Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
Parallel translations
- WEB Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
- BSB Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
- NKJV Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
- NASB “Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, The thundering of His pavilion?
- NLT Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
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 asks whether anyone can understand the spreading clouds and the thunder of God's pavilion. God's workings in the heavens exceed human comprehension.
Overview
Elihu poses a rhetorical question highlighting the mystery of clouds and thunder, picturing the sky as God's dwelling or tent. No one can fully explain these heavenly workings, underscoring God's incomprehensible majesty. This wonder before creation prepares for the LORD's similar questions in chapters 38-39 and humbles us before the God whose greatness we worship in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Job 37:16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
- Job 37:2–5Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
- Ps 18:13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
- Ps 104:7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
- Ps 104:3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
- Ps 77:16–19The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
- Job 26:14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
- Ps 29:3–10The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
- Nah 1:3The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
- 1 Kgs 18:44–45And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
- Job 38:9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
- Hab 3:10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
- Job 38:37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
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 36:29 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.