Job 38:1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּֽעַן
answered
H6030
וַיַּֽעַן
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 7
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
יְהוָ֣ה
Then the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
Then the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 7
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִ֥נ׀
H4480
מִ֥נ׀
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
5 of 7
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Job 40:6Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,1 Kings 19:11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:Nahum 1:3The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.Ezekiel 1:4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.2 Kings 2:11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Historical Context
Theophanies in the ancient Near East often involved storm imagery—Baal was storm god in Canaanite religion. Yahweh's appearance in whirlwind asserts His supremacy over all creation and supposed deities. The whirlwind theophany continues Israel's experience of God's self-revelation through powerful natural phenomena. God's direct speech resolves the narrative tension—all human wisdom must yield to divine revelation.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's speaking out of the whirlwind teach about His power and transcendence?
- How does the shift from human debate to divine revelation reframe our approach to life's mysteries?
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Analysis & Commentary
The text records: 'Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said.' After 35 chapters of human speeches, Yahweh (יְהוָה, LORD) speaks directly. The phrase min ha-searah (מִן־הַסְּעָרָה, out of the whirlwind) suggests theophany—divine manifestation through natural phenomena (cf. Exodus 19:16-19, 1 Kings 19:11-12, Ezekiel 1:4). The whirlwind signifies divine power, majesty, and otherness. God's direct answer vindicates Job's longing (23:3-5, 31:35) yet comes not with explanation but with questions that reframe the entire discussion. The shift from human debate to divine revelation marks the book's climax.