The Meaning of Job 38:4 Explained

Job 38:4

KJV: Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

YLT: Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

Darby: Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

ASV: Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Discover Job 38:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Job 38:4?

MEANING: What does Job 38:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Job 38:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Job 38:4?

What is the context of Job 38:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

What does Job 38:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 38:1-18 - Divine Power And Human Ignorance

When the storm had ceased and the thunder was hushed, a voice spoke out of the golden splendor of the sky. See Job 37:21-22. Job had challenged God to answer him and now he is taken at his word. We recall Horeb's ancient cave, where, after wind and earthquake, there came a sound of gentle stillness. "Arise," said the Eternal to Job, "and gird thyself," Job 38:3. In after years, under similar circumstances, the Spirit entered Ezekiel to strengthen him. Surely some such strengthening was forthwith given the patriarch!

A sublime series of questions is now addressed to him, not by a God of judgment and wrath, but by a Father arguing and pleading with His child and pointing out two things: first, the inability of mortal man to understand the ways of God; and second, the minuteness and tenderness of God's providence. Job had thought of Him as remote, but He is near and is ordering all things wisely and lovingly. Can He forget His child? [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 38:4 mean?

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth Tell [Me] if you have understanding

אֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיָסְדִי־ ؟ אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־ יָדַ֥עְתָּ בִינָֽה

אֵיפֹ֣ה	Where
Parse: Interrogative Root: אֵיפֹה Sense: where?.
הָ֭יִיתָ	were you
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular Root: אֶהְיֶה Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בְּיָסְדִי־	when I laid the foundations
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular Root: יָסַד Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
؟ אָ֑רֶץ	of the earth
Parse: Noun, feminine singular Root: אֶרֶץ Sense: land, earth.
הַ֝גֵּ֗ד	Tell [Me]
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular Root: נָגַד Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
יָדַ֥עְתָּ	you have
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular Root: דָּעָה Sense: to know.
בִינָֽה	understanding
Parse: Noun, feminine singular Root: בִּינָה Sense: understanding, discernment.

What are the major concepts related to Job 38:4?

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Similar Scriptures for Job 38:4

		Psalms 104:5 [7]
		Proverbs 30:4 [5]
		Hebrews 1:10 [5]
		Hebrews 1:2 [2]
		Proverbs 8:22 [2]
		Genesis 1:1 [2]
		Psalms 102:25 [2]
		Proverbs 8:29-30 [2]