“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse asks if Job can "bind" the Pleiades or "loose" Orion, but the subtle point is that these aren't just stars; they represent cosmic forces tied to seasons. God isn't just asking about stellar arrangements, but about Job's ability to control the very cycles of nature—like commanding spring to come or winter to recede—which are powerfully linked to these constellations.
“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God challenges Job by questioning his control over celestial phenomena, specifically the constellations of the Pleiades and Orion. These star groups were associated with the changing seasons, with Pleiades heralding spring's "sweet influences" and Orion bringing winter's "bands." The implied question is whether Job, or any human, can manipulate these cosmic cycles, which are entirely under God's sovereign command.
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and felt a sense of wonder? These ancient constellations weren't just pretty lights; they were seen as powerful signs, and God asks Job if he's the one controlling their message.
In Job's time, celestial bodies were believed to signal and even influence earthly events.
God’s questions aren't about Job's ability to create these stars, but whether he controls their timing and their perceived effects on the seasons and the earth. It’s a powerful way to show Job that even the predictable cycles of nature are under divine authority, not human control.
God isn't just asking Job about astronomy; He's contrasting His cosmic authority with Job's profound powerlessness. What does this say about our own perceived control?
The core of God's challenge to Job lies in the contrast between divine sovereignty and human frailty.
Ask a follow-up
God uses these cosmic examples to humble Job, showing him that even the most profound suffering doesn’t grant him dominion over the universe. True wisdom, God implies, is recognizing one’s place within this divine order.
Understand the original words
'asar · Hebrew Verb
The act of imposing restraint or limitation, often used metaphorically for God’s sovereign control over the created order and its movements.
Kimah · Hebrew Noun
An astronomical cluster of stars, referenced in Scripture as part of God's majestic creation, symbolizing His divine power over celestial bodies.
Kesil · Hebrew Noun
A major constellation often associated in ancient literature with a giant or warrior, here highlighting the vastness and complexity of God's handiwork in the night sky.
This passage speaks about God establishing lights in the heavens to mark seasons, times, and days, highlighting His sovereignty over celestial cycles, just as Job 38 questions Job's ability to control them.
Psalm 147:4This verse states that God 'tells the number of the stars and calls them each by name,' emphasizing His intimate knowledge and control over the cosmos, which directly parallels God's challenge to Job regarding his understanding of celestial arrangements.
Jeremiah 31:35Similar to Job's context, this verse asserts God's power over the natural order, stating He provides the sun, moon, and stars for the regulation of day and night and seasons, reinforcing the idea that these cosmic forces are under divine command, not human manipulation.
Colossians 1:16This New Testament passage states that 'by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth,' underscoring Christ's role as the Creator and sustainer of all things, including the celestial bodies, which expands the scope of God's power presented in Job 38 to include the ultimate divine authority.
jfbJob 38:31: "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?"
- sweet influences—the joy diffused by spring, the time when the Pleiades appear. The Eastern poets, Hafiz, Sadi, &c., describe them as "brilliant rosettes." Gesenius translates: "bands" or "knot," which answers better the parallelism. But English Version agrees better with the Hebrew. The seven stars are closely "bound" together (see on [550]Job 9:9). "Canst thou bind or loose the tie?" "Canst thou lo…
pooleJob 38:31: "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?"
Bind, i.e. restrain or hinder them. Canst thou bind or shut up the earth when they open it? The sweet influences; or, the delights ; because this constellation by its benign and opening influences brings in the spring, the herbs and flowers, and other delights of the earth. Pleiades, called also the Seven Stars. Of this and the following constellation, see Job 9:9 . The bands; by which it binds up the ai…
The verse asks if Job can "bind" the Pleiades or "loose" Orion, but the subtle point is that these aren't just stars; they represent cosmic forces tied to seasons. God isn't just asking about stellar arrangements, but about Job's ability to control the very cycles of nature—like commanding spring to come or winter to recede—which are powerfully linked to these constellations.
God challenges Job by questioning his control over celestial phenomena, specifically the constellations of the Pleiades and Orion. These star groups were associated with the changing seasons, with Pleiades heralding spring's "sweet influences" and Orion bringing winter's "bands." The implied question is whether Job, or any human, can manipulate these cosmic cycles, which are entirely under God's sovereign command.
God challenges Job by questioning his control over celestial phenomena, specifically the constellations of the Pleiades and Orion. These star groups were associated with the changing seasons, with Pleiades heralding spring's "sweet influences" and Orion bringing winter's "bands." The implied question is whether Job, or any human, can manipulate these cosmic cycles, which are entirely under God's sovereign command.
"“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?" — The verse asks if Job can "bind" the Pleiades or "loose" Orion, but the subtle point is that these aren't just stars; they represent cosmic forces tied to seasons. God isn't just asking about stellar…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026