Psalmi 38:32

Clementine Latin Vulgate

Numquid producis luciferum in tempore suo, et vesperum super filios terræ consurgere facis ?

Parallel Translations

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Numquid producis luciferum in tempore suo,
et vesperum super filios terr� consurgere facis?

Nova Vulgata (1979)
Numquid produces Coronam in tempore suo et Ursam cum filiis ducis tu?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Mazzaroth: or, the twelve signs, Probably the same as mazzaloth. 2 Kings 23:5

guide Arcturus: Heb. guide them, Job 9:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:14 - and let Amos 5:8 - maketh

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season?.... Which are thought to be the same with "the chambers of the south", Job 9:9; the southern pole m with its stars, signified by chambers, because hidden from our sight in this part of the globe; and here by Mazzaroth, from, "nazar", to separate, because separated and at a distance from us; some think n the twelve signs of the Zodiac are meant, each of which are brought forth in their season, not by men, but by the Lord; see

Isaiah 40:26;

or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? a constellation of many stars called its sons, of which see Job 9:9. Schmidt conjectures that Jupiter and his satellites are meant; but rather what we call the greater and lesser Bear, in the tail of which is the north pole star, the guide of mariners, said o to be found out by Thales, by which the Phoenicians sailed, but is not to be guided by men; this, constellation is fancied to be in the form of a wain or wagon, and is called Charles's wain; could this be admitted, there might be thought to be an allusion to it p, and the sense be, canst thou guide and lead this constellation, as a wagon or team of horses can be guided and led? stars have their courses, Judges 5:20; but are not steered, guided, and directed by men, but by the Lord himself.

m David de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 77. 3. n Vatablus, Codurcus, Schultens; so Suidas in voce μαζουραθ. o Callimachus apud Laert. Vit. Thalet. p. 16. p Vid. Hinckelman. Praefat. ad Alkoran. p. 29, 30.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? - Margin, “the twelve signs;” that is, the twelve signs of the zodiac. There has been much diversity of opinion about the meaning of this word. It occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures, and of course it is not easy to determine its signification. The Septuagint retains the word μαξσυρὠθ maxsurōth, without attempting to translate it. Jerome renders it, “Luciferum - Lucifer,” the morning-star. The Chaldee, מזליא שטרי - the constellations of the planets. Coverdale, “the morning-star;” and so Luther renders it. Rosenmuller, “signa celestia” - the celestial signs, and so Herder, Umbreit, Gesenius, and Noyes, “the zodiac.” Gesenius regards the word מזרה mazzârâh, as the same as מזלה mazzâlâh, properly “lodgings, inns;” and hence, the “lodgings” of the sun, or the places or “houses” in which he appears in the heavens, and thus as meaning the signs in the zodiac. Most of the Hebrew interpreters adopt this view, but it rests on no certain foundation, and as we are not certain as to the meaning of the word, the only safe way is to retain the original, as is done in our common version. I do not see how it is possible to determine its meaning with certainty, and probably it is to be regarded as a name given to some constellation or cluster of stars supposed to exert an influence over the seasons, or connected with some change in the seasons, which we cannot now accurately understand.

Or canst thou guide Arcturus? - On the constellation “Arcturus” (עשׁ ‛ayish), see the notes at Job 9:9. The word rendered “guide” in the text, is in the margin “guide them.” The Hebrew is, “and עשׁ ‛ayish upon (or near - על ‛al) her sons, canst thou lead them?” Herder and Umbreit render it, “And lead forth the Bear with her young,” or her children. The reference is to the constellation Arcturus, or Ursa Major, in the northern sky. The “sons” referred to are the stars that accompany it, probably the stars that are now called the” tail of the bear.” “Umbreit.” Another interpretation is suggested by Herder, which is that this constellation is represented as a nightly wanderer - a mother, who is seeking her lost children, the stars that are no longer visible, and that thus revolves around the heavens. But the probable reference is to the constellation conducted round and round the pole as by some unseen hand, like a mother with her children, and the question is, whether Job had skill and power to do this? God appeals to it as a manifestation of his majesty and power, and as far above the skill of man. Who ever looked upon that beautiful constellation and marked its regular revolutions, without feeling that its position and movements were such as God only could produce?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 38:32. Mazzaroth in his season? — This is generally understood to mean the signs of the zodiac. מזרות Mazzaroth, according to Parkhurst, comes from מזר mazar, to corrupt; and he supposes it to mean that pestilential wind in Arabia, called simoom, the season of which is the summer heats.