the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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King James Version
Job 38:31
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- InternationalParallel Translations
"Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?
Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
"Can you tie up the stars of the Pleiades or loosen the ropes of the stars in Orion?
Can you tie the bands of the Pleiades, or release the cords of Orion?
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
"Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loosen the cords of Orion?
"Can you bind the chains of [the cluster of stars called] Pleiades, Or loose the cords of [the constellation] Orion?
"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?
Whether thou schalt mowe ioyne togidere schynynge sterris Pliades, ethir thou schalt mowe distrie the cumpas of Arturis?
Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion?
Can you arrange stars in groups such as Orion and the Pleiades?
Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
Are the bands of the Pleiades fixed by you, or are the cords of Orion made loose?
"Can you tie up the cords of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
"Can you tie up the Pleiades? Can you unfasten the belt of Orion?
Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bind the sweete influences of Pleiades? Or loose the bands of Orion?
"Can you tie the chains of the stars of Pleiades, or loose the ropes of Orion?
"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?
Canst thou restraine the sweete influences of the Pleiades? or loose the bandes of Orion?
Can you stop the movement of the Pleiades, or have you seen the path of Orion?
Can you tie the Pleiades together or loosen the bonds that hold Orion?
Canst thou bind the fetters of the Pleiades? Or, the bands of Orion, canst thou unloose?
Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus?
"Can you bind the chains of the Plei'ades, or loose the cords of Orion?
Wylt thou hinder the sweete influences of the seuen starres? or loose the bandes of Orion?
And dost thou understand the band of Pleias, and hast thou opened the barrier of Orion?
Can you fasten the chains of the Pleiadesor loosen the belt of Orion?
"Can you bind the cluster of the Kima, Or loosen the cords of Kesil?
"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or can you loosen the cords of Orion?
Can you bind the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
Hast thou brought ye vij. starres together? Or, art thou able to breake the Circle of heaue?
"Can you catch the eye of the beautiful Pleiades sisters, or distract Orion from his hunt? Can you get Venus to look your way, or get the Great Bear and her cubs to come out and play? Do you know the first thing about the sky's constellations and how they affect things on Earth?
"Can you tie up the chains of the Pleiades, Or untie the cords of Orion?
"Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?
"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion?
"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades,Or loose the cords of Orion?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Pleiades: or, the seven stars, Heb. Cimah, Job 9:9, *marg. Amos 5:8
Orion: or, Cesil
Reciprocal: Genesis 1:14 - and let Job 37:17 - he
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades,.... Of which :-; and this constellation of the seven stars which is meant, rising in the spring, the pleasantnesses of the season, as the word may be rendered, may be intended here; which cannot be restrained or hindered from taking place in the proper course of the year; which is beautifully described in Song of Solomon 2:12; and may in a spiritual sense relate to the effects of powerful and efficacious grace, the influences of which are irresistible, and cause a springtime in the souls of men, where it was before winter, a state of darkness, deadness, coldness, hardness, and unfruitfulness, but now the reverse. Some versions read, "the bands of the Pleiades" l, as if the sense was, canst thou gather and bind, or cluster together, such a constellation as the seven stars be, as I have done? thou canst not; and so not stop their rising or hinder their influences, according to the other versions:
or loose the bands of Orion? of which Song of Solomon 2:12- : and Amos 5:8. This constellation appears in the winter, and brings with it stormy winds, rain, snow, and frost, which latter binds up the earth, that seeds and roots in it cannot spring up; and binds the hands of men from working, by benumbing them, or rendering their materials or utensils useless; for which reasons bands are ascribed to Orion, and are such strong ones that it is not in the power of men to loose: the seasons are not to be altered by men; and, Job might be taught by this that it was not in his power to make any change in the dispensations of Providence; to turn the winter of adversity into the spring of prosperity; and therefore it was best silently to submit to the sovereignty of God, and wait his time for a change of circumstances.
l מעדנות כימה δεσμον πλειαδος, Sept. "nexus stellarum", Schmidt; so Jarchi and Targum.--According to the Talmud, the word signifies an hundred stars. Vid. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 58. 2.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades? - The seven stars. On the meaning of the word used here (כימה kı̂ymâh), see the notes at Job 9:9. In regard to the meaning of the word rendered “sweet influences,” there has been considerable variety of interpretation. The Septuagint renders it, “Dost thou understand the band (δεσμόν desmon) of Pleiades?” The Hebrew word (מעדנה ma‛ădannâh) is naturally derived from a word signifying “pleasures,” or “delights” (מעדן ma‛âdan, from עדן ‛âdan, “to be soft, or pliant; to enjoy pleasure or delight”; hence, the word “Eden”), and then it would mean, as in our translation, the delightful influences of the Pleiades; or the influences supposed to be produced by this constellation in imparting happiness, particularly the pleasures enjoyed in the spring time, when that constellation makes its appearance. But Gesenius supposes that the word is derived from ענד ‛ânad, “to bind,” and that it is used by transposition for מענדות mā‛nadôth.
It would then refer to the “bands of Pleiades,” and the question would be whether Job had created the band which united the stars composing that constellation in so close union; whether he had bound them together in a cluster or bundle. This idea is adopted by Rosenmuller, Umbreit, and Noyes. Herder renders it, “the brilliant Pleiades.” The word “bands” applied to the Pleiades is not unfrequently used in Persian poetry. They were spoken of as a band or ornament for the forehead - or compared with a headband made up of diamonds or pearls. Thus, Sadi, in his Gullstan, p. 22, (Amsterdam, 1651), speaking of a garden, says,” The earth is strewed, as it were, with emeralds, and the bands of Pleiades appear upon the boughs of the trees.” So Hafiz, another Persian poet, says, in one of his odes, “Over thy songs heaven has strewed the bands of the Pleiades as a seal of immortality.” The Greenlanders call the Pleiades killukturset, a name given to them because they appear to be bound together.
“Egede’s Account of the Greenland Mission, p. 57;” see Rosenmuller, “Alte u. neue Morgenland, No. 768.” There seems, however, no good reason for departing from the usual meaning of the word, and then the reference will be to the time when the Pleiades or the seven stars make their appearance - the season of spring. Then the winter disappears; the streams are unlocked; the earth is covered with grass and flowers; the air is sweet and balmy; and a happy influence seems to set in upon the world. There may be some allusion here to the influence which the stars were supposed to exert over the seasons and the affairs of this world, but it is not necessary to suppose this. All that is required in the interpretation of the passage is, that the appearance of certain constellations was connected with certain changes in the seasons; as with spring, summer, or winter. It was not unnatural to infer from that fact, that the constellations exerted an influence in causing those changes, and hence, arose the pretended science of astrology. But there is no necessary connection between the two. The Pleiades appear in the spring, and seem to lead on that joyous season. These stars, so closely set together, seem to be bound to one another in a sisterly union (Herder), and thus joyously usher in the spring. God asks Job whether he were the author of that band, and had thus united them for the purpose of ushering in happy influences on the world.
Or loose the bands of Orion - In regard to this constellation, see the notes at Job 9:9. The word bands here has been supposed to refer to the girdle with which it is usually represented. Orion is here described as a man girded for action, and is the pioneer of winter. It made its appearance early in the winter, and was regarded as the precursor of storms and tempests; see the quotations in the notes at Job 9:9. Thus appearing in the autumn, this constellation seems to lead on the winter. It comes with strength. It spreads its influence over the air, the earth, the waters, and binds everything at its pleasure. God here asks Job whether he had power to disarm this giant; to unloose his girdle; to divest him of strength; to control the seasons? Had he power over summer and winter, so as to cause them to go or come at his bidding, and to control all those laws which produced them?
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 38:31. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades — The Pleiades are a constellation in the sign Taurus. They consist of six stars visible to the naked eye; to a good eye, in a clear night, seven are discernible; but with a telescope ten times the number may be readily counted. They make their appearance in the spring. Orion may be seen in the morning, towards the end of October, and is visible through November, December, and January; and hence, says Mr. Good, it becomes a correct and elegant synecdoche for the winter at large. The Pleiades are elegantly opposed to Orion, as the vernal renovation of nature is opposed to its wintry destruction; the mild and open benignity of spring, to the severe and icy inactivity of winter.
I have already expressed my mind on these supposed constellations, and must refer to my notes on Job 9:9, c., and to the learned notes of Doctor Hales and Mr. Mason Good on these texts. They appear certain, where I am obliged to doubt and, from their view of the subject, make very useful and important deductions. I find reluctance in departing from the ancient versions. In this case, these learned men follow them; I cannot, because I do not see the evidence of the groundwork; and I dare not draw conclusions from premises which seem to me precarious, or which I do not understand. I wish, therefore, the reader to examine and judge for himself.
Coverdale renders the 31st and 32d verses Job 38:31-32 thus:
Hast thou brought the VII starres together? Or, Art thou able to breake the circle of heaven? Canst thou bringe forth the morynge starre, or the evenynge starre, at convenient tyme, and conveye them home agayne?
