Job 38:34
 Job 38:34 
New International Version (©2011)
"Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?

English Standard Version (©2001)
“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?

International Standard Version (©2012)
"Can you call out to the clouds, so that abundant water drenches you?

NET Bible (©2006)
Can you raise your voice to the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Can you call to the clouds and have a flood of water cover you?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

American King James Version
Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

American Standard Version
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of waters may cover thee?

Darby Bible Translation
Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?

English Revised Version
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Webster's Bible Translation
Canst thou lift thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

World English Bible
"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?

Young's Literal Translation
Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

38:25-41 Hitherto God had put questions to Job to show him his ignorance; now God shows his weakness. As it is but little that he knows, he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels; it is but little he can do, therefore he ought not to oppose the ways of Providence. See the all-sufficiency of the Divine Providence; it has wherewithal to satisfy the desire of every living thing. And he that takes care of the young ravens, certainly will not be wanting to his people. This being but one instance of the Divine compassion out of many, gives us occasion to think how much good our God does, every day, beyond what we are aware of. Every view we take of his infinite perfections, should remind us of his right to our love, the evil of sinning against him, and our need of his mercy and salvation.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 34. - Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of water may sever thee? Will the clouds take their orders from thee, listen to thee, obey thy voice? None but the "medicine-men" of savage tribes profess to have any such power. Elijah, indeed, "prayed, and the heaven gave rain" (James 5:18); but this was a very different thing from "commanding the clouds of heaven." His prayer was addressed to God, and God gave the rain for which he made his petition.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Thy gardens, fields, and farms; canst thou, in a magisterial way, call to and demand of the clouds to let down rain in large quantities, sufficient to water them and make them fruitful? no, thou canst not: thou mayest cry and call as long as thou wilt, not a cloud will stir, nor a drop of water be let down; rain is to be had in a suppliant way, through the prayer of faith, as by Elijah, but not in a dictatorial authoritative way: the clouds and rain are only at the disposal of the Lord; ask of him, and he will give them; but they are not to be commanded, Zechariah 10:1; see Amos 5:8.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

34. Jer 14:22; above Job 22:11, metaphorically.


Job 38:34 Parallel Commentaries

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God Challenges Job
33Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you? 35Can you send lightning, that they may go and say to you, Here we are? …

Job 22:11 why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.
Job 36:27 "He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams;
Job 36:28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
Job 38:37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens