Job 38 · Verse 36

Job 38:36

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Job 38:36, King James Version

Job 38:36 in other translations

BSBWho has put wisdom in the heart or given understanding to the mind?
WEBWho has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
ASVWho hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
YLTWho hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
DARBYWho hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
BBEWho has put wisdom in the high clouds, or given knowledge to the lights of the north?
WebsterWho hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

What does Job 38:36 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 36 Who hath put wisdom in the in ward parts? - Who has given לשכוי lasechvi, to the contemplative person, understanding? Even the most sedulous attention to a subject, and the deepest contemplation, are not sufficient to investigate truth, without the inspiration of the Almighty, which alone can give understanding. But who has given man the power to conceive and understand? A power which he knows he has, but which he cannot comprehend. Man knows nothing of his own mind, nor of the mode of its operations. This mind we possess, these operations we perform; - and of either do we know any thing? If we know not our own spirit, how can we comprehend that Spirit which is infinite and eternal? Mr. Good thinks that this verse is a continuation of the subject above, relative to the lightnings, and therefore translates thus: - Who putteth understanding into the vollies? And who giveth to the shafts discernment? All the versions, except the Septuagint, which trifles here, understand the place as we do. Either makes a good sense. The Septuagint has, "Who hath given the knowledge of weaving to women; or the science of embroidery?" Instead of understanding to the heart, the Vulgate has, understanding to the cock; that it might be able to distinguish and proclaim the watches of the night.

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 38:36 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.

מִי\־mi.Sha-who?H4310
שָׁ֭תSha.thas he putH7896
בַּטֻּח֣וֹתba.tu.Chotin the inner partsH2910
חָכְמָ֑הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
א֤וֹ'oorH176
מִֽי\־mi-who?H4310
נָתַ֖ןna.Tanhas he givenH5414
לַשֶּׂ֣כְוִיla.Sekh.vito the heartH7907
בִינָֽה\׃vi.NahunderstandingH998

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

Cross references for Job 38:36

  • Job 32:8

    But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

  • Psalms 51:6

    Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

  • Proverbs 2:6

    For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:26

    For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • Exodus 31:3

    And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

  • Job 9:4

    He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  • Exodus 36:1-2

    Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

  • Isaiah 28:26

    For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Who hath put.
32:8; Ps 51:6; Pr 2:6; Ec 2:26; Jas 1:5,17
who hath given.
Ex 31:3; 36:1,2; Isa 28:26

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

Context

  • Job 38:35

    Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

  • Job 38:36

    Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

  • Job 38:37

    Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:36 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Quién puso la sabiduría en el interior? ¿ó quién dió al entendimiento la inteligencia?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui a mis la sagesse dans les reins, ou qui donna l’intelligence à l’esprit?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer hat Weisheit in die Nieren gelegt, oder wer hat dem Geiste Verstand gegeben?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis posuit in visceribus hominis sapientiam? vel quis dedit gallo intelligentiam?