The Meaning of Job 38:20 Explained

Job 38:20

KJV: That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

YLT: That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.

Darby: That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?

ASV: That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That thou shouldest take  it to the bound  thereof, and that thou shouldest know  the paths  [to] the house  thereof? 

What does Job 38:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 38:19-41 - What Man Cannot Do
In this chapter a number of nature-pictures pass before us. These include the creation of the earth, Job 38:4-7; the sea, Job 38:8-11; light, Job 38:12-15; the mysteries of the unseen, Job 38:16-18; snow and rain, Job 38:22-30; the constellations of heaven, Job 38:31-38; and the recesses of the forest-glades, Job 38:39-41.
What does it all mean? Ah! there are times when the voice of God through nature falls on our hearts like sweet music, and we hardly know whence or how, but we are comforted and strengthened. The peace passes understanding. Besides, the frequent question, Hast thou? was intended to turn Job's attention to the great mysteries contained in common and ordinary things. If he could not unravel these, how could he hope to fathom all the wonderful dealings of God with the human soul? His ways are above ours and His thoughts higher than ours; but we are sure from Calvary that He is love. Let us quiet ourselves, therefore, and trust. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 38

1  God challenges Job to answer
4  God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance
31  and weakness

What do the individual words in Job 38:20 mean?

That you may take it to its territory that you may know the paths [to] its home
כִּ֣י תִ֭קָּחֶנּוּ אֶל־ גְּבוּל֑וֹ וְכִֽי־ תָ֝בִ֗ין נְתִיב֥וֹת בֵּיתֽוֹ

כִּ֣י  That 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
תִ֭קָּחֶנּוּ  you  may  take  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
גְּבוּל֑וֹ  its  territory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
וְכִֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
תָ֝בִ֗ין  you  may  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
נְתִיב֥וֹת  the  paths  [to] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: נָתִיב 
Sense: trodden with the feet, path, pathway.
בֵּיתֽוֹ  its  home 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.

What are the major concepts related to Job 38:20?

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