And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
12. In the second clause the words are lit. “that they may do,” the plur. referring to “cloud” ( Job 37:11) collectively. Others make the pronoun they refer to men, which is very unnatural. The expression “the whole earth” is lit. the world of the earth, Pro 8:31.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And it is turned round about – The word here rendered it ( hu’) may refer either to the cloud, and then it will mean that it is driven about at the pleasure of God; or it may refer to God, and then it will mean that he drives it about at pleasure. The sense is not materially varied. The use of the Hebrew participle rendered turned about (in Hithpael), would rather imply that it refers to the cloud. The sense then is, that it turns itself round about – referring to the appearance of a cloud in the sky that rolls itself about from one place to another.
By his counsels – By the counsels or purposes of God. It is not by any agency or power of its own, but it is by laws such as he has appointed, and so as to accomplish his will. The object is to keep up the idea that God presides over, and directs all these things. The word which is rendered counsels ( tachebulah) means properly a steering, guidance, management, Pro 11:14. It is usually applied to the act of steering, as a vessel, and then to prudent management, wise counsel, skillful measures. It is rendered wise counsels, and counsels, Pro 1:5; Pro 11:14; Pro 12:5; Pro 24:6, and good advice, Pro 20:18. It does not elsewhere occur in the Scriptures. The word is derived from chebel, a rope, or chobel, a sailor, pilot, and hence, the idea of steering, or directing. The meaning is, that the movements of the clouds are entirely under the direction of God, as the vessel is of the pilot or helmsman. The Septuagint appears not to have understood the meaning of the word, and have not attempted to translate it. They retain it in their version, writing it, q theeboulathoth, showing, among other instances, how the Hebrew was pronounced by them.
That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them – See Psa 147:17-18. The idea is, that even the clouds, which appear so capricious in their movements, are really under the direction of God, and are accomplishing his purposes. They do not move at haphazard, but they are under the control of one who intends to accomplish important purposes by them. Elihu had made this observation respecting the lightning Job 36:30-33, and he now says that the same thing was true of the clouds. The investigations of science have only served to confirm this, and to show that even the movements of the clouds are regulated by laws which have been ordained by a Being of infinite intelligence.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. And it is turned round about by his counsels] The original is difficult: vehu mesibboth mithhappech bethachbulothav; which has been thus paraphrased: And he-the sun, makes revolutions – causes the heavenly bodies to revolve round him, turning round himself – turning round his own axis, by his attachments – his attractive and repulsive influences, by which the heavenly bodies revolve round him, and by which, as if strongly tied to their centre, bechebel, with a cable or rope, they are projected to their proper distances, and prevented from coming too near, or flying off too far.
That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them] That men may perform his will, availing themselves of the influences of the sun, moon, times, seasons, c., to cultivate the earth for the sustenance of themselves and their cattle.
Upon the face of the world in the earth.] al peney thebel aretsah, over the surface of the habitable world. Perhaps the above exposition may appear to be too far-fetched and possibly the passage refers only to the revolutions of the seasons, and the operations connected with them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It is turned round about; the clouds (now mentioned) are carried about to this or that place.
By his counsels; not by chance, (though nothing seems to be more casual and uncertain than the motions of the clouds,) but by his order and governance.
That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them; either be dispersed and pass away without effect, to the disappointment of the husbandmens hopes, or be dissolved in sweet and fruitful showers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. itthe cloud of lightning.
counselsguidance (Ps148:8); literally, “steering”; the clouds obey God’sguidance, as the ship does the helmsman. So the lightning (see on Job36:31, 32); neither is haphazard in its movements.
theythe clouds,implied in the collective singular “it.”
face of the world, &c.inthe face of the earth’s circle.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it is turned round about by his counsels,…. The cloud is, and that by the wind, which is turned about to all points of the compass, according to the will of God; by the counsels of him who sits at the helm, as the word signifies, and orders all things according to the counsel of his own will: to which owing every shifting of the wind, and the various motions of the clouds;
that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth; as all his creatures do; the several meteors in the air, clouds, stormy wind, fire, hail, snow, and vapour, all fulfilling his word; and which they do everywhere in the several parts of the world whither they are sent, Ps 107:25. So ministers of the word drop down or withhold the rain of Gospel doctrine, and carry it into the several places of the world, as the Lord directs them; see Isa 5:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. It is turned counsels The changing, whirling, apparently capricious clouds are really under his guidance (“steering, after the manner of a ship,” Dillmann) for the accomplishment of his beneficent or retributive designs towards “ the world of the earth;” more literally, on the face of the habitable land of the earth. Hengstenberg thinks that the expression it is turned, or “turns itself” ( Hithpael, same as in Gen 3:24) round “in circles,” refers to the revolution of the seasons, which “accomplish, as it were, a complete course.” This would be a digression hardly justified by the preceding and following verses, which treat of the clouds as messengers of God’s mercy or his wrath.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 37:12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
Ver. 12. And it is turned round about by his counsels ] Vertit Dominus et revertit, The Lord turneth and returneth; letteth out, and bringeth back the clouds, as it were by a rope, at his own pleasure; a metaphor from mariners, who skilfully manage the ropes of the ship to best advantage. In like sort the clouds are by God’s cunning turned about in a circuit (as Beza rendereth it), that is, in a round compass or circle; they are not carried up and down the air by any wandering and inconstant motion; but they are, as it were, by certain engines (so he maketh the metaphor) of Almighty God, turned about at his own pleasure, when and where he thinketh good to use them; for he best knoweth where is most need of rain, snow, &c., and therefore he by his wisdom driveth them hither and thither, for the fulfilling of his purpose. Some refer this text to the revolution of the heavenly orbs, which is also done by God.
That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
world = vast expanse, or the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
it: Psa 65:9, Psa 65:10, Psa 104:24, Jer 14:22, Joe 2:23, Amo 4:7
that: Psa 148:8, Jam 5:17, Jam 5:18, Rev 11:6
Reciprocal: Gen 7:4 – For Psa 147:15 – sendeth