Albert Barnes Commentary Job 38

Then the Lord answered Job — This speech is addressed particularly to Job, not only because he is the principal personage referred to in the book, but particularly because he had indulged in language of murmuring and complaint. God designed to bring him to a proper state of mind before he appeared openly for his vindication. It is the purpose of God, in his dealings with his people, to bring them to a proper state of mind before he appears as their vindicator and friend, and therefore, their trials are often prolonged, and when he appears, he seems at first to come only to rebuke them. Job had indulged in very improper feelings, and it was necessary that those feelings should be subdued before God would reveal himself as his friend, and address him in words of consolation.

Out of the whirlwind — The tempest; the storm—probably that which Elihu had seen approaching (Job 37:21–24). God is often represented as speaking to people in this manner. He spoke amid lightnings and tempests on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16–19), and he is frequently represented as appearing amid the thunders and lightnings of a tempest, as a symbol of his majesty; compare (Psalms 18:9–13); (Habakkuk 3:3–6). The word here rendered “whirlwind” means rather “a storm, a tempest.” The Septuagint renders this verse, After Elihu had ceased speaking, the Lord spoke to Job from a tempest and clouds.

Who is this? – This refers undoubtedly to Job, for he is specified in the previous verse. Some have understood it as referring to Elihu (see Schultens), but the connection evidently demands that it should be understood as referring to Job. The object was to reprove him for the presumptuous manner in which he had spoken of God and His government. It was important, before God manifested His approval of Job, that He should first declare His view of what Job had said and show him how improper it was to use such language.

That darkeneth counsel – This means making the subject darker. Instead of explaining the reason for God’s dealings and vindicating God from the objections alleged against Him and His government, the only tendency of what Job had said had been to make His government appear dark, severe, and unjust in the view of his friends. It might have been expected of Job, being a friend of God, that all he said would have tended to inspire confidence in God, and to explain and vindicate the divine dealings; but God had seen much that was the very reverse. Even the true friends of God, in dark times of trial, may say many things that will tend to make people doubt the wisdom and goodness of His government and to prejudice the minds of the wicked against Him.

By words without knowledge – These are words that did not contain a true explanation of the difficulty. They conveyed no light about His dealings; they did not tend to satisfy the mind or to make the subject clearer than it was before. There is much of this kind of speaking in the world: much that is written, and much that falls from the lips in debate, in preaching, and in conversation, that explains nothing and even leaves the subject more perplexed than it was before. We see from this verse that God does not and cannot approve of such words. If God’s friends speak, they should vindicate His government; they should at least express their conviction that He is right; they should aim to explain His doings and to show to the world that they are reasonable. If they cannot do this, they should adore in silence.

The Savior never spoke of God in such a way as to leave any doubt that His ways could be vindicated, never so as to leave the impression that He was harsh or severe in His administration, or so as to lend the least countenance to a spirit of murmuring and complaining.

Gird up now thy loins like a man - To gird up the loins is a phrase that alludes to the mode of dress in ancient times. The loose, flowing robe that was commonly worn was fastened with a girdle when men ran, labored, or engaged in conflict (see the notes at Matthew 5:38-41).

The idea here is, “Make yourself as strong and vigorous as possible; be prepared to put forth the highest effort.” God was about to put him to a task that would require all his ability—that of explaining the facts that were constantly occurring in the universe.

The whole passage is ironical. Job had undertaken to tell what he knew of the divine administration, and God now calls upon him to show his claims to the office of such an expositor. So wise a man as he was, who could pronounce on the hidden counsels of the Most High with so much confidence, could assuredly explain those things that pertained to the visible creation.

The phrase “like a man” means boldly, courageously (compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 16:13).

I will demand of thee, and answer thou me - Margin, as in Hebrew, “make me known.” The meaning is, “I will submit some questions or subjects of inquiry to you for solution. Since you have spoken with so much confidence of my government, I will propose some inquiries as a test of your knowledge.”

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? — The first appeal is to the creation. The question here, “Where were you?” implies that Job was not present. He did not exist then. He could not, therefore, have aided God, or counseled Him, or understood what He was doing. How presumptuous, therefore, it was for one so short-lived to sit in judgment on the doings of Him who had formed the world! How little could he expect to be able to know of Him!

The expression, “laid the foundations of the earth,” is taken from building an edifice. The foundations are first laid, and the superstructure is then reared. It is a poetic image and is not designed to give any intimation about the actual process by which the earth was made or the manner in which it is sustained.

If you have understanding — Margin, as in Hebrew, “if you know.” That is, “Declare how it was done. Explain the manner in which the earth was formed and fixed in its place, and by which the beautiful world grew up under the hand of God.” If Job could not do this, what presumption it was for him to speak as he had done of the divine administration!

Who has laid its measures — That is, as an architect applies his measures when he builds a house.

If you know — Or rather, “for you know.” The expression is entirely ironical and is designed to rebuke Job’s claims of being able to explain the divine administration.

Or who has stretched the line upon it — As a carpenter uses a line to mark out his work (see the notes at Isaiah 28:17). The earth is represented as a building, the plan of which was laid out beforehand, and which was then made according to the sketch of the architect. It is not, therefore, the work of chance or fate. It is laid out and constructed according to a wise plan and in a method demonstrating infinite skill.