Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Job 36:29

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Job 36:29. Can any understand the spreadings of the clouds — Though the vapour appear to be fortuitously raised, and subject, when suspended in the atmosphere, to innumerable accidents, to different winds and currents which might drive it all to the sandy deserts, or direct its course so that it should fall again into the great deep from which it has been exhaled, without watering and refreshing the earth; yet so does the good and wise providence of God manage this matter, that every part of the arable terrene surface receives an ample supply; and in every place, where requisite, it may be truly said that "The rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and water the earth, and cause it to bring forth and bud, that it may minister seed to the sower, and bread to the eater."

In Egypt, where there is little or no rain, the earth is watered by the annual inundation of the Nile; there, because this system of evaporation is not necessary, it does not exist. Who can account for this economy? How are these clouds so judiciously and effectually spread through the atmosphere, so as to supply the wants of the earth, of men, and of cattle? I ask, with Elihu, "Who can understand the spreadings of these clouds?" And I should like to see that volunteer in the solution of paradoxes who would step forward and say, I am the man.

The noise of his tabernacle? — By the tabernacle we may understand the whole firmament or atmospheric expansion; the place where the Almighty seems more particularly to dwell; whence he sends forth the rain of his strength, and the thunder of his power.

The noise must refer to the blowing of winds and tempests. or to the claps, peals, and rattling of thunder, by means of the electric fluid.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

God’s unknowable purposes (36:1-37:24)

Elihu, believing he has all the answers to Job’s questions, says he will now answer Job on God’s behalf (36:1-4). Certainly, God punishes the wicked, but he does not despise all who suffer. If the afflicted are truly righteous, they will soon be exalted (5-7). The reason he afflicts them is to show them their sin. If they repent, they will enjoy renewed and unbroken contentment; if not, they will suffer horrible deaths (8-12).
Only the ungodly rebel against God because of their afflictions; the righteous submit. They listen to what God teaches them through suffering and so find new life and renewed prosperity (13-16). Job’s present suffering is a fitting punishment from God. No payment of money, no cry to God, no longing for death will bring him relief (17-21).
Instead of accusing God of injustice, Job should submit to his afflictions, realizing that by these God is teaching him (22-23). Elihu then reminds Job of the mighty God before whom Job should bow. This God is great beyond a person’s understanding (24-26). God controls everything. He makes clouds, rain, lightning and thunder, and he uses these things to bring upon people either blessing or judgment (27-33). Thunder is like the voice of God proclaiming his majesty (37:1-5). When he sends rain, snow and ice, people have to stop work and animals look for warmth in their dens (6-10). God uses the forces of nature according to his perfect purposes (11-13).
Who is Job to argue with such a God? What does he know of God’s workings (14-18)? Who can question such a God? By arguing with him, Job is running the risk of being struck dead (19-20). If even the sun is too bright for people to look at, how much more will the majesty of God blind them. People cannot fully understand God, but they know he always acts rightly. Job should not argue with God but stand in awe of him (21-24).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

THE GLORIES OF GOD'S CONTROL OF HIS CREATION

"Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung. All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off. Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable. For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distill in rain from his vapor, Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly. Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion? Behold he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea. For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance. He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up."

"Elihu here takes up again his theme of the greatness of God, calling the phenomena of nature to witness God's might."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 440. Rawlinson commented that, "It must be allowed that this passage is eloquent."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 578.

This whole dissertation on the wonders of God's control of nature, etc., "Is relevant to Elihu's speech, only because he believes that it is God's creative power that gives him the right to be the moral judge of the world."The New Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 585.

"The noise thereof telleth concerning him" This says that God's greatness is attested by the thunder; and supporting Rawlinson's idea that an approaching thunderstorm prompted these lines, we have the following statement in Job 36:33 b.

"And the cattle concerning the storm that cometh up" The imagery that comes to mind here is that of the movement of cattle toward shelter or protection from an approaching storm.

However, the exact meaning of the verse here, like several others in this chapter, is by no means certain. "This verse is notoriously difficult. Half a century ago, Peake noted that there have been more than thirty renditions of the verse."The Anchor Bible (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1982), op. cit., p. 238. In the judgment of this writer, our version, the ASV, is superior to any others that we have seen. Although, "The word storm is supplied here,"Ibid. it fits perfectly; because of, "The ancient observation that cattle seem to have a presentiment of an approaching storm."Ibid.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Also, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds? - The out spreading - the manner in which they expand themselves over us. The idea is, that the manner in which the clouds seem to “spread out,” or unfold themselves on the sky, could not be explained, and was a striking proof of the wisdom and power of God. In the early periods of the world, it could not be expected that the causes of these phenomena would be known. Now that the causes “are” better known, however, they do not less indicate the wisdom and power of God, nor are these facts less fitted to excite our wonder. The simple and beautiful laws by which the clouds are suspended; by which they roll in the sky; by which they spread themselves out - as in a rising tempest, and by which they seem to unfold themselves over the heavens, should increase, rather than diminish, our conceptions of the wisdom and power of the Most High.

Or, the noise of his tabernacle - Referring, doubtless, to thunder. The clouds are represented as a tent or pavilion spread out for the dwelling of God (compare the notes at Isaiah 40:22), and the idea here is, that the noise made in a thunder-storm is in the unique dwelling of God. Herder well expresses it, “The fearful thunderings in his tent,” compare Psalms 18:11 -

He made darkness his secret place,

His pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

The sense here is, who can understand and explain the cause of thunder? The object of Elihu in this is, to show how great and incomprehensible is God, and nature furnishes few more impressive illustrations of this than the crash of thunder.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 36

Elihu continued ( Job 36:1 ),

He's really taking him on.

Just allow me a little more, and I'm going to show you what I have to speak on God's behalf. I'm going to fetch my knowledge from far off, I'm going to ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee ( Job 36:2-4 )

"Here I am, folks." This young guy is really getting carried away. "He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee."

Behold, [he said,] God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He withdraws not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be held in cords of affliction; Then he shows them their work and transgressions where they have exceeded. He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and shall die without knowledge. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them ( Job 36:5-13 ).

Now he's talking really about Job making a direct application because Job is saying, "I'm innocent. I haven't done anything." So this is ascribing now to Job as a hypocrite in his heart. He heaps up God's wrath. He doesn't cry when God has bound him.

They die in youth, their life is among the unclean. He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens the ears in oppression. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness ( Job 36:14-16 ).

If you'd only have repented, if you'd only asked for forgiveness, God would have taken you out of these straits.

But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice have taken hold on thee. Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: and a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor the forces of strength. Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this has been chosen rather than affliction. Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him? Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof ( Job 36:17-27 );

Now, evidently as Elihu is talking, this storm is moving in. And so the kid is so busy talking, he starts now using some of the rain that starts to fall, as so forth, and he started to weave it into his speech. But he is actually now drawing from the weather as this storm moves in. In a few moments, God is going to speak out of the storm; out of the whirlwind, God is going to speak. But evidently this storm is building up and the thunder begins and the lightening, and he begins to sort of interweave this into his speech. He said,

For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Behold, he spreads his light upon it, and covers the bottom of the sea. For by them judges he the people; he gives meat in abundance. With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine and by the cloud that cometh between. The noise thereof showeth concerning it, and the cattle also concerning the vapor ( Job 36:27-33 ). "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds,.... Or "of a cloud" l, a thick cloud, a single one; which sometimes at the beginning is very small, about the size of a man's hand,

1 Kings 18:44; and which in a little time spreads all over the heavens, and covers them with black clouds and darkness; none can understand, describe, and tell by what means so small a cloud at first appearance is spread to such a prodigious extent; and which is done partly for the use of God himself, to be a pavilion or tent around him,

Psalms 18:11; and partly for the use of men, either to let down ram on the several parts of the world, or to be a sort of an umbrella to men, to shelter them from scorching heat; nor can any understand how the clouds, stretched out to such a compass, are poised and balanced in the air, so as to retain their position as long as it is the pleasure of God; see Job 37:16. Ben Gersom, who is followed by others m, interprets this of the differences of the clouds, which are unaccountable, as to the form and colour of them being curious, and the matter which they contain or what issues from them; out of some rain, others hail, others snow and sleet, others wind, others thunder and lightning; and yet all arise from the same, even from vapours exhaled from the earth and sea; some become moist and cold, others hot and dry. As clouds are emblems of Gospel ministers, Isaiah 5:6; this may lead us to observe the different gifts of grace bestowed on them, and the different uses they are of; some are Boanergeses, sons of thunder, Mark 3:17; others Barnabases, sons of consolation, Acts 4:36; and the extent of the Gospel ministry all over the world, which first began as a small cloud over the land of Judea, and then was spread throughout the Gentile world;

[or] the noise of his tabernacle; the tabernacle of God, which are the clouds, which are laid as the flooring of his palace, and are drawn about him as a tent or pavilion, Psalms 104:3, where he sits invisible, and from whence, as a general of an army, he issues out his orders, and sends forth his artillery, rain, hail, snow, thunder, and lightning, and stormy wind fulfilling his word; the noise hereof is either the noise of the waters in the clouds, the sound of an abundance of rain, 1 Kings 18:41; or of the blustering winds, by which the clouds are moved and portend rain; or of the thunder that bursts out of them with a vehement noise, and which is usually followed with rain; and the thunder of his power who can understand? Job 26:14. This may be an emblem of the voice of God in his Gospel out of his tabernacle, the church, which the natural man understands not; or the voice of God in his providences, in which he speaks to men once and twice, and they perceive it not.

l עב "nubis", Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Piscator, Schultens. m מפרשי "differentias", Pagninus; "varietates", Vatablus.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.   25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.   26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.   27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:   28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.   29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?   30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.   31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.   32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.   33 The noise thereof showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

      Elihu is here endeavouring to possess Job with great and high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him into a cheerful submission to his providence.

      I. He represents the work of God, in general, as illustrious and conspicuous, Job 36:24; Job 36:24. His whole work is so. God does nothing mean. This is a good reason why we should acquiesce in all the operations of his providence concerning us in particular. His visible works, those of nature, and which concern the world in general, are such as we admire and commend, and in which we observe the Creator's wisdom, power, and goodness; shall we then find fault with his dispensations concerning us, and the counsels of his will concerning our affairs? We are here called to consider the work of God,Ecclesiastes 7:13. 1. It is plain before our eyes, nothing more obvious: it is what men behold. Every man that has but half an eye may see it, may behold it afar off. Look which way we will, we see the productions of God's wisdom and power; we see that done, and that doing, concerning which we cannot but say, This is the work of God, the finger of God; it is the Lord's doing. Every man may see, afar off, the heaven and all its lights, the earth and all its fruits, to be the work of Omnipotence; much more when we behold them nigh at hand. Look at the minutest works of nature through a microscope; do they not appear curious? The eternal power and godhead of the Creator are clearly seen and understood by the things that are made,Romans 1:20. Every man, even those that have not the benefit of divine revelation, may see this; for there is no speech or language where the voice of these natural constant preachers is not heard,Psalms 19:3. 2. It ought to be marvellous in our eyes. The beauty and excellency of the work of God, and the agreement of all the parts of it, are what we must remember to magnify and highly to extol, not only justify it as right and good, and what cannot be blamed, but magnify it as wise and glorious, and such as no creature could contrive or produce. Man may see his works, and is capable of discerning his hand in them (which the beasts are not), and therefore ought to praise them and give him the glory of them.

      II. He represents God, the author of them, as infinite and unsearchable, Job 36:26; Job 36:26. The streams of being, power, and perfection should lead us to the fountain. God is great, infinitely so,--great in power, for he is omnipotent and independent,--great in wealth, for he is self-sufficient and all-sufficient,--great in himself,--great in all his works,--great, and therefore greatly to be praised,--great, and therefore we know him not. We know that he is, but not what he is. We know what he is not, but not what he is. We know in part, but not in perfection. This comes in here as a reason why we must not arraign his proceedings, nor find fault with what he does, because it is speaking evil of the things that we understand not and answering a matter before we hear if. We know not the duration of his existence, for it is infinite. The number of his years cannot possibly be searched out, for he is eternal; there is no number of them. He is a Being without beginning, succession, or period, whoever was, and ever will be, and ever the same, the great I AM. This is a good reason why we should not prescribe to him, nor quarrel with him, because, as he is, such are his operations, quite out of our reach.

      III. He gives some instances of God's wisdom, power, and sovereign dominion, in the works of nature and the dispensations of common providence, beginning in this chapter with the clouds and the rain that descends from them. We need not be critical in examining either the phrase or the philosophy of this noble discourse. The general scope of it is to show that God is infinitely great, and the Lord of all, the first cause and supreme director of all the creatures, and has all power in heaven and earth (whom therefore we ought, with all humility and reverence, to adore, to speak well of, and to give honour to), and that it is presumption for us to prescribe to him the rules and methods of his special providence towards the children of men, or to expect from him an account of them, when the operations even of common providences about the meteors are so various and so mysterious and unaccountable. Elihu, to affect Job with God's sublimity and sovereignty, had directed him (Job 35:5; Job 35:5) to look unto the clouds. In Job 36:24-33 he shows us what we may observe in the clouds we see which will lead us to consider the glorious perfections of their Creator. Consider the clouds,

      1. As springs to this lower world, the source and treasure of its moisture, and the great bank through which it circulates--a very necessary provision, for its stagnation would be as hurtful to this lower world as that of the blood to the body of man. It is worth while to observe in this common occurrence, (1.) That the clouds above distil upon the earth below. If the heavens become brass, the earth becomes iron; therefore thus the promise of plenty runs, I will hear the heavens and they shall hear the earth. This intimates to us that every good gift is from above, from him who is both Father of lights and Father of the rain, and it instructs us to direct our prayers to him and to look up. (2.) That they are here said to distil upon man (Job 36:28; Job 36:28); for, though indeed God causes it to rain in the wilderness where no man is (Job 38:26; Psalms 104:11), yet special respect is had to man herein, to whom the inferior creatures are all made serviceable and from whom the actual return of the tribute of praise is required. Among men, he causes his rain to fall upon the just and upon the unjust,Matthew 5:45. (3.) They are said to distil the water in small drops, not in spouts, as when the windows of heaven were opened,Genesis 7:11. God waters the earth with that with which he once drowned it, only dispensing it in another manner, to let us know how much we lie at his mercy, and how kind he is, in giving rain by drops, that the benefit of it may be the further and the more equally diffused, as by an artificial water-pot. (4.) Though sometimes the rain comes in very small drops, yet, at other times, it pours down in great rain, and this difference between one shower and another must be resolved into the divine Providence which orders it so. (5.) Though it comes down in drops, yet it distils upon man abundantly (Job 36:28; Job 36:28), and therefore is called the river of God which is full of water,Job 65:9. (6.) The clouds pour down according to the vapour that they draw up, Job 36:27; Job 36:27. So just the heavens are to the earth, but the earth is not so in the return it makes. (7.) The produce of the clouds is sometimes a great terror, and at other times a great favour, to the earth, Job 36:31; Job 36:31. When he pleases by them he judges the people he is angry with. Storms, and tempests, and excessive rains, destroying the fruits of the earth and causing inundations, come from the clouds; but, on the other hand, from them, usually, he gives meat in abundance; they drop fatness upon the pastures that are clothed with flocks, and the valleys that are covered with corn,Psalms 65:11-13. (8.) Notice is sometimes given of the approach of rain, Job 36:33; Job 36:33. The noise thereof, among other things, shows concerning it. Hence we read (1 Kings 18:41) of the sound of abundance of rain, or (as it is in the margin) a sound of a noise of rain, before it came; and a welcome harbinger it was then. As the noise, so the face of the sky, shows concerning it, Luke 12:56. The cattle also, by a strange instinct, are apprehensive of a change in the weather nigh at hand, and seek for shelter, shaming man, who will not foresee the evil and hide himself.

      2. As shadows to the upper world (Job 36:29; Job 36:29): Can any understand the spreading of the clouds? They are spread over the earth as a curtain or canopy; how they come to be so, how stretched out, and how poised, as they are, we cannot understand, though we daily see they are so. Shall we then pretend to understand the reasons and methods of God's judicial proceedings with the children of men, whose characters and cases are so various, when we cannot account for the spreadings of the clouds, which cover the light?Job 36:32; Job 36:32. It is a cloud coming betwixt,Job 36:32; Job 26:9. And this we are sensible of, that, by the interposition of the clouds between us and the sun, we are, (1.) Sometimes favoured; for they serve as an umbrella to shelter us from the violent heat of the sun, which otherwise would beat upon us. A cloud of dew in the heat of harvest is spoken of as a very great refreshment. Isaiah 18:4. (2.) Sometimes we are by them frowned upon; for they darken the earth at noon-day and eclipse the light of the sun. Sin is compared to a cloud (Isaiah 44:22), because it comes between us and the light of God's countenance and obstructs the shining of it. But though the clouds darken the sun for a time, and pour down rain, yet (post nubila Phoebus--the sun shines forth after the rain), after he has wearied the cloud, he spreads his light upon it,Job 36:30; Job 36:30. There is a clear shining after rain,2 Samuel 23:4. The sunbeams are darted forth, and reach to cover even the bottom of the sea, thence to exhale a fresh supply of vapours, and so raise recruits for the clouds, Job 36:30; Job 36:30. In all this, we must remember to magnify the work of God.