The Meaning of Job 38:31 Explained

Job 38:31

KJV: Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

YLT: Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?

Darby: Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

ASV: Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Canst thou bind  the sweet influences  of Pleiades,  or loose  the bands  of Orion? 

What does Job 38:31 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 38:31 mean?

Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades Or the belt of Orion loose
הַֽ֭תְקַשֵּׁר מַעֲדַנּ֣וֹת כִּימָ֑ה אֽוֹ־ מֹשְׁכ֖וֹת כְּסִ֣יל ؟ תְּפַתֵּֽחַ

הַֽ֭תְקַשֵּׁר  Can  you  bind 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָשַׁר  
Sense: to bind, tie, bind together, league together, conspire.
מַעֲדַנּ֣וֹת  the  cluster 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַעֲדַנּׄות  
Sense: bonds, bands.
כִּימָ֑ה  of  the  Pleiades 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: כִּימָה  
Sense: Pleiades, a constellation of seven stars.
מֹשְׁכ֖וֹת  the  belt 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מֹשְׁכֹות  
Sense: cord.
כְּסִ֣יל  of  Orion 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: constellation, Orion.
؟ תְּפַתֵּֽחַ  loose 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.

What are the major concepts related to Job 38:31?

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