Job 38:7
when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to read this as just a poetic description of creation, but "sons of God" here clearly points to the angels. Their joyous shouts weren't just a reaction to beauty, but a proclamation of God's sovereignty, implicitly highlighting that Job had no part in this foundational moment of divine power.
God is challenging Job's understanding by taking him back to the very beginning of creation. He asks Job where he was when the foundational elements of the universe were put in place, picturing a cosmic celebration where angelic beings rejoiced at the dawn of existence. This sets the stage for God to reveal the vastness of His power and wisdom, far beyond Job's comprehension.
Imagine the very first sunrise painting the cosmos. Who was there to see it? And what was their reaction?
When God begins His grand work of creation in Genesis 1, Job 38:7 points to an audience already present: the angels. The "sons of God" are consistently understood by commentators as the angelic host, created before or during the early stages of creation. They are called "sons of God" not by birth, but by their unique creation and relationship to Him. They are also described as "morning stars" – brilliant, glorious beings who reflect God's light.
These celestial beings weren't passive observers. They actively participated in the momentous occasion, "singing together" and "shouting for joy." This wasn't just a muted applause; it was a cosmic chorus of pure exultation, celebrating the Creator's power and wisdom as He laid the foundations of the earth.
Was the joy of creation a one-time event, or does it have lasting implications for us today?
The "singing" and "shouting" of the morning stars and sons of God weren't just random sounds; they were a response to God's magnificent act of creation. This imagery echoes throughout Scripture, reminding us that creation itself testifies to God's glory. The stars, in their silent, majestic courses, and the angelic hosts, in their perpetual worship, continually praise Him.
This initial celebration also foreshadows future moments of divine joy and worship. Just as angels rejoiced at creation's dawn, they rejoiced at Christ's birth (Luke 2:13-14) and will rejoice at the completion of God's redemptive plan. This shows that God’s works, from the initial creation to the final restoration, are occasions for immense celebration.
Understand the original words
kowkab boqer · Hebrew Noun phrase
Celestial beings or angelic hosts who reflect God's glory and witness His creative acts with praise.
ben ‘elohim · Hebrew Noun phrase
A designation for angelic beings or heavenly creatures created by God, who exist in His presence and celebrate His sovereign majesty.
God highlights His creation and the joy of the angelic hosts at its inception to remind Job of His supreme authority and wisdom.
c. 4000 BC— this verse
Creation of the Heavens and Earth
God speaks the universe into existence, including the stars and likely the angels ('sons of God') who witnessed this foundational act.
c. 3900 BC
Creation of Angels
The angelic host is created, serving God and witnessing His creative works.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham Sees Christ's Day
Abraham, identified as a 'son of God,' rejoices in a prophetic vision of the Messiah, echoing the joy of creation.
c. 520 BC
Founding of Zerubbabel's Temple
During the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple, the people shout for joy, drawing parallels to the heavenly celebration at creation.
c. AD 30
Birth of Jesus
This verse describes the very beginning of creation, the 'morning' of existence, where the 'sons of God' (angels) would have first witnessed and rejoiced in God's powerful acts of creation.
Psalm 19:1This psalm echoes the sentiment of creation praising God, stating 'The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork,' suggesting a cosmic chorus that likely began at creation.
Luke 2:13-14This passage shows angels celebrating the birth of Jesus, demonstrating that angelic rejoicing is a pattern associated with God's significant acts throughout history, including the beginning of creation.
Zechariah 4:7This verse speaks of the completion of a great work with a 'shout of 'Grace, grace to it!'' paralleling the joy of the sons of God at creation's completion.
Revelation 5:11-12This vision of heavenly worship powerfully depicts countless angels joining in a chorus of praise, magnifying God's worthiness, reflecting the grand celebration Job 38:7 describes at the dawn of creation.
wesleyJob 38:7: "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
38:7 Stars - The angels, who may well be called morning - stars, because of their excellent lustre and glory. Sons of God - The angels called the sons of God, because they had their whole being from him, and because they were made partakers of his Divine and glorious image. Shouted - Rejoiced in and blessed God for his works, whereby he intimates, that they neither did advise or any way assist him, nor di…
jfbJob 38:7: "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
- So at the founding of Zerubbabel's temple (Ezr 3:10-13). So hereafter at the completion of the Church, the temple of the Holy Ghost (Zec 4:7); as at its foundation (Lu 2:13, 14).morning stars—especially beautiful. The creation morn is appropriately associated with these, it being the commencement of this world's day. The stars are figuratively said to sing God's praises, as in Ps 19:1; 148:3. They are…
It's easy to read this as just a poetic description of creation, but "sons of God" here clearly points to the angels. Their joyous shouts weren't just a reaction to beauty, but a proclamation of God's sovereignty, implicitly highlighting that Job had no part in this foundational moment of divine power.
God is challenging Job's understanding by taking him back to the very beginning of creation. He asks Job where he was when the foundational elements of the universe were put in place, picturing a cosmic celebration where angelic beings rejoiced at the dawn of existence. This sets the stage for God to reveal the vastness of His power and wisdom, far beyond Job's comprehension.
God is challenging Job's understanding by taking him back to the very beginning of creation. He asks Job where he was when the foundational elements of the universe were put in place, picturing a cosmic celebration where angelic beings rejoiced at the dawn of existence. This sets the stage for God to reveal the vastness of His power and wisdom, far beyond Job's comprehension.
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Angels announce Jesus' birth with songs of praise and joy, linking the work of salvation to the original act of creation.
"when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" — It's easy to read this as just a poetic description of creation, but "sons of God" here clearly points to the angels. Their joyous shouts weren't just a reaction to beauty, but a proclamation of God'…
