Job 38:33
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Original Language Analysis
הֲ֭יָדַעְתָּ
Knowest
H3045
הֲ֭יָדַעְתָּ
Knowest
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
1 of 7
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
שָׁמָ֑יִם
of heaven
H8064
שָׁמָ֑יִם
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
3 of 7
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
4 of 7
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
Cross References
Psalms 148:6He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.Jeremiah 33:25Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;Genesis 1:16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.Genesis 8:22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern cosmology saw heaven and earth as interconnected realms, with heavenly bodies influencing earthly events. God's question affirms this connection while denying human ability to manipulate it. Unlike pagan priests who claimed to influence the gods through ritual, Scripture affirms that only Yahweh establishes the relationship between celestial and terrestrial realms.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the same divine wisdom that governs natural law also govern moral law in your understanding?
- What does it mean that Christ holds all things together, and how does this truth sustain you in chaos?
- In what ways do you try to 'set dominion' in areas where only God has authority?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God's question intensifies by addressing cosmic law and earthly governance simultaneously. 'Ordinances of heaven' (chuqqot shamayim, חֻקּוֹת שָׁמָיִם) refers to the fixed laws or statutes governing celestial bodies—what we might call physics or natural law. 'Set the dominion thereof in the earth' (mishtar, מִשְׁטָר) asks whether Job can establish heaven's rule or authority over earth. This verse reveals the interconnection between cosmic order and earthly reality—the same divine wisdom that governs planetary motion also governs moral law and human affairs. The question exposes the absurdity of finite creatures questioning God's justice while remaining ignorant of the fundamental laws sustaining their existence. Reformed theology emphasizes God's sovereignty over both natural and moral law, recognizing that the same divine character that established physical constants also established moral absolutes. The verse points toward Christ, through whom all things consist and hold together (Colossians 1:17).