Job 38 · Verse 33

Job 38:33

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Job 38:33, King James Version

Job 38:33 in other translations

BSBDo you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?
WEBDo you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
ASVKnowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
YLTHast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
DARBYKnowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
BBEHave you knowledge of the laws of the heavens? did you give them rule over the earth?
WebsterKnowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set its dominion on the earth?

What does Job 38:33 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 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? - Art thou a thorough astronomer? Art thou acquainted with all the laws of the planetary system? Canst thou account for the difference of their motions, and the influence by which they are retained and revolve in their orbits? And canst thou tell what influence or dominion they exercise on the earth? Sir Isaac Newton has given us much light on many of these things; but to his system, which is most probably the true one, gravity is essential; and yet what this gravity is he could neither explain nor comprehend; and his followers are not one whit wiser than he. No man has ever yet fully found out the ordinances of heaven, and the dominion thereof on the earth.

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…

Read the full comment on Job 38:25-41 →

Job 38:33 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.

הֲ֭יָדַעְתָּHa.ya.da'.ta¿ do you knowH3045
חֻקּ֣וֹתchu.Kot[the] statutes ofH2708
שָׁמָ֑יִםsha.Ma.yim[the] heavensH8064
אִם\־'im-or?H518
תָּשִׂ֖יםta.Simdo you appointH7760
מִשְׁטָר֣וֹmish.ta.Rorule itsH4896
בָאָֽרֶץ\׃va.'A.retzover the earthH776

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

Cross references for Job 38:33

  • Jeremiah 31:35-36

    Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

  • Genesis 8:22

    While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

  • Psalms 148:6

    He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

  • 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?

  • Jeremiah 33:25

    Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;

  • Genesis 1:16

    And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

  • Psalms 119:90-91

    Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the ordinances.
Ge 1:16; 8:22; Ps 119:90,91; Jer 31:35,36; 33:25
canst.
12,13

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

Context

  • Job 38:32

    Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

  • Job 38:33

    Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

  • Job 38:34

    Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:33 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Supiste tú las ordenanzas de los cielos? ¿dispondrás tú de su potestad en la tierra?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Connais-tu les lois des cieux, ou établis-tu leur empire sur la terre?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Kennst du die Gesetze des Himmels, oder bestimmst du seine Herrschaft über die Erde?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Numquid nosti ordinem cæli, et pones rationem ejus in terra?