Job 37:5-7
God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "God thunders wondrously with his voice" isn't just about the sound; it highlights that God's "voice" in nature is filled with awe-inspiring marvels. These aren't random events; they are deliberate "great things" that reveal His power and wisdom, which we, in our limited understanding, cannot fully grasp.
Elihu is concluding his speech to Job, using the phenomena of a powerful thunderstorm to illustrate God's immense power and sovereignty. He's emphasizing that nature's awe-inspiring displays, like thunder and lightning, are divine acts that are beyond human understanding, directly challenging Job's attempts to question or comprehend God's justice.
Have you ever felt the sheer power of a thunderstorm? The Bible uses this raw energy to point us to something even greater.
Elihu describes God thundering 'marvellously.' This isn't just noise; it's the sound of God's voice, filled with awe and terror. Think of the thunder in Psalm 29 – it's a powerful, majestic sound that shakes creation. This isn't a distant deity; it's a God who actively speaks and acts in the world, and His voice, even in natural phenomena, demands attention. It's a reminder that God's power is not just theoretical; it's experienced, felt, and heard in the world around us.
We think we know so much, but do we really grasp the depths of God's actions?
The verse's powerful conclusion is, 'he does great things that we cannot comprehend.' This is a humbling truth. Even the wisest among us, with all our scientific advancements, can only scratch the surface of God's vast workings. The ancient commentators noted how philosophers guessed about natural causes, but true understanding of God's 'great things' in creation, providence, and grace eludes us. This isn't to discourage learning, but to foster deep humility. It means we can trust God even when we don't understand His plans or the complexities of the world He created.
Understand the original words
El · Hebrew Noun
The supreme Being, the Creator, and Sustainer of all things. The term emphasizes His power, authority, and covenant relationship with humanity as the one true object of worship.
pala · Hebrew Adjective/Verb
Actions or occurrences that are extraordinary, miraculous, or beyond normal human understanding. It denotes something that evokes astonishment and points directly to divine power rather than natural cause.
chaqar · Hebrew Verb
The inability of the human mind to fully grasp the depth, wisdom, or ways of God. It acknowledges the infinite transcendence of the Creator compared to the finite understanding of human creatures.
sheleg · Hebrew Noun
This verse comes from a poetic dialogue in ancient Israel, where understanding natural events like thunderstorms was limited, leading to their interpretation as direct, awe-inspiring manifestations of God's incomprehensible power and majesty.
c. 1000 BC
Composition of the Book of Job
The Book of Job is ancient wisdom literature, likely composed and transmitted over centuries, reflecting a time when understanding natural phenomena was deeply intertwined with divine power.
c. 1000 BC
The Psalms
The Psalms contain descriptions of God's power in nature, including thunder and storms, with which the author of Job may have been familiar.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Elihu's Speeches
Elihu, a younger character in the dialogue, is delivering a series of speeches that culminate in this poetic description of a powerful thunderstorm.
c. 1000 BC
Job's Lamentations
Job has been lamenting his suffering and questioning God's justice, and Elihu's words are a response to Job's perspective.
This passage echoes Job 37:5 by describing the voice of the Lord as powerful and majestic over the waters, highlighting the divine might demonstrated through natural phenomena like thunder.
Psalm 77:16-19Similar to Job's observation, the psalmist recounts experiencing God's power in a storm, noting the waters' fear, the clouds pouring out water, and the earth trembling, with God's paths remaining a mystery.
Romans 11:33This verse directly reflects the incomprehension mentioned in Job 37:5, declaring the unfathomable riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God, whose judgments and ways are beyond our grasp.
Job 38:1This verse marks God's direct response to Job, transitioning from Elihu's descriptions of God's incomprehensible works in nature to God Himself asking Job challenging questions about His creation, emphasizing that divine actions are beyond human understanding.
pooleJob 37:5: "God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend."
Marvellously; with a wonderful and terrible noise, and so as to produce many wonderful effects, as the breaking down of great and strong trees or buildings, the killing of men in a stupendous manner, &c. Great things doeth he, even in the course of nature, and in visible things; which all men see, but scarce any can give the true and satisfactory reasons of them; for the greatest philosoph…
gillJob 37:5: "God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend."
God thundereth marvellously with his voice,.... Or "marvels" (c), or marvellous things, which may respect the marvellous effects of thunder and lightning: such as rending rocks and mountains; throwing down high and strong towers; shattering to pieces high and mighty oaks and cedars, and other such like effects, mentioned in Psalm 29:5 ; and there are some things reported which seem almost…
The phrase "God thunders wondrously with his voice" isn't just about the sound; it highlights that God's "voice" in nature is filled with awe-inspiring marvels. These aren't random events; they are deliberate "great things" that reveal His power and wisdom, which we, in our limited understanding, cannot fully grasp.
Elihu is concluding his speech to Job, using the phenomena of a powerful thunderstorm to illustrate God's immense power and sovereignty. He's emphasizing that nature's awe-inspiring displays, like thunder and lightning, are divine acts that are beyond human understanding, directly challenging Job's attempts to question or comprehend God's justice.
Elihu is concluding his speech to Job, using the phenomena of a powerful thunderstorm to illustrate God's immense power and sovereignty. He's emphasizing that nature's awe-inspiring displays, like thunder and lightning, are divine acts that are beyond human understanding, directly challenging Job's attempts to question or comprehend God's justice.
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Refers to the meteorological phenomenon of frozen water vapor, often used in Scripture as a symbol of purity, divine cleansing, or the sheer magnitude of God's creative power.
matar · Hebrew Noun
The manifestation of divine authority and creative energy, often depicted in nature as uncontrollable, overwhelming, and signifying the majesty and justice of God.
chatham · Hebrew Verb
Refers to God's act of restricting human activity, suggesting that God sovereignly limits man's labor or power so that humanity may acknowledge His supremacy.
pa'al · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of creation by God, emphasizing that all humanity is the product of divine design and purpose, and thus accountable to their Creator.
c. 1000 BC
Divine Manifestation
Elihu's descriptions of God's power in nature serve as a prelude to God's own direct appearance and speech to Job from the whirlwind.
"God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man,…" — The phrase "God thunders wondrously with his voice" isn't just about the sound; it highlights that God's "voice" in nature is filled with awe-inspiring marvels. These aren't random events; they are d…
