Job 38:13

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 38:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
Job 38:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 38

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, etc.] As when the morning light springs forth, it quickly does, reaching in a short time the extreme part of the hemisphere; which, and what goes before, may be applied to the light of the Gospel, and the direction of that under divine Providence in the several parts of the world, and unto the ends of it; (see <191904> Psalm 19:4-6 <451018>Romans 10:18); that the wicked might be shaken out of it? the earth, by means of the light; which may be understood either of wicked men who have been all night upon works of darkness, and be take themselves on the approach of light to private lurking places, like beasts of prey, so that the earth seems to…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“take hold of the ends, &c.--spread itself over the earth to its utmost bounds in a moment. wicked--who hate the light, and do their evil works in the dark (Job 24:13). shaken out of it--The corners (Hebrew, "wings" or "skirts") of it, as of a garment, are taken hold of by the dayspring, so as to shake off the wicked.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“That it might take hold of the ends of the earth - Margin, as in Hebrew “wings.” Wings are in the Scriptures frequently given to the earth, because it seems to be spread out, and the expression refers to its extremities. The language is derived from the supposition that the earth was a plain, and had limits or bounds. The idea here is, that God causes the light of the morning suddenly to spread to the remotest parts of the world, and to reveal everything which was there. That the wicked might be shaken out of it - Out of the earth; that is, by the light which suddenly shines upon them. The sense is, that the wicked perform their deeds in the darkness of the night, and that in the morning…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“That - That this morning light should in a moment spread itself, from one end of the hemisphere to the other. Shaken - From the face of the earth. And this effect the morning - light hath upon the wicked, because it discovers them, whereas darkness hides them; and because it brings them to condign punishment, the morning being the usual time for executing judgment. Job 38:14”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“take: Psa 19:4-6, Psa 139:9-12 ends: Heb. wings, Job 37:3 \*marg. the wicked: Job 24:13-17; Exo 14:27; Psa 104:21, Psa 104:22, Psa 104:35 Job 38:14”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification