“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This question isn't just about Job commanding rain; it's about speaking with the same divine authority that the clouds and thunder obey. It highlights that the very voice of the cosmos, the thunder's roar, is God's, and Job's own voice is being contrasted as utterly powerless against it.
“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is responding to Job's raw lament and accusations by showcasing His incredible, untamed power over creation. He's not just listing facts; He's directly challenging Job, asking if he has any control over these vast natural forces like commanding the clouds to bring life-giving rain. This is part of a larger series of rhetorical questions designed to humble Job and reveal that his understanding of God's dominion is limited.
Ever wished you could just make it rain or stop a storm? Job certainly had his struggles, but even his deepest laments didn't grant him power over the elements. God uses this question to show His ultimate authority.
The Ultimate Weather Man
God asks Job if he can command the clouds to bring rain. This isn't just a rhetorical question; it's a stark reminder of who's in charge.
When you hear thunder, what comes to mind? God's power? Or a cosmic accident? The ancient understanding linked the 'voice' of thunder to God's mighty voice, a stark contrast to human attempts to control.
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Divine Commands, Human Cries
God contrasts His own powerful 'voice' with Job's potential voice directed at the clouds. This highlights a profound difference in authority and origin.
Understand the original words
'ab · Hebrew Noun
Atmospheric formations that serve as a vessel for rain and judgment, frequently used in Scripture as a symbol of God's presence, majesty, and the source of provision.
baraq · Hebrew Noun
A powerful manifestation of God's glory and judgment in the natural world, symbolizing His direct involvement in human affairs and His overwhelming power.
This passage echoes Job's situation, as Jeremiah questions the idols of the nations, asking if they can bring rain, highlighting that only God has this power, a direct contrast to what Job is being challenged about.
James 5:17-18James references Elijah's prayer for rain, showing that while humans can't command the clouds, they can earnestly pray to God, who *does* control the weather, providing a contrast between human authority and divine power.
Psalm 147:15-18This psalm celebrates God's absolute control over the weather, from sending snow and frost to commanding the winds and rain, underscoring the impossibility of Job or any human matching this divine authority.
Amos 5:8This verse directly points to God as the Maker of the stars and the One who turns day into night and causes rain, reinforcing the theme that such cosmic and meteorological control is uniquely God's.
cambridgeJob 38:34: "Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?"
34, 35 . For canst thou it is better, as before, to read, dost thou?
clarkeJob 38:34: "Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?"
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds - Canst thou produce lightning and thunder, that water may be formed, and poured down upon the earth? Thunder is called קלות koloth, voices; for it is considered the voice of God: here then Job's voice, קולך kolecha, is opposed to the voice of Jehovah!
This question isn't just about Job commanding rain; it's about speaking with the same divine authority that the clouds and thunder obey. It highlights that the very voice of the cosmos, the thunder's roar, is God's, and Job's own voice is being contrasted as utterly powerless against it.
God is responding to Job's raw lament and accusations by showcasing His incredible, untamed power over creation. He's not just listing facts; He's directly challenging Job, asking if he has any control over these vast natural forces like commanding the clouds to bring life-giving rain. This is part of a larger series of rhetorical questions designed to humble Job and reveal that his understanding of God's dominion is limited.
God is responding to Job's raw lament and accusations by showcasing His incredible, untamed power over creation. He's not just listing facts; He's directly challenging Job, asking if he has any control over these vast natural forces like commanding the clouds to bring life-giving rain. This is part of a larger series of rhetorical questions designed to humble Job and reveal that his understanding of God's dominion is limited.
"“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?" — This question isn't just about Job commanding rain; it's about speaking with the same divine authority that the clouds and thunder obey. It highlights that the very voice of the cosmos, the thunder…
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Last reviewed October 2026