921
עֲלֵי\־'a.lei-overH5921
אָֽרֶץ\׃'A.retz[the] earthH776

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

Cross references for Job 38:24

  • Job 38:12-13

    Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

  • Jonah 4:8

    And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

  • Matthew 24:27

    For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12,13; Jon 4:8; Mt 24:27

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

Context

  • 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?

  • Job 38:25

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

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Por qué camino se reparte la luz, y se esparce el viento solano sobre la tierra?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Par quel chemin se distribue la lumière, et le vent d’orient se répand-il sur la terre?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Welches ist der Weg, auf dem das Licht sich verteilt, der Ostwind sich verbreitet über die Erde?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Per quam viam spargitur lux, dividitur æstus super terram?