“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,
Parallel translations
- WEB But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
- KJV But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
- BSB But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night,
- NKJV But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,
- NLT Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Elihu laments that the oppressed cry out but no one asks, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?' True comfort comes from seeking God Himself.
Overview
Elihu's critique is that sufferers often cry from pain without turning to seek their Maker. God 'gives songs in the night,' granting joy and hope even in darkness (cf. Ps. 42:8; Acts 16:25). The verse calls the afflicted to seek the Lord, not merely relief, a seeking that finds its rest in Christ, who is our song and consolation in every trial.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 42:8Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life.
- Acts 16:25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
- Ps 149:5Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds.
- Ps 77:6I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:
- Isa 51:13Have you forgotten Yahweh your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? Do you live in fear continually all day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he prepares to destroy? Where is the fury of the oppressor?
- Eccl 12:1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
- 1 Pet 4:19Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.
- Isa 54:5For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth.
- Job 36:13“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
- Job 27:10Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?
- 2 Chr 28:22–23In the time of his distress, he trespassed yet more against Yahweh, this same king Ahaz.
- Isa 8:21They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry; and it will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward,
- Job 32:22For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.
- Job 36:3I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
- 1 Chr 10:13–14So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of Yahweh’s word, which he didn’t keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire,
- Ps 119:62At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 35:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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