Job 38:33
New International Version
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

New Living Translation
Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?

English Standard Version
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?

Berean Standard Bible
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

King James Bible
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

New King James Version
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

New American Standard Bible
“Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or do you establish their rule over the earth?

NASB 1995
“Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or fix their rule over the earth?

NASB 1977
“Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or fix their rule over the earth?

Legacy Standard Bible
Do you know the statutes of the heavens, Or fix their rule over the earth?

Amplified Bible
“Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or [can you] establish their rule over the earth?

Christian Standard Bible
Do you know the laws of heaven? Can you impose its authority on earth?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do you know the laws of heaven? Can you impose its authority on earth?

American Standard Version
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

Contemporary English Version
Do you know the laws that govern the heavens, and can you make them rule the earth?

English Revised Version
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do you know the laws of the sky or make them rule the earth?

Good News Translation
Do you know the laws that govern the skies, and can you make them apply to the earth?

International Standard Version
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you regulate their authority over the earth?

Majority Standard Bible
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

NET Bible
Do you know the laws of the heavens, or can you set up their rule over the earth?

New Heart English Bible
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?

Webster's Bible Translation
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set its dominion on the earth?

World English Bible
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Have you known the statutes of the heavens? Or do you appoint "" Its dominion in the earth?

Young's Literal Translation
Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?

Smith's Literal Translation
Knewest thou the laws of the heavens? or wilt thou set up its dominion in the earth?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do you know the order of heaven, and can you explain its rules here on the earth?

New American Bible
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens; can you put into effect their plan on the earth?

New Revised Standard Version
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Or do you make ordinances for the earth?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do you know the law of Heaven, or do you lay down the law in the earth?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And knowest thou the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Challenges Job
32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear and her cubs? 33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth? 34Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?…

Cross References
Psalm 147:4-5
He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name. / Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

Jeremiah 31:35-36
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name: / “Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.”

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Proverbs 8:27-29
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, / when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, / when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

Genesis 1:14-18
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. / And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so. / God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well. ...

Psalm 8:3-4
When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place— / what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?

Isaiah 45:12
It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.

Amos 5:8
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—

Psalm 19:1-6
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. / Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. / Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, ...

Jeremiah 10:12-13
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. / When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:2-3
But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. / The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

Acts 17:24-28
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. / From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. ...

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”


Treasury of Scripture

Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth?

the ordinances

Genesis 1:16
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Genesis 8:22
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Psalm 119:90,91
Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth…

canst

Job 38:12,13
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; …

Jump to Previous
Appoint Determine Dominion Earth Establish Fix God's Heaven Heavens Laws Ordinances Rule Statutes Thereof
Jump to Next
Appoint Determine Dominion Earth Establish Fix God's Heaven Heavens Laws Ordinances Rule Statutes Thereof
Job 38
1. God challenges Job to answer
4. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance
31. and weakness














Do you know
This phrase challenges human understanding and knowledge. In Hebrew, the word for "know" is "yada," which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual awareness. This question from God to Job underscores the vast gap between divine and human wisdom. It invites reflection on the limitations of human understanding in contrast to God's omniscience. The rhetorical nature of the question serves to humble Job, reminding him and the reader of the need for reverence and trust in God's greater plan.

the laws
The term "laws" refers to the established order and decrees governing the universe. In Hebrew, "choq" can mean statute, ordinance, or decree. This suggests a divinely instituted order that governs the cosmos, reflecting God's sovereignty and meticulous design. The laws of the heavens are not random but are purposeful and precise, indicating a Creator who is both powerful and wise. This concept challenges the modern view of a chaotic universe, affirming instead a universe under divine governance.

of the heavens
"Heavens" in Hebrew is "shamayim," often used to denote the sky, the celestial realm, or the abode of God. This phrase points to the vastness and complexity of the universe, which is beyond human comprehension. The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), and their laws are a testament to His creative power. The mention of the heavens serves to elevate the discussion from earthly concerns to the grandeur of God's creation, encouraging awe and worship.

Can you set
This phrase challenges human ability and authority. The Hebrew root "sum" means to place, set, or appoint. It implies an act of control or dominion, which is beyond human capability when it comes to the cosmos. This question highlights the distinction between the Creator and the creature, emphasizing that only God has the power to establish and maintain the order of the universe. It serves as a reminder of human limitations and the need for humility before God.

their dominion
"Dominion" refers to rule or authority. In Hebrew, "memshalah" denotes governance or control. This phrase suggests that the heavens have a governing influence over the earth, established by God. It reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all creation, where even the celestial bodies operate under His command. This concept reassures believers of God's ultimate control over the universe, providing comfort and confidence in His providential care.

over the earth
The earth, in Hebrew "erets," represents the realm of human existence. The phrase "over the earth" indicates the heavens' influence and authority over earthly affairs. This relationship between heaven and earth is a recurring biblical theme, illustrating the interconnectedness of God's creation. It serves as a reminder that earthly life is subject to divine order and purpose, encouraging believers to live in alignment with God's will and to trust in His overarching plan.

(33) The ordinances of heaven.--Comp. Job 28:26. That is, the recurring seasons and their power of influencing the earth.

Verse 33. - Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? i.e. the physical laws by which the course of nature is governed (comp. Psalm 119:90, 91; Psalm 148:6). The general prevalence of law in the material world is quite as strongly asserted by the sacred writers as by modern science. The difference is that modern science regards the laws as physical necessities, self-subsisting, while Scripture looks upon them as the ordinances of the Divine will. This latter view involves, of course, the further result that the Divine will can at any time suspend or reverse any of its enactments. Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? If Job does not even know the laws whereby the world is governed, much less can he establish such laws himself, and make them work.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do you know
הֲ֭יָדַעְתָּ (hă·yā·ḏa‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

the laws
חֻקּ֣וֹת (ḥuq·qō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute

of the heavens?
שָׁמָ֑יִם (šā·mā·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

Can you set
תָּשִׂ֖ים (tā·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

their dominion
מִשְׁטָר֣וֹ (miš·ṭā·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4896: Rule, authority

over the earth?
בָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


Links
Job 38:33 NIV
Job 38:33 NLT
Job 38:33 ESV
Job 38:33 NASB
Job 38:33 KJV

Job 38:33 BibleApps.com
Job 38:33 Biblia Paralela
Job 38:33 Chinese Bible
Job 38:33 French Bible
Job 38:33 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 38:33 Do you know the laws (Jb)
Job 38:32
Top of Page
Top of Page