The Meaning of Job 37:18 Explained

Job 37:18

KJV: Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

YLT: Thou hast made an expanse with Him For the clouds -- strong as a hard mirror!

Darby: Hast thou with him spread out the sky, firm, like a molten mirror?

ASV: Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Hast thou with him spread out  the sky,  [which is] strong,  [and] as a molten  looking glass? 

What does Job 37:18 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 37:18 mean?

Have you spread out with Him the skies Strong as a mirror cast metal
תַּרְקִ֣יעַ עִ֭מּוֹ לִשְׁחָקִ֑ים חֲ֝זָקִ֗ים כִּרְאִ֥י ؟ מוּצָֽק

תַּרְקִ֣יעַ  Have  you  spread  out 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָקַע  
Sense: to beat, stamp, beat out, spread out, stretch.
עִ֭מּוֹ  with  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
לִשְׁחָקִ֑ים  the  skies 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שַׁחַק  
Sense: dust, cloud.
חֲ֝זָקִ֗ים  Strong 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חָזָק  
Sense: strong, stout, mighty.
כִּרְאִ֥י  as  a  mirror 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְאִי  
Sense: mirror.
؟ מוּצָֽק  cast  metal 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָצַק  
Sense: to pour, flow, cast, pour out.