Albert Barnes Commentary Job 38:1

"Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said," — Job 38:1 (ASV)

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.