Job 37:18
Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
Original Language Analysis
תַּרְקִ֣יעַ
Hast thou with him spread out
H7554
תַּרְקִ֣יעַ
Hast thou with him spread out
Strong's:
H7554
Word #:
1 of 6
to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)
עִ֭מּוֹ
H5973
עִ֭מּוֹ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
2 of 6
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
לִשְׁחָקִ֑ים
the sky
H7834
לִשְׁחָקִ֑ים
the sky
Strong's:
H7834
Word #:
3 of 6
a powder (as beaten small); by analogy, a thin vapor; by extension, the firmament
חֲ֝זָקִ֗ים
which is strong
H2389
חֲ֝זָקִ֗ים
which is strong
Strong's:
H2389
Word #:
4 of 6
strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent)
Cross References
Isaiah 44:24Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;Psalms 104:2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:Exodus 38:8And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern peoples observed the sky's apparent solidity and reflective brilliance, especially in desert climates where the daytime sky appears as burnished metal. The bronze mirror comparison reflects Bronze Age technology (approximately 3000-1200 BC). Elihu uses imagery his audience understood: if skilled craftsmen beat bronze into mirrors, how much greater is God who 'hammered out' the vast heavens?
Questions for Reflection
- When did you last contemplate creation's vastness as a reason to trust God's wisdom in areas you don't understand?
- How does the fact that creation continues without human assistance inform your view of divine providence?
- What does our inability to 'spread the sky' teach about our inability to manage our own lives independently?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Hast thou with him spread out the sky (תַּרְקִיעַ שְׁחָקִים, tarqia shechaqim)—the verb רָקַע (raqa) means to stamp, beat out, or spread like hammering metal into thin sheets. The heavens appear strong (חֲזָקִים, chazaqim, firm/solid) as a molten looking glass (מַרְאָה יְצוּקָה, mareh yetzuqah), referring to polished bronze mirrors. Ancient Near Eastern cosmology pictured the sky as a solid dome (raqia, Genesis 1:6-8) beaten out like bronze, reflecting light brilliantly.
Elihu's challenge: Did you assist God in spreading the heavens? The question devastates human pretension. Isaiah 40:22 similarly describes God 'that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain.' We contribute nothing to creation's maintenance—the sky's daily appearance requires no human effort. If we cannot participate in upholding physical creation, we certainly cannot fathom God's moral purposes. This prepares for God's own response: 'Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?' (Job 38:4).