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Job 37
Job 37:1
my heart trembles ... it is moved out of its place
These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize the intensity of his fear. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
my heart trembles at this
The word "this" refers to the storm in Job 36:33.
it is moved out of its place
Elihu speaks of his heart beating violently as if it were to jump out of his chest. Alternate translation: "it moves out of its place" or "it beats violently" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 37:2
the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out from his mouth
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Elihu speaks of the thunder as if it is God's voice. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Job 37:3
to the edges of the earth
Elihu speaks of the farthest places on the earth as if they were the earth's borders. Alternate translation: "everywhere in the world" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Job 37:4
A voice roars after it ... the voice of his majesty
Elihu continues to speak of the thunder as if it is God's voice. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
roars after it
"roars after the lightning"
the voice of his majesty
"his majestic voice"
when his voice is heard
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "when people hear his voice" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 37:5
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Job 37:6
and to the rain shower
The verb may be supplied from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "and in the same way he says to the rain shower" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
Job 37:7
He stops the hand of every man
Here the word "hand" represents the entire person. Alternate translation: "He stops every man" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Job 37:8
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Job 37:9
The storm comes from its chamber in the south and the cold from the scattering winds in the north
In Israel, strong wind storms blow in from the south and cold weather approaches from the north. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
The storm comes from its chamber in the south
Elihu speaks of the storm blowing in from the south as if the storm has a place where it resides until it comes. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Job 37:10
By the breath of God ice is given
Elihu speaks of the cold north wind as if it were God's breath. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God's breath makes ice" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
frozen like metal
Elihu compares the hardness of ice to the hardness of metal. Alternate translation: "frozen, as hard as metal" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Job 37:11
he weighs down the thick cloud with moisture
Elihu speaks of God causing the storm clouds to be full of water as if the moisture weighed heavily on the clouds. Alternate translation: "he causes the thick clouds to be full of moisture" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Job 37:12
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Job 37:13
sometimes it happens for correction
The word "correction" can be translated with a verbal phrase. The object of his "correction" is people. Alternate translation: "sometimes it happens to correct his people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
sometimes for his land
This means that the rain waters the ground and causes vegetation to grow. Alternate translation: "sometimes to water the land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
sometimes as acts of covenant faithfulness
The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "faithful" or "faithfully." Alternate translation: "sometimes to act faithfully to his covenant" or "sometimes to be faithful to his people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
Job 37:14
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Job 37:15
Do you know how God establishes the clouds and makes the lightning bolts to flash in them?
Elihu asks this question to emphasize that Job cannot know this. Alternate translation: "You cannot understand how God establishes the clouds and makes the lightning bolts to flash in them." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
establishes the clouds
"controls the clouds" or "makes the clouds obey him"
Job 37:16
Do you understand the floating of the clouds, the marvelous deeds of God, who is perfect in knowledge?
Elihu asks this question to emphasize that Job does not know these things. Alternate translation: "You do not understand the floating of the clouds, the marvelous deeds of God, who is perfect in knowledge." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
the floating of the clouds
"how the clouds float"
the marvelous deeds of God
The verb may be supplied from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "or do you understand the marvelous deeds of God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
Job 37:17
Do you understand how your garments become hot ... from the south?
Elihu asks this question to emphasize that Job does not know these things. Alternate translation: "You do not understand how your garments become hot ... from the south." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
how your garments become hot
"how you become hot in your clothes" or "how you sweat in your clothes"
because the wind comes from the south
In Israel, hot winds blow in across the desert from the south and cause hot temperatures. Alternate translation: "because of the hot, dry wind blowing in from the south" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 37:18
Can you spread out the sky ... a mirror of cast metal?
Elihu asks this question to emphasize that Job cannot do this. Alternate translation: "You cannot spread out the sky ... a mirror of cast metal." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
as strong as a mirror of cast metal
In biblical days, mirrors were made of metal. Elihu speaks of the sky giving no rain as if it were as hard as solid metal. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
cast metal
This refers to metal that is melted, poured into a mold, and then hardens as it cools.
Job 37:19
Teach us what we should say to him
Here the words "us" and "we" refer to Elihu, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, but not to Job. Elihu uses this phrase sarcastically. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
because of the darkness of our minds
Elihu speaks of the inability to understand as if it were having darkness in one's mind. Alternate translation: "because we do not understand" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Job 37:20
Should he be told that I wish to speak with him?
Elihu asks this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one can do this. Alternate translation: "I cannot have someone tell him that I wish to speak with him." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Should he be told
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Should I have someone tell him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Would a person wish to be swallowed up?
Elihu asks this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one would want this to happen. Alternate translation: "No person would want to be swallowed up." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
to be swallowed up
Elihu speaks of a person being destroyed as if the person were swallowed up. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "for God to destroy him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 37:21
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Job 37:22
over God is fearsome majesty
The word "fearsome" means that it causes fear. Elihu speaks of God's majesty as if it were something that rests upon God. Alternate translation: "God's majesty causes people to fear" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Job 37:23
we cannot find him
Possible meanings are 1) "we cannot approach him" or 2) this is a metaphor in which Elihu speaks of a person's being unable to fully understand God as if he could not find God. Alternate translation: "we cannot comprehend him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Job 37:24
those who are wise in their own minds
Here "minds" represents the person's thoughts. Alternate translation: "those who are wise in their own thinking" or "those who consider themselves to be wise" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)