Bible Strands
Job 38:12
In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Job from the whirlwind, following His declaration of restraining the sea and preceding His description of the dawn’s reach. The words — צִוִּ֣יתָ (tzi.Vi.ta) means “have you commanded,” and מְקֹמֽ/וֹ (me.ko.M/o) means “its place.” The thread — The text’s focus on divine control over light and time echoes Genesis 1:5, where God names day and night, and Psalms 74:16, which affirms God established the sun and moon. Why it lands — The verse asks whether any human has ever directed celestial cycles or fixed the dawn’s position, demanding acknowledgment of God’s sole authority over creation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
Cross-references
- Psalms 74:16 The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.
- Genesis 1:5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
- Psalms 148:3 Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
- Job 8:9 For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
- Psalms 136:7 He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever.
- Luke 1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
- 2 Peter 1:19 We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- Job 15:7 Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
- Job 38:21 Surely you know, for you were already born! And the number of your days is great!
- Job 38:4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.