For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain,
English Standard Version (ESV)
God doesn't just control the rain; He actually "draws up" the water from the earth, suspending it in the sky before releasing it in a way that’s beneficial, not destructive. This verse highlights that even the most common processes, like rain, reveal God's meticulous, awe-inspiring design in subtle yet powerful ways.
For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu is explaining God's immense power and wisdom through natural phenomena, arguing that if Job can't grasp such common works as rain, how can he presume to understand God's judgments. He details how God draws up water vapor from the earth and sea, condenses it into clouds, and then releases it as rain, not in a destructive deluge, but in measured drops. This process, from vapor to clouds to rain, is presented as a marvelous example of divine engineering that Job should reflect on.
Think about the last time it rained. Did you consider the incredible power and wisdom behind each tiny drop? Elihu points to the familiar, yet profound, process of rain as a testament to God's greatness.
Elihu highlights the formation of rain as a marvel of God's making. The verse says God 'draws up the drops of water' (or 'attracts' them, as some translations suggest) from the earth and sea, forming clouds. Then, these clouds distill the water back down as rain.
The Gentle Descent
Instead of a destructive deluge, God sends rain in 'small drops.' This isn't just a detail; it's a demonstration of His wisdom and care. This gentle, controlled descent is perfect for nourishing the earth without overwhelming it. It's a daily miracle that sustains all life, a constant reminder that even the most common things are orchestrated by God's hand.
Have you ever wondered where rain comes from? It's a cycle that's been happening for millennia, a process Elihu points to as evidence of God's incredible power and design.
The verse reveals a fundamental aspect of the water cycle, emphasizing God's role. The 'vapour' mentioned is key: it's the invisible moisture drawn up from the earth and seas by the sun's heat. This vapor condenses in the atmosphere, forming clouds.
A Continuous Work
Job 36:27 describes this beautifully: God draws up the water as vapor, and then from that vapor, the clouds 'distill' or pour down the rain. This isn't a one-time event but a continuous, divinely managed cycle. It underscores that God is not distant from His creation but intimately involved in its ongoing processes, sustaining life through this constant, reliable exchange.
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This passage also highlights God's incomprehensible power and wisdom displayed in common natural phenomena, specifically mentioning His works in the heavens and the rain, setting the stage for a similar argument about God’s greatness.
Psalm 147:8This Psalm directly connects God's provision of rain to His actions, describing how He covers the sky with clouds and prepares rain for the earth, echoing the concept of God orchestrating rainfall.
Genesis 2:6This verse speaks of a 'mist' rising from the earth to water the ground, illustrating the continuous cycle of water and vapor that Job 36:27 also points to as God's work.
Job 37:6This verse, immediately following the passage in question, elaborates on the 'small rain' and 'great rain' of God's strength, further emphasizing the detailed control God has over weather patterns as a display of His might.
jfbJob 36:27: "For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:"
27, 28. The marvellous formation of rain (so Job 5:9, 10).maketh small—Rather, "He draweth (up) to Him, He attracts (from the earth below) the drops of water; they (the drops of water) pour down rain, (which is) His vapor." "Vapor" is in apposition with "rain," marking the way in which rain is formed; namely, from the vapor drawn up by God into the air and then condensed into drops, which f…
pooleJob 36:27: "For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:"
Having affirmed that God’s works are incomprehensibly great and glorious, he now enters upon the proof of it; and he proveth it from the most common and visible works of nature and providence, which if thoroughly considered, are full of wonder, and past the reach of the greatest philosophers, who indeed speak of them only by guess, and by their innumerable disputations about them discover t…
God doesn't just control the rain; He actually "draws up" the water from the earth, suspending it in the sky before releasing it in a way that’s beneficial, not destructive. This verse highlights that even the most common processes, like rain, reveal God's meticulous, awe-inspiring design in subtle yet powerful ways.
Elihu is explaining God's immense power and wisdom through natural phenomena, arguing that if Job can't grasp such common works as rain, how can he presume to understand God's judgments. He details how God draws up water vapor from the earth and sea, condenses it into clouds, and then releases it as rain, not in a destructive deluge, but in measured drops. This process, from vapor to clouds to rain, is presented as a marvelous example of divine engineering that Job should reflect on.
Elihu is explaining God's immense power and wisdom through natural phenomena, arguing that if Job can't grasp such common works as rain, how can he presume to understand God's judgments. He details how God draws up water vapor from the earth and sea, condenses it into clouds, and then releases it as rain, not in a destructive deluge, but in measured drops. This process, from vapor to clouds to rain, is presented as a marvelous example of divine engineering that Job should reflect on.
"For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain," — God doesn't just control the rain; He actually "draws up" the water from the earth, suspending it in the sky before releasing it in a way that’s beneficial, not destructive. This verse highlights tha…
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Last reviewed October 2026