John Gill Commentary Job 37:22

John Gill Commentary

Job 37:22

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Job 37:22

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty." — Job 37:22 (ASV)

Fair weather comes out of the north
Or "gold" F24 , which some understand literally; this being found in northern climates as well as southern, as Pliny relates F25 ; particularly in Colchis and Scythia, which lay to the north of Palestine and Arabia; and is thought by a learned man F26 to be here intended: though to understand it figuratively of the serenity of the air, bright and pure as gold, or of fair weather, which is golden weather, as Mr. Broughton renders it, ``through the north the golden comes,'' seems best to agree with the subject Elihu is upon; and such weather comes from the north, through the north winds, which drive away rain (Proverbs 25:23).

With God is terrible majesty;
Majesty belongs to him as he is King of kings, whose kingdom of nature and providence is; and he is the Governor among and over the nations of the world. His throne is prepared in the heavens; that is his throne, and his kingdom rules over all: and this majesty of his is "terrible", commanding awe and reverence among all men, who are his subjects; and especially among his saints and peculiar people; and strikes a terror to others, even to great personages, the kings and princes of the earth. To them the Lord is sometimes terrible now, and will be hereafter (see Psalms 76:12, Revelation 6:15–17). He is also terrible to all Christless sinners, especially when he comes to judgment (see Isaiah 2:19, 2 Corinthians 5:11).

Or "terrible praise" F1 ; for God is "fearful in praises" (Exodus 15:11); which may respect the subject of praise, terrible things, and the manner of praising him with fear and reverence (Psalms 106:22, 2:11).


FOOTNOTES:

  • F24: (bhz) "aurum", Pagninus, Montanus
  • F25: Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 11. & l. 33. c. 3, 4.
  • F26: Reland. de Paradiso, s. 9, 10. p. 22, 23, 24. And, in the countries farthest north were mines of gold formerly, as Olaus Magnus relates, though now destroyed. De Ritu Gent. Septent. l. 6, 11. Vid. l. 3, 5.
  • F1: (dwh arwn) (foberov ainov) , Symmachus, "formidolosa laudatio", V. L. "terribilem laude", Vatablus.