Job 37:4
After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
Original Language Analysis
אַחֲרָ֤יו׀
After
H310
אַחֲרָ֤יו׀
After
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
1 of 11
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
יַ֭רְעֵם
he thundereth
H7481
יַ֭רְעֵם
he thundereth
Strong's:
H7481
Word #:
4 of 11
to tumble, i.e., be violently agitated; specifically, to crash (of thunder); figuratively, to irritate (with anger)
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יְ֝עַקְּבֵ֗ם
and he will not stay
H6117
יְ֝עַקְּבֵ֗ם
and he will not stay
Strong's:
H6117
Word #:
8 of 11
to seize by the heel; figuratively, to circumvent (as if tripping up the heels); also to restrain (as if holding by the heel)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
9 of 11
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern peoples understood storms as theophanies—divine appearances. Unlike Canaanite Baal worship where storms were the god himself, Hebrew thought maintained God's transcendence: He commands the storm but is not identical with it. Elihu's theology bridges creation and revelation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing God's voice in natural phenomena (thunder, storms) differ from pantheism or nature worship?
- When has God 'thundered' in your life through circumstances that commanded attention without clear explanation?
- Why might God choose overwhelming natural displays rather than quiet whispers to reveal His majesty?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency—The Hebrew qôl (קוֹל) means 'voice' or 'sound,' used three times here to emphasize God's thunder as divine speech. The voice of his excellency (qôl ge'ônô, קוֹל גְּאוֹנוֹ) uses ga'on for 'majesty' or 'exaltation'—the same word describing God's transcendent glory in Isaiah 2:10.
He will not stay them (lo' ye'aqqebem, לֹא יְעַקְּבֵם)—God does not hold back the lightning bolts when He speaks. Elihu portrays nature's violence not as chaos but as God's articulate self-disclosure. This anticipates God's own thunderous speech from the whirlwind (Job 38:1), where divine voice and storm become one.