Job 37:3
He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient peoples feared lightning as uncontrollable divine wrath. Greek mythology attributed it to Zeus's weapon; Canaanite religion to Baal's arrows. Elihu's theology is radically different—the one true God directs each lightning strike according to His purposes under all heaven. This universal sovereignty (not limited to Israel's territory) prepares for God's self-revelation as Creator and Sustainer of all cosmos. The language anticipates God's questions to Job: 'Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?' (38:35).
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing that God 'directs' even lightning bolts affect your understanding of His detailed providence in your circumstances?
- What's the relationship between God's governance over nature's most powerful forces and His care for individual human lives?
- In what ways does Elihu's description of directed lightning prepare Job (and us) to submit to God's comprehensive sovereignty?
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Analysis & Commentary
He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth—God's governance extends to lightning's path. Tachat kol-hashamayim yishrehu (תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׁרֵהוּ, under all the heavens He directs it) uses yashar (יָשַׁר), meaning to make straight, level, or direct. The pronoun 'it' refers to God's voice/thunder from v. 2, but also to the lightning bolt itself—God aims each flash with precision. Tachat kol-hashamayim (under all the heavens) encompasses creation's entire expanse.
Ve'oro al-kanfot ha'aretz (וְאוֹרוֹ עַל־כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ, and His light to the wings/edges of the earth) personifies lightning as God's or (אוֹר, light), striking to kanfot (כַּנְפוֹת, wings/extremities/corners) of the earth. The word kanfot can mean literal wings or metaphorical edges—lightning reaches earth's furthest boundaries. This echoes Job 28:24, where God 'looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven.' What God sees, He governs. Lightning appears random and dangerous, yet follows divine direction. Jesus later teaches that God's providence extends even to sparrows (Matthew 10:29)—if lightning's path is directed, how much more individual lives?