Job 37:12
And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
Original Language Analysis
וְה֤וּא
H1931
וְה֤וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
1 of 12
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מְסִבּ֨וֹת׀
round about
H4524
מְסִבּ֨וֹת׀
round about
Strong's:
H4524
Word #:
2 of 12
a divan (as enclosing the room); abstractly (adverbial) around
מִתְהַפֵּ֣ךְ
And it is turned
H2015
מִתְהַפֵּ֣ךְ
And it is turned
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
3 of 12
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
בְּתַחְבּֽוּלֹתָ֣ו
by his counsels
H8458
בְּתַחְבּֽוּלֹתָ֣ו
by his counsels
Strong's:
H8458
Word #:
4 of 12
(only in plural) properly, steerage (as a management of ropes), i.e., (figuratively) guidance or (by implication) a plan
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְצַוֵּ֓ם׀
whatsoever he commandeth
H6680
יְצַוֵּ֓ם׀
whatsoever he commandeth
Strong's:
H6680
Word #:
8 of 12
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֖י
them upon the face
H6440
פְּנֵ֖י
them upon the face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
10 of 12
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Historical Context
Against ancient Near Eastern chaos-mythology where storms represented divine conflict, Elihu insists weather follows divine 'counsels'—deliberate wisdom-plans, not arbitrary caprice. This reflects Israel's unique understanding of creation as ordered cosmos under single sovereign will.
Questions for Reflection
- If weather systems 'do whatsoever God commands,' how does this shape your theology of natural disasters?
- What does it mean that clouds follow God's 'counsels'—His wise plans—rather than mechanistic natural laws?
- How do you balance God's sovereignty over nature's violence with His character as loving Father?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
It is turned round about by his counsels (ve-hu mesibbot mithappek be-tahbulotav, וְהוּא מְסִבּוֹת מִתְהַפֵּךְ בְּתַחְבּוּלֹתָיו)—The verb hafak (הָפַךְ) means to turn or overturn; clouds rotate according to God's tahbulot (תַּחְבּוּלוֹת), meaning 'guidance' or 'wise direction.' That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them (lefa'loam kol 'asher yetsavvem, לְפָעֳלָם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֵּם)—weather systems have a mission (po'al, פֹּעַל, 'work' or 'purpose').
Elihu presents meteorology as teleological—clouds don't drift randomly but execute divine assignments 'upon the face of the world' ('al-pene tevel, עַל־פְּנֵי תֵבֵל). The same verb tsavah (צָוָה, 'command') used for God's moral law applies to atmospheric obedience. This anticipates Romans 8:19-22: creation itself groans awaiting redemption, subject to God's sovereign purposes.