Job 38:4
◄  Job 38:4  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.

English Standard Version (©2001)
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Where were you when I established the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

International Standard Version (©2012)
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of my earth? Tell me, since you're so informed!

NET Bible (©2006)
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have [such] insight.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.

American King James Version
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.

American Standard Version
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Where wast thou when I laid up the foundations of the earth ? tell me if thou hast understanding.

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

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

Webster's Bible Translation
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

World English Bible
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.

Young's Literal Translation
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

38:4-11 For the humbling of Job, God here shows him his ignorance, even concerning the earth and the sea. As we cannot find fault with God's work, so we need not fear concerning it. The works of his providence, as well as the work of creation, never can be broken; and the work of redemption is no less firm, of which Christ himself is both the Foundation and the Corner-stone. The church stands as firm as the earth.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Wast thou present? Didst thou witness it? If not, what canst thou know concerning it? And if thou knowest nothing of creation, what canst thou know of deeper things? The metaphor, by which the creation of the earth is compared to the foundation of an edifice, is a common one (Psalm 102:25; Psalm 104:5; Proverbs 8:29: Isaiah 48:13; Isaiah 51:13, 16; Zechariah 12:1; Hebrews 1:10, etc.), and is to be viewed as a concession to human weakness, creation itself, as it actually took place, being inconceivable. Declare, if thou hast understanding. That is, if thou hast any knowledge on the subject (comp. ver. 18).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?.... The earth has foundations, and such firm ones that it cannot be moved; but what are they, since it is hung in the air on nothing! No other than the power and will of God, who laid these foundations, and the Son of God, who has created and upholds all things by the word of his power, Hebrews 1:3. Where was Job then? In a state of nothingness, a mere nonentity: he was not present when this amazing work of nature was done, and saw not how the Lord went about it; and yet takes upon him to dive into the secret works and ways of Providence, for which he is rebuked by this question and the following;

declare, if thou hast understanding: Job had the understanding of a man in things natural and civil, and of a good man in things spiritual and divine; but he had no understanding of this, of what he is questioned about; could not declare in what place he was, and where he stood, when the earth was founded.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. To understand the cause of things, man should have been present at their origin. The finite creature cannot fathom the infinite wisdom of the Creator (Job 28:12; 15:7, 8).

hast—"knowest."

understanding—(Pr 4:1).

Job 38:4 Parallel Commentaries

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God Challenges Job
…3Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me. 4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding. 5Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line on it? …

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
1 Samuel 2:8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; on them he has set the world.
Job 15:7 "Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
Job 34:13 Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?
Psalm 104:5 He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.
Proverbs 8:29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
Proverbs 30:4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
Isaiah 40:14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?
Jeremiah 10:12 But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
Amos 4:13 He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth-- the LORD God Almighty is his name.