Job 38 · Verse 25

Job 38:25

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
Job 38:25, King James Version

Job 38:25 in other translations

BSBWho cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt,
WEBWho has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
ASVWho hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;
YLTWho hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
DARBYWho hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
BBEBy whom has the way been cut for the flowing of the rain, and the flaming of the thunder;
WebsterWho hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

What does Job 38:25 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 25 Divided a water-course - The original תעלה tealah, from עלה alah, to ascend, may signify rather a cloud, or clouds in general, where the waters are stored up. I cannot see how the overflowings or torrents of water can be said to ascend any other way than by evaporation; and it is by this Divine contrivance that the earth is not only irrigated, but even dried; and by this means too much moisture is not permitted to lie upon the ground, which would not only be injurious to vegetation, but even destroy it. But query, may not a waterspout be intended? A way for the lightning of thunder - "A path for the bolt of thunder." God is represented as directing the course even of the lightning; he launches the bolt, and makes the path in which it is to run. To grasp, manage, and dart the thunderbolt or lightning, was a work which heathenism gave to Jupiter, its supreme god. None of the inferior deities were capable of this. But who can thunder with a voice like the Almighty? He is The Thunderer.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 38:25-41
Hitherto God had put questions to Job to show him his ignorance; now God shows his weakness. As it is but little that he knows, he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels; it is but little he can do, therefore he ought not to oppose the ways of Providence. See the all-sufficiency of the Divine Providence; it has wherewithal to satisfy the desire of every living thing. And he that takes care of the young ravens, certainly will not be wanting to his people. This being but one instance of the Divine compassion out of many, gives us occasion to think how much good our God does, every day, beyond what we are aware of. Every view we take of his infinite perfections, should remind us of his right to our love, the evil of sinning against him, and our need of his mercy and salvation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 38:25 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.

מִֽי\־mi-who?H4310
פִלַּ֣גfi.Lagdoes he divideH6385
לַשֶּׁ֣טֶףla.She.teffor the floodH7858
תְּעָלָ֑הte.'a.Laha channelH8585
וְ֝דֶ֗רֶךְve.De.rekhand a pathH1870
לַחֲזִ֥יזla.cha.Zizfor [the] storm ofH2385
קֹלֽוֹת\׃ko.Lotthunder clapsH6963

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

Cross references for Job 38:25

  • Job 28:26

    When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

  • Psalms 29:3-10

    The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. …

  • Job 36:27-28

    For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

  • Job 37:3-6

    He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
28:26; 36:27,28; 37:3-6; Ps 29:3-10

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

Context

  • 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;

  • Job 38:26

    To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Quién repartió conducto al turbión, y camino á los relámpagos y truenos,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui a découpé des canaux aux torrents de pluie, et un chemin à l’éclair des tonnerres,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer teilt der Regenflut Kanäle ab und einen Weg dem Donnerstrahle,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis dedit vehementissimo imbri cursum, et viam sonantis tonitrui,