Bible Strands
Job 38:35
Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses Job from the whirlwind, continuing His sequence of questions concerning atmospheric phenomena.
The words — The Hebrew verbs תְשַׁלֵּחַ (teshalach, "will you send forth") and בְּרָקִים (beraqim, "lightning") frame the inquiry, followed by יֵלֵכוּ (yelechu, "they may go") and יֹאמְרוּ (yo'meru, "they may say") paired with הִנֵּה־נוּ (hinnenu, "here we are").
The thread — The motif of divine command over lightning appears in Job 36:32, Job 37:3, and Exodus 9:23.
Why it lands — The text asks whether humans possess the authority to direct atmospheric forces or compel them to announce their arrival.
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
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Cross-references
- Job 36:32 He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
- Job 37:3 He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
- Exodus 9:23 So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt.
- Exodus 9:29 Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.
- Leviticus 10:2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.
- Numbers 11:1 Soon the people began to complain about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them, His anger was kindled, and fire from the LORD blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.
- Numbers 16:35 And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
- 1 Samuel 22:12 “Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied.
- 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.
- 2 Kings 1:14 Behold, fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty, with all their men. But now may my life be precious in your sight.”