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Job 38:25

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 38:25 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;
Job 38:25 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 38

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?
24By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;
26To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27To satisfy the waste and desolate [ground], And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
28Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
← Job 38:24Job 38:26 →
← Full Chapter 38 Job Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, etc.] For a very large shower of rain, as the Vulgate Latin version: for this is not to be understood of an aqueduct, channel, or canal made on earth, either for the draining of waters off of land overflowed thereby, or for the conveyance of it to different parts to overflow it; such as were cut out of the Nile in Egypt, for the overflowing of the land, to make it fruitful; such may be and have been made by men: but of a watercourse in the air or atmosphere, as a canal or channel, for the rain to come down upon the earth; and this is the work of God, and him only, who directs and steers the course of rain, that it falls regularly…”
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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
“waters--Rain falls, not in a mass on one spot, but in countless separate canals in the air marked out for them. way for the lightning-- (Job 28:26).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Who hath divided a water-course for the overflowing of waters - That is, for the waters that flow down from the clouds. The idea seems to be this, that the waters of heaven, instead of pouring down in floods, or all coming down together, seemed to flow in certain canals formed for them; as if they had been cut out through the clouds for that purpose. The causes of rain, the manner in which water was suspended in the clouds, and the reasons why the rain did not come down altogether in floods, early attracted attention, and gave occasion to investigation. The subject is more than once referred to in this book; see the notes at Job 26:8. Or a way for the lightning of thunder - For the…”
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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
“Overflowing - For the showers of rain which come down orderly, and gradually, as if they were conveyed in pipes or channels; which, without the care of God's providence, would fall confusedly, and overwhelm the earth. Lightning - For lightning and thunder? Who opened a passage for them out of the cloud in which they were imprisoned? And these are joined with the rain, because they are commonly accompanied with great showers of rain. Job 38:26”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Job 28:26, Job 36:27, Job 36:28, Job 37:3-6; Psa 29:3-10 Job 38:26”
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Related study paths

Read Job 38 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification