
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 38
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1Then Hashem replied to Iyov out of the tempest and said:
va-YA-an a-do-NAI et i-YOV (mi-ne-sa-RAH) [min ha-se-a-RAH] va-YO-mer
אוַיַּֽעַן־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶת־אִ֭יּוֹב (מנהסערה) [מִ֥ן ׀ הַסְּעָרָ֗ה] וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
2Who is this who darkens counsel, Speaking without knowledge?
mee ZEH ma-KH'-shikh ay-TZAH b'-mi-LEEN b'-lee-da-AT
במִ֤י זֶ֨ה ׀ מַחְשִׁ֖יךְ עֵצָ֥ה בְמִלִּ֗ין בְּֽלִי־דָֽעַת׃
3Gird your loins like a man; I will ask and you will inform Me.
e-ZOR-NA k'-GE-ver kha-LA-tze-KHA v'-e-sha-AL-kha v'-ho-di-E-ni
גאֱזׇר־נָ֣א כְגֶ֣בֶר חֲלָצֶ֑יךָ וְ֝אֶשְׁאָלְךָ֗ וְהוֹדִיעֵֽנִי׃
4Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations? Speak if you have understanding.
ay-FOH ha-YEE-ta b'-yos-DEE A-retz ha-GAYD im ya-DA-ta vee-NAH
דאֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיׇסְדִי־אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־יָדַ֥עְתָּ בִינָֽה׃
38:4 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?

Rabbi Judah Halevi (1075-1141)
In this chapter, Hashem finally responds to Iyov’s questioning of His justice. He says that since Iyov was not around when God created the world, he cannot possibly understand the way in which He runs the world. Rabbi Judah Halevi, in his book The Kuzari, suggests that precisely because man was not around to witness the creation of the world, Hashem introduces Himself in the first of the ten commandments as the God who took the Children of Israel out of Egypt, rather than the God who created the world (Exodus 20:2). The people could not relate to God as creator, since they did not explicitly know him as such. However, the Exodus, which was experienced by the entire Nation of Israel, proved God’s existence to them beyond a shadow of a doubt. Furthermore, Ramban explains that Hashem’s manipulation of nature during the Exodus proves that He is indeed the Creator of the natural order of the world, and that He continues to be involved in the running of the world and the lives of His people.
5Do you know who fixed its dimensions Or who measured it with a line?
mi-SAM m'-ma-DE-ha kee te-DA, o mi-na-TA a-LE-ha KAV
המִי־שָׂ֣ם מְ֭מַדֶּיהָ כִּ֣י תֵדָ֑ע א֤וֹ מִֽי־נָטָ֖ה עָלֶ֣יהָ קָּֽו׃
6Onto what were its bases sunk? Who set its cornerstone
al-MA a-da-NE-ha ha-t'-BA-u, o mi-ya-RAH e-ven pi-NA-tah
ועַל־מָ֭ה אֲדָנֶ֣יהָ הׇטְבָּ֑עוּ א֥וֹ מִי־יָ֝רָ֗ה אֶ֣בֶן פִּנָּתָֽהּ׃
7When the morning stars sang together And all the divine beings shouted for joy?
b'-RAN ya-KHAD koch-VEI bo-KER va-yar-EE-u kol b'-NAY e-lo-HEEM
זבְּרׇן־יַ֭חַד כּ֣וֹכְבֵי בֹ֑קֶר וַ֝יָּרִ֗יעוּ כׇּל־בְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃
8Who closed the sea behind doors When it gushed forth out of the womb,
vai-YA-sekh bi-d'-la-TA-yim YAM b'-gi-KHO me-RE-khem ye-TZE
חוַיָּ֣סֶךְ בִּדְלָתַ֣יִם יָ֑ם בְּ֝גִיח֗וֹ מֵרֶ֥חֶם יֵצֵֽא׃
9When I clothed it in clouds, Swaddled it in dense clouds,
b'-su-MI a-NAHN l'-BU-sho, va-a-RA-fel kha-tu-LA-to
טבְּשׂוּמִ֣י עָנָ֣ן לְבֻשׁ֑וֹ וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל חֲתֻלָּתֽוֹ׃
10When I made breakers My limit for it, And set up its bar and doors,
va-esh-BOR a-LAV khuk-KI, va-a-SEEM b'-REE-akh u-d'-la-ta-YIM
יוָאֶשְׁבֹּ֣ר עָלָ֣יו חֻקִּ֑י וָ֝אָשִׂ֗ים בְּרִ֣יחַ וּדְלָתָֽיִם׃
11And said, “You may come so far and no farther; Here your surging waves will stop”?
va-o-MAR ad-PO ta-VO v'-lo to-SEEF u-PO ya-SHEET b'-go-ON ga-LE-kha
יאוָאֹמַ֗ר עַד־פֹּ֣ה תָ֭בוֹא וְלֹ֣א תֹסִ֑יף וּפֹא־יָ֝שִׁ֗ית בִּגְא֥וֹן גַּלֶּֽיךָ׃
12Have you ever commanded the day to break, Assigned the dawn its place,
ha-mi-YA-me-KHA tzi-VEE-ta BO-ker (ya-da-TAH sha-KHAR) [yi-da-TA ha-sha-KHAR] me-KO-mo
יבהֲֽ֭מִיָּמֶיךָ צִוִּ֣יתָ בֹּ֑קֶר (ידעתה שחר) [יִדַּ֖עְתָּ הַשַּׁ֣חַר] מְקֹמֽוֹ׃
13So that it seizes the corners of the earth And shakes the wicked out of it?
le-e-KHOZ b'-khan-FOT ha-A-retz v'-yi-na-a-ru r'-sha-EEM mi-m'-NEH
יגלֶ֭אֱחֹז בְּכַנְפ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ וְיִנָּעֲר֖וּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
14It changes like clay under the seal Till [its hues] are fixed like those of a garment.
ti-tha-PEKH k'-kho-MER kho-TAM v'-yi-ta-tz'-VU k'-mo l'-BUSH
ידתִּ֭תְהַפֵּךְ כְּחֹ֣מֶר חוֹתָ֑ם וְ֝יִֽתְיַצְּב֗וּ כְּמ֣וֹ לְבֽוּשׁ׃
15Their light is withheld from the wicked, And the upraised arm is broken.
v'-yi-ma-NA m'-r'-sha-EEM o-RAM u-z'-RO-a ra-MAH ti-SHA-ver
טווְיִמָּנַ֣ע מֵרְשָׁעִ֣ים אוֹרָ֑ם וּזְר֥וֹעַ רָ֝מָ֗ה תִּשָּׁבֵֽר׃
16Have you penetrated to the sources of the sea, Or walked in the recesses of the deep?
ha-va-TA ad-niv-KHEI-yam u-v'-HE-kher t'-HOM hit-ha-LAKH-ta
טזהֲ֭בָאתָ עַד־נִבְכֵי־יָ֑ם וּבְחֵ֥קֶר תְּ֝ה֗וֹם הִתְהַלָּֽכְתָּ׃
17Have the gates of death been disclosed to you? Have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
ha-NIG-lu le-KHA sha-a-REI-ma-VET v'-sha-a-REI tzal-ma-VET tir-EH
יזהֲנִגְל֣וּ לְ֭ךָ שַׁעֲרֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְשַׁעֲרֵ֖י צַלְמָ֣וֶת תִּרְאֶֽה׃
18Have you surveyed the expanses of the earth? If you know of these—tell Me.
hit-bo-NAN-ta ad-ra-cha-VEI-a-RETZ ha-GED im-ya-DA-ta ku-LAH
יחהִ֭תְבֹּנַנְתָּ עַד־רַחֲבֵי־אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־יָדַ֥עְתָּ כֻלָּֽהּ׃
19Which path leads to where light dwells, And where is the place of darkness,
ei-ZEH ha-DE-rekh yish-KON-or v'-CHO-shekh ei-ZEH m'-KO-mo
יטאֵי־זֶ֣ה הַ֭דֶּרֶךְ יִשְׁכׇּן־א֑וֹר וְ֝חֹ֗שֶׁךְ אֵי־זֶ֥ה מְקֹמֽוֹ׃
20That you may take it to its domain And know the way to its home?
ki ti-ka-KHE-nu el ge-VU-lo, v'-ki-ta-VEEN ne-tee-VOT bai-TO
ככִּ֣י תִ֭קָּחֶנּוּ אֶל־גְּבוּל֑וֹ וְכִי־תָ֝בִ֗ין נְתִיב֥וֹת בֵּיתֽוֹ׃
21Surely you know, for you were born then, And the number of your years is many!
ya-DA-at KEE-az ti-vah-LED u-mis-PA-r ya-ME-kha ra-BEEM
כאיָ֭דַעְתָּ כִּי־אָ֣ז תִּוָּלֵ֑ד וּמִסְפַּ֖ר יָמֶ֣יךָ רַבִּֽים׃
22Have you penetrated the vaults of snow, Seen the vaults of hail,
ha-va-TA el o-tz'-ROT sha-LEG v'-o-tz'-ROT ba-RAD tir-EH
כבהֲ֭בָאתָ אֶל־אֹצְר֣וֹת שָׁ֑לֶג וְאוֹצְר֖וֹת בָּרָ֣ד תִּרְאֶֽה׃
23Which I have put aside for a time of adversity, For a day of war and battle?
a-SHER kha-SAKH-tee l'-ET-tzar, l'-YOM k'-RAV u-mil-KHA-mah
כגאֲשֶׁר־חָשַׂ֥כְתִּי לְעֶת־צָ֑ר לְי֥וֹם קְ֝רָ֗ב וּמִלְחָמָֽה׃
24By what path is the west wind dispersed, The east wind scattered over the earth?
ei-ZEH ha-DE-rekh ye-KHA-lek OR ya-FETZ ka-DIM a-lei-a-RETZ
כדאֵי־זֶ֣ה הַ֭דֶּרֶךְ יֵחָ֣לֶק א֑וֹר יָפֵ֖ץ קָדִ֣ים עֲלֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
25Who cut a channel for the torrents And a path for the thunderstorms,
mi-FIL-lag la-SHE-tef te-a-LAH v'-DE-rekh la-cha-ZEEZ ko-LOT
כהמִֽי־פִלַּ֣ג לַשֶּׁ֣טֶף תְּעָלָ֑ה וְ֝דֶ֗רֶךְ לַחֲזִ֥יז קֹלֽוֹת׃
26To rain down on uninhabited land, On the wilderness where no man is,
l'-ham-TEER al E-retz lo EEsh, mi-d'-BAR lo a-DAM bo.
כולְ֭הַמְטִיר עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ לֹא־אִ֑ישׁ מִ֝דְבָּ֗ר לֹא־אָדָ֥ם בּֽוֹ׃
27To saturate the desolate wasteland, And make the crop of grass sprout forth?
l'-ha-s'-BEE-a SHO-a u-m'-sho-AH u-l'-ha-tz'-MEE-a mo-TZA de-SHE
כזלְהַשְׂבִּ֣יעַ שֹׁ֭אָה וּמְשֹׁאָ֑ה וּ֝לְהַצְמִ֗יחַ מֹ֣צָא דֶֽשֶׁא׃
28Does the rain have a father? Who begot the dewdrops?
ha-YAYSH la-ma-TAR AV o mi-ho-LEE a-g'-LEI-tal
כחהֲיֵשׁ־לַמָּטָ֥ר אָ֑ב א֥וֹ מִי־ה֝וֹלִ֗יד אֶגְלֵי־טָֽל׃
29From whose belly came forth the ice? Who gave birth to the frost of heaven?
mi-BE-ten mi YA-tzA ha-ka-RACH u-ke-FOR sha-MA-yim mi ye-LA-do
כטמִבֶּ֣טֶן מִ֭י יָצָ֣א הַקָּ֑רַח וּכְפֹ֥ר שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם מִ֣י יְלָדֽוֹ׃
30Water congeals like stone, And the surface of the deep compacts.
ka-E-ven ma-YIM yit-cha-BA-u u-fe-NEI te-HOM yit-la-KA-du
לכָּ֭אֶבֶן מַ֣יִם יִתְחַבָּ֑אוּ וּפְנֵ֥י תְ֝ה֗וֹם יִתְלַכָּֽדוּ׃
31Can you tie cords to Pleiades Or undo the reins of Orion?
ha-t'-ka-SHEIR ma-a-da-NOT ki-MAH o mo-sh'-KHOT k'-SIL t'-fa-TAY-akh
לאהַֽ֭תְקַשֵּׁר מַעֲדַנּ֣וֹת כִּימָ֑ה אֽוֹ־מֹשְׁכ֖וֹת כְּסִ֣יל תְּפַתֵּֽחַ׃
32Can you lead out Mazzaroth in its season, Conduct the Bear with her sons?
ha-TO-tzee maz-ZA-rot b'-i-TO, v'-a-YISH al ba-NE-ha tan-KHEM
לבהֲתֹצִ֣יא מַזָּר֣וֹת בְּעִתּ֑וֹ וְ֝עַ֗יִשׁ עַל־בָּנֶ֥יהָ תַנְחֵֽם׃
33Do you know the laws of heaven Or impose its authority on earth?
ha-YA-da-TA khu-KOT sha-MA-yim im-ta-SIM mish-TA-ro va-A-retz
לגהֲ֭יָדַעְתָּ חֻקּ֣וֹת שָׁמָ֑יִם אִם־תָּשִׂ֖ים מִשְׁטָר֣וֹ בָאָֽרֶץ׃
34Can you send up an order to the clouds For an abundance of water to cover you?
ha-TA-rim la-AV ko-LE-kha v'-shif-A-at-MA-yim t'-ka-SE-kha
לדהֲתָרִ֣ים לָעָ֣ב קוֹלֶ֑ךָ וְֽשִׁפְעַת־מַ֥יִם תְּכַסֶּֽךָּ׃
35Can you dispatch the lightning on a mission And have it answer you, “I am ready”?
ha-t'-sha-LAKH b'-ra-KIM v'-ye-LE-khu v'-yo-M'-RU l'-KHA hi-NE-nu
לההַֽתְשַׁלַּ֣ח בְּרָקִ֣ים וְיֵלֵ֑כוּ וְיֹֽאמְר֖וּ לְךָ֣ הִנֵּֽנוּ׃
36Who put wisdom in the hidden parts? Who gave understanding to the mind?
mi-SHAT ba-tu-KHOT khokh-MAH o mi-na-TAN la-sekh-VEE bi-NAH
לומִי־שָׁ֭ת בַּטֻּח֣וֹת חׇכְמָ֑ה א֤וֹ מִֽי־נָתַ֖ן לַשֶּׂ֣כְוִי בִינָֽה׃
37Who is wise enough to give an account of the heavens? Who can tilt the bottles of the sky,
mi-y'-sa-PER she-KHA-kim b'-khokh-MAH, v'-niv-LEI sha-MA-yim mi ya-sh'-KEEV
לזמִֽי־יְסַפֵּ֣ר שְׁחָקִ֣ים בְּחׇכְמָ֑ה וְנִבְלֵ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם מִ֣י יַשְׁכִּֽיב׃
38Whereupon the earth melts into a mass, And its clods stick together.
b'-TZE-khet a-FAR la-mu-TZAK u-re-ga-VIM ye-du-BAK
לחבְּצֶ֣קֶת עָ֭פָר לַמּוּצָ֑ק וּרְגָבִ֥ים יְדֻבָּֽקוּ׃
39Can you hunt prey for the lion, And satisfy the appetite of the king of beasts?
ha-TA-tzud l'-la-VEE tar-EF v'-cha-YAT k'-fi-REEM te-ma-LAY
לטהֲתָצ֣וּד לְלָבִ֣יא טָ֑רֶף וְחַיַּ֖ת כְּפִירִ֣ים תְּמַלֵּֽא׃
40They crouch in their dens, Lie in ambush in their lairs.
ki-ya-SHO-khu va-m'-o-NOT ye-SHE-vu va-su-KAH l'-mo-a-REV
מכִּֽי־יָשֹׁ֥חוּ בַמְּעוֹנ֑וֹת יֵֽשְׁב֖וּ בַסֻּכָּ֣ה לְמוֹ־אָֽרֶב׃
41Who provides food for the raven When his young cry out to Hashem And wander about without food?
mi ya-KHEEN la-o-REV tzei-DO ki-y'-la-DA-v el a-EL y'-sha-VE-u yit-AVU liv-LEE-o-KHEL
מאמִ֤י יָכִ֥ין לָעֹרֵ֗ב צֵ֫יד֥וֹ כִּֽי־יְ֭לָדָו אֶל־אֵ֣ל יְשַׁוֵּ֑עוּ יִ֝תְע֗וּ לִבְלִי־אֹֽכֶל׃