The Meaning of Job 37:13 Explained

Job 37:13

KJV: He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

YLT: Whether for a rod, or for His land, Or for kindness -- He doth cause it to come.

Darby: Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.

ASV: Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He causeth it to come,  whether for correction,  or for his land,  or for mercy. 

What does Job 37:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 37:1-24 - The Light In The Clouds
As Elihu spoke a thunder-storm was gathering, and much of the imagery of this chapter is suggested by that fact. The little group listened to the sound of God's voice in the thunder. Peal followed peal without cessation, Job 37:4. The lightly-falling snow and the drenching showers are alike His work, whether they restrain men from their labor in the fields or drive the beasts to their dens, Job 37:8. From the storm Elihu turns naturally to the winter, with its ice and snow, and the frost that binds up the flow of the streams, Job 37:10. All these perform God's bidding in the earth.
How little we know of atmospheric phenomena! Why the north and south winds blow, what is the real nature of the azure, and what the red and gold of the northern lights! We cannot find out the Almighty. He is great and glorious, and cannot be unjust. But let us be more eager to look for the bright light in the clouds. It is always there. A rainbow for every storm; an arbor for every difficult hill; a sure hiding-place in every tempest. Such is Jesus to all who love and trust Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 37

1  God is to be feared because of his great works
15  His wisdom is unsearchable in them

What do the individual words in Job 37:13 mean?

Whether for correction Or for His land for mercy He causes it to come
אִם־ לְשֵׁ֥בֶט אִם־ לְאַרְצ֑וֹ לְ֝חֶ֗סֶד יַמְצִאֵֽהוּ

אִם־  Whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
לְשֵׁ֥בֶט  for  correction 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
לְאַרְצ֑וֹ  for  His  land 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
לְ֝חֶ֗סֶד  for  mercy 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
יַמְצִאֵֽהוּ  He  causes  it  to  come 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.