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Selected Verse: Job 38:20 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Job 38:20 |
Strong Concordance |
That thou shouldest take [03947] it to the bound [01366] thereof, and that thou shouldest know [0995] the paths [05410] to the house [01004] thereof? |
|
King James |
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Dost thou know its place so well as to be able to guide, ("take" as in Isa 36:17) it to (but UMBREIT, "reach it in") its own boundary, that is, the limit between light and darkness (Job 26:10)? |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
That thou shouldest take it to the bounds thereof - Margin, "or, at." The sense seems to be this: God asks Job whether he was so well acquainted with the sources of light, and the place where it dwelt, that he could take it under his guidance and reconduct it to its place of abode.
And that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? - The same idea is repeated here. Light has a home; a place of abode. It was far distant - in some region unknown to man. Did Job know the way in which it came, and the place where it dwelt so well, that he could conduct it back again to its own dwelling? Umbreit, Noyes, and Herder, suppose that this is to be understood ironically.
"For thou hast reached its boundaries!
For then knowest the path to its dwelling!"
But it has been commonly regarded as a question, and thus understood it accords better with the connection. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Take it - Bring or lead it: and this it refers principally to the light, and to darkness, as the consequent of the other. Bound - Its whole course from the place of its abode whence it is supposed to come, to the end of its journey. Know - Where thou mayst find it, and whence thou mayst fetch it. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Shouldest take it to the bound thereof? - Or, as Mr. Good, translates, "That thou shouldest lay hold of it in its boundary." That thou shouldest go to the very spot where light commences, and where darkness ends; and see the house where each dwells. Here darkness and light are personified, each as a real intelligent being, having a separate existence and local dwelling. But poetry animates everything. It is the region of fictitious existence. I believe this verse should be translated thus: - "For thou canst take Us to its boundary; for thou knowest the paths to its house." This is a strong irony, and there are several others in this Divine speech. Job had valued himself too much on his knowledge; and a chief object of this august speech is to humble his "knowing pride," and to cause him to seek true wisdom and humility where they are to be found. |
10 He hath compassed [02328] the waters [06440] [04325] with bounds [02706], until the day [0216] and night [02822] come to an end [08503].
17 Until I come [0935] and take you away [03947] to a land [0776] like your own land [0776], a land [0776] of corn [01715] and wine [08492], a land [0776] of bread [03899] and vineyards [03754].