Job 37:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Elihu asks whether Job grasps how the clouds are balanced, the wonders of the One perfect in knowledge.
What Does Job 37:16 Mean?
Elihu continues questioning Job, asking whether he understands the balancings of the clouds, the way they are poised and suspended in the sky. He calls these the wondrous works of God, who alone is perfect in knowledge. The clouds float by a wisdom Job cannot measure.
The phrase 'perfect in knowledge' lifts the eyes from the puzzle of the clouds to the One who made them. God's understanding has no gaps; His knowledge is complete and flawless. The believer who feels the weight of unanswered questions may take deep comfort here. We do not need to be perfect in knowledge, for God is. The clouds that hang in delicate balance witness to a Mind that holds all things, including our lives, in perfect and loving understanding.
Job 37:16 in the Original Language
miphlas (מִפְלָשׂ), 'balancings' -- the poising or spreading of the clouds, their suspended equilibrium in the sky.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 37:16
What does Job 37:16 mean?
Elihu asks whether Job grasps how the clouds are balanced, the wonders of the One perfect in knowledge.