Job 37:5

5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

Job 37:5 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
English Standard Version (ESV)
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
The Message Bible (MSG)
5 His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding.
American Standard Version (ASV)
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
5 God's voice thunders in miraculous ways. It does great things that we cannot understand.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things that we cannot comprehend.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
5 God's voice thunders in wonderful ways. We'll never understand the great things he does.

Job 37:5 Meaning and Commentary

Job 37:5

God thundereth marvellously with his voice
Or "marvels" {c}, or marvellous things, which may respect the marvellous effects of thunder and lightning: such as rending rocks and mountains; throwing down high and strong towers; shattering to pieces high and mighty oaks and cedars, and other such like effects, mentioned in ( Psalms 29:5-9 ) ; and there are some things reported which seem almost incredible, were they not well attested facts; as that an egg should be consumed thereby, and the shell unhurt; a cask of liquor, the liquor in it spoiled, and the cask not touched; money melted in the purse, and the purse whole; the fetus in the womb killed, and the woman preserved; with other things of the like kind mentioned by various writers F4; and which are to be accounted for only by the swift motion and piercing and penetrating nature of lightning. So the voice of God in the Gospel thunders out and declares many wonderful things; as the doctrines of the trinity of Persons in one God; of the everlasting love of the three Persons; of the Person of Christ, and the union of the two natures in him; of his incarnation, of redemption and salvation by him; of regeneration by the spirit of God; of union to Christ, and communion with him; and of the resurrection of the dead: and it produces marvellous effects, attended with a divine power; as quickening sinners dead in trespasses and sins; enlightening those who are darkness itself; bearing down all opposition before it; casting down the strong holds of sin and Satan, and reducing the most stubborn and obstinate to the obedience of Christ;

great things doth he, which we cannot comprehend;
or "know" F5: great things in creation, the nature and causes of which lie greatly out of the reach of man; and which he rather guesses at than knows, and still less comprehends. Great things in providence; in sustaining all creatures and providing for them; and in the government of the world, and in his dispensations in it; his judgments being unsearchable, and his ways past finding out: and great things in grace; as the salvation of sinners by Christ, and the conversion of their souls by his Spirit; and even what is known of them is known but in part and very imperfectly. This is a transition to other great things done by the Lord, besides those before mentioned, and particular instances follow.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (twalpn) "mirabilia", Pagninus, Montanus.
F4 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 51. Senec. Nat. Quaest. l. 2. c. 31.
F5 (ern alw) "et nesciemus", Pagninus, Montanus; so Schultens.

Job 37:5 In-Context

3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.

Cross References 3

  • 1. S 1 Samuel 2:10; John 12:29
  • 2. S Job 36:33
  • 3. S Job 5:9; S Job 11:7-9; S Job 36:4
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.