For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim over the "great rain of his strength," but the Hebrew actually emphasizes the magnitude and power of these downpours. This isn't just any rain; it's a torrential, mighty force that God commands, showcasing His supreme authority even over the most violent of natural phenomena.
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu is speaking to Job, continuing his powerful monologue about God's majesty displayed in creation and judgment. He's arguing that Job, a mere human, cannot fully comprehend or question God's ways, especially since even the seemingly ordinary elements of nature, like snow and rain, obey God's direct commands. This passage serves to highlight God's absolute authority and power over the natural world, which Job has been struggling to reconcile with his suffering.
Have you ever thought about nature as a choir, responding to a divine conductor? This verse reveals a profound truth about God's direct interaction with His creation.
Elihu, in Job's story, points to the phenomenal power of God's word. He states that God speaks to the snow, saying, 'Fall on the earth.' This isn't just poetic language; it's a declaration that the elements themselves are under God's direct command.
Think about it:
Rain can be a gentle blessing or a destructive force. This verse captures that duality, showing God's control over both.
Elihu doesn't just mention rain; he distinguishes between its gentle and its powerful forms. He speaks of 'the small rain' and 'the great rain of his strength.' This shows that God is sovereign over all the ways weather impacts us.
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Consider the significance:
Understand the original words
sheleg · Hebrew Noun
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.
This passage echoes Job 37:6 by listing powerful natural forces like wind, snow, and rain as elements that obey God's commands and praise Him.
Isaiah 55:10Similar to how God speaks to the snow and rain in Job, this verse uses the imagery of rain and snow descending to accomplish God's purpose, highlighting their life-giving and regenerative power as a metaphor for His Word.
Genesis 1:3The phrase 'For he saith...' in Job 37:6 is powerfully reminiscent of God's spoken commands in Genesis 1, emphasizing the creative power and authority behind natural phenomena.
Job 38:22This verse, also from the book of Job, directly follows the discourse on weather and asks Job if he has entered the storehouses of the snow, directly connecting to the idea of God's sovereign control over these elements.
wesleyJob 37:6: "For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength."
37:6 Strength - Those storms of rain which come with great force and irresistible violence.
clarkeJob 37:6: "For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength."
For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth - Snow is generally defined, "A well-known meteor, formed by the freezing of the vapours in the atmosphere." We may consider the formation of snow thus: - A cloud of vapours being condensed into drops, these drops, becoming too heavy to be suspended in the atmosphere, descend; and, meeting with a cold region of the air, the…
It's easy to skim over the "great rain of his strength," but the Hebrew actually emphasizes the magnitude and power of these downpours. This isn't just any rain; it's a torrential, mighty force that God commands, showcasing His supreme authority even over the most violent of natural phenomena.
Elihu is speaking to Job, continuing his powerful monologue about God's majesty displayed in creation and judgment. He's arguing that Job, a mere human, cannot fully comprehend or question God's ways, especially since even the seemingly ordinary elements of nature, like snow and rain, obey God's direct commands. This passage serves to highlight God's absolute authority and power over the natural world, which Job has been struggling to reconcile with his suffering.
Elihu is speaking to Job, continuing his powerful monologue about God's majesty displayed in creation and judgment. He's arguing that Job, a mere human, cannot fully comprehend or question God's ways, especially since even the seemingly ordinary elements of nature, like snow and rain, obey God's direct commands. This passage serves to highlight God's absolute authority and power over the natural world, which Job has been struggling to reconcile with his suffering.
"For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour." — It's easy to skim over the "great rain of his strength," but the Hebrew actually emphasizes the magnitude and power of these downpours. This isn't just any rain; it's a torrential, mighty force t…
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Last reviewed October 2026