Job 36:28

"For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,"

Key Reflection

In Job 36:28, Elihu emphasizes God's control over the natural world, specifically the cycle of water and rain. For the ancient Israelites, this imagery would have been profoundly significant, as it underscored the divine power behind meteorological phenomena, reflecting a belief in a creator who governs even the most subtle aspects of nature like the condensation of vapor into raindrops.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Upon man abundantly -That is, upon many people. The clouds having received the ascending vapor, retain it, and pour it down copiously for the use of man. The arrangement, to the eye even of one who did not understand the scientific principles by which it is done, is beautiful and wonderful; the beauty and wonder are increased when the laws by which it is accomplished are understood. Elihu does not attempt to explain the mode by which this is done. The fact was probably all that was then understood, and that was sufficient for his purpose. The Septuagint has given a translation of this verse which cannot be well accounted for, and which is certainly very unlike the original.

More from Job 36

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