Job 38:37
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
Original Language Analysis
מִֽי
H4310
מִֽי
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
1 of 8
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יְסַפֵּ֣ר
Who can number
H5608
יְסַפֵּ֣ר
Who can number
Strong's:
H5608
Word #:
2 of 8
properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra
שְׁחָקִ֣ים
the clouds
H7834
שְׁחָקִ֣ים
the clouds
Strong's:
H7834
Word #:
3 of 8
a powder (as beaten small); by analogy, a thin vapor; by extension, the firmament
וְנִבְלֵ֥י
the bottles
H5035
וְנִבְלֵ֥י
the bottles
Strong's:
H5035
Word #:
5 of 8
a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); also a lyre (as having a body of like form)
שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם
of heaven
H8064
שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
6 of 8
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
Historical Context
Ancient peoples observed clouds for weather prediction but had no understanding of atmospheric physics or meteorology. Rain was mysterious, sometimes appearing from clear skies and sometimes withholding despite cloudy conditions. God's questions highlight human ignorance of these essential life-sustaining processes, emphasizing dependence on divine provision rather than human manipulation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's precise control over weather phenomena inform your understanding of His providence in your circumstances?
- What areas of your life seem as unpredictable as weather, and how does this verse speak to that uncertainty?
- In what ways do you seek to 'number' or control what only God's wisdom can comprehend?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God's questions about clouds emphasize both knowledge and power. 'Number the clouds in wisdom' (saphar shechaqim, סָפַר שְׁחָקִים) asks who possesses sufficient understanding to count and categorize atmospheric phenomena. 'Stay the bottles of heaven' (shakab niblei, שָׁכַב נִבְלֵי) uses imagery of tipping or pouring water containers—who can tip the heavenly reservoirs to release rain? The term 'bottles' (nebelim, נְבֵלִים) can also mean clouds or water-skins, emphasizing containment and controlled release. This verse reveals God's meticulous governance—He doesn't merely unleash weather randomly but numbers each cloud and measures each rainfall precisely. The 'wisdom' required transcends mere counting to include understanding the purpose and timing of each cloud formation. This points to divine providence where nothing is random or wasteful; every drop of rain serves God's sovereign purpose (Isaiah 55:10-11).