Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Job 37:5

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Job 37:5. God thundereth marvellously with his voice — This is the conclusion of Elihu's description of the lightning and thunder: and here only should Job 36:0 have ended. He began, Job 36:29, with the noise of God's tabernacle; and he ends here with the marvellous thundering of Jehovah. Probably the writer of the book of Job had seen the description of a similar thunder storm as given by the psalmist, Psalms 77:16-19: -

Ver. Psalms 77:16. The waters saw thee, O God!

The waters saw thee, and were afraid.

Yea, the deeps were affrighted!

Ver. Psalms 77:17. The clouds poured out water;

The ethers sent forth a sound;

Yea, thine arrows went abroad.

Ver. Psalms 77:18. The voice of thy thunder was through the expanse:

The lightnings illumined the globe;

The earth trembled and shook!

Ver. Psalms 77:19. Thy way is in the sea,

And thy paths on many waters;

But thy footsteps are not known.

Great things doeth he — This is the beginning of a new paragraph; and relates particularly to the phenomena which are afterwards mentioned. All of them wondrous things; and, in many respects, to us incomprehensible.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

God’s unknowable purposes (36:1-37:24)

Elihu, believing he has all the answers to Job’s questions, says he will now answer Job on God’s behalf (36:1-4). Certainly, God punishes the wicked, but he does not despise all who suffer. If the afflicted are truly righteous, they will soon be exalted (5-7). The reason he afflicts them is to show them their sin. If they repent, they will enjoy renewed and unbroken contentment; if not, they will suffer horrible deaths (8-12).
Only the ungodly rebel against God because of their afflictions; the righteous submit. They listen to what God teaches them through suffering and so find new life and renewed prosperity (13-16). Job’s present suffering is a fitting punishment from God. No payment of money, no cry to God, no longing for death will bring him relief (17-21).
Instead of accusing God of injustice, Job should submit to his afflictions, realizing that by these God is teaching him (22-23). Elihu then reminds Job of the mighty God before whom Job should bow. This God is great beyond a person’s understanding (24-26). God controls everything. He makes clouds, rain, lightning and thunder, and he uses these things to bring upon people either blessing or judgment (27-33). Thunder is like the voice of God proclaiming his majesty (37:1-5). When he sends rain, snow and ice, people have to stop work and animals look for warmth in their dens (6-10). God uses the forces of nature according to his perfect purposes (11-13).
Who is Job to argue with such a God? What does he know of God’s workings (14-18)? Who can question such a God? By arguing with him, Job is running the risk of being struck dead (19-20). If even the sun is too bright for people to look at, how much more will the majesty of God blind them. People cannot fully understand God, but they know he always acts rightly. Job should not argue with God but stand in awe of him (21-24).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

ELIHU’S DESCRIPTION OF THE APPROACHING STORM

“Yea, at this my heart trembleth. And is moved out of its place. Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightning to the ends of the earth. After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not the lightnings when his voice is heard. God thundereth marvelously with his voice; Great things doeth he which we cannot understand.”

“Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice” Elihu’s notion that God is speaking to men by lightning and thunder could be true only in the most indirect sense. Paul reminds us that “God’s everlasting power and divinity are clearly seen since the creation of the world, being perceived through the things that are made (the wonders of the natural creation)” (Romans 1:20); but, of course, the natural creation has no personal word whatever for mankind regarding such things as God’s love, mercy and redemption from sin.

Yes, the breath-taking excitement of a violent thunderstorm reminds men of the almighty power and glory of God, in exactly the same manner as a sunrise, an earthquake, or the sudden eruption of a volcano; but the only true communication between God and man comes via the sacred scriptures. “It is Elihu’s error here that he regards natural phenomena as supernatural.”Layman’s Bible Commentary, op. cit., p.139.

It seems likely that Elihu delivered the remarks of this chapter at the very time that he and the others were watching the approach of a storm. And from thoughts of the storm, he then proceeded to mention snow, rain, and other natural phenomena. “Job 37:1-5 elaborate the picture of the storm; and Job 37:6-13 deal with new evidences, the ice, snow and cold of winter, etc.”Ibid.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

God thundereth marvelously - He thunders in a wonderful manner. The idea is, that the voice of his thunder is an amazing exhibition of his majesty and power.

Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend - That is, not only in regard to the thunder and the tempest, but in other things. The description of the storm properly ends here, and in the subsequent verses Elihu proceeds to specify various other phenomena, which were wholly incomprehensible by man. The reference here to the storm, and to the other grand and incomprehensible phenomena of nature, is a most appropriate introduction to the manifestation of God himself as described in the next chapter, and could not but have done much to prepare Job and his friends for that sublime close of the controversy.

The passage before us Job 36:29-33; Job 37:1-5, is probably the earliest description of a thunderstorm on record. A tempest is a phenomenon which must early have attracted attention, and which we may expect to find described or alluded to in all early poetry. It may be interesting, therefore, to compare this description of a storm, in probably the oldest poem in the world, with what has been furnished by the masters of song in ancient and modern times, and we shall find that in sublimity and beauty the Hebrew poet will suffer nothing in comparison. In one respect, which constitutes the chief sublimity of the description. he surpasses them all: I mean in the recognition of God. In the Hebrew description. God is every where in the storm He excites it; he holds the lightnings in both hands; he directs it where he pleases; he makes it the instrument of his pleasure and of executing his purposes. Sublime, therefore, as is the description of the storm itself, furious as is the tempest; bright as is the lightning: and heavy and awful as is the roar of the thunder, yet the description derives its chief sublimity from the fact that “God” presides over all, riding on the tempest and directing the storm as he pleases. Other poets have rarely attempted to give this direction to the thoughts in their description of a tempest, if we may except Klopstock, and they fall, therefore, far below the sacred poet. The following is the description of a storm by Elihu, according to the exposition which I have given:

Who can understand the outspreading of the clouds,

And the fearful thunderings in his pavilion?

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it;

He also covereth the depths of the sea.

By these he executeth judgment upon the people,

By these he giveth food in abundance.

With his hands he covereth the lightning,

And commandeth it where to strike.

He pointeth out to his friends -

The collecting of his wrath is upon the wicked.

At this also my heart palpitates,

And is moved out of its place.

Hear, O hear, the thunder of his voice!

The muttering thunder that goes from his mouth!

He directeth it under the whole heaven.

And his lightning to the end of the earth.

After it, the thunder roareth;

He thundereth with the voice of his majesty,

And he will not restrain the tempest when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvelously with his voice;

He doeth wonders, which we cannot comprehend.

The following is the description of a Tempest by Aeschylus, in the Prometh. Desm., beginning,

- Χθὼν αεσάλευται;

Βρυχία δ ̓ ἠχὼ παραμυκᾶται

Βροντῆς, κ.τ.λ.

- Chthōn sesaleutai;

Bruchia d' ēchō paramukatai

Brontēs, etc.

- “I feel in very deed

The firm earth rock: the thunder’s deepening roar

Rolls with redoubled rage; the bickering flames

Flash thick; the eddying sands are whirled on high;

In dreadful opposition, the wild winds

Rend the vex’d air; the boisterous billows rise

Confounding earth and sky: the impetuous storm

Rolls all its terrible fury.”

Potter

Ovid’s description is the following:

Aethera conscendit, vultumque sequentia traxit

Nubila; queis nimbos, immistaque fulgura ventis

Addidit, et tonitrus, et inevitabile fulmen.

Meta. ii.

The description of a storm by Lucretius, is the following:

Praeterea persaepe niger quoque per mare nimbus

Ut picis e coelo demissum flumen, in undas

Sic cadit, et fertur tenebris, procul et trahit atram

Fulminibus gravidam tempestatem, atque procellis.

Ignibus ac ventis cum primus ipse repletus:

In terris quoque ut horrescant ae tecta requirant.

S c igitur sutpranostrum caput esso putandum est

Tempestatem altam. Neque enim caligine tanta

Obruerat terras, nisi inaedificata superne

Multa forent multis exempto nubila sole.

Lib. vi.

The well-known description of the storm by Virgil is as follows:

Nimborum in patriam, loca foeta furentibus austris,

Aeoliam venit. Hic vasto Rex Aeolus antro

Luctantis ventos tempestatesque sonoras

Imperio premit, ac vinelis et carcere frenat.

Illi indignantes, magno cum murmure, montis

Circum claustra fremunt. Celsa sedet Aeolus arce,

Sceptra tenens: molliitque animos, et temperat iras.

- Venti, velut agmine facto.

Qua data petra, ruunt, et terras turbine perflant.

Incubuere mari, totumque a sedibus imis,

Una Eurusque Notusque ruunt, creberque procelis

Africus, et vastos volvunt ad litora fluctus.

Aeneid i. 51-57, 82-86.

One of the most sublime descriptions of a storm to be found any where, is furnished by Klopstock. It contains a beautiful recognition of the presence and majesty of God, and a most tender and affecting description of the protection which his friends experience when the storm rushes by. It is in the Fruhlingsfeier - a poem which is regarded by many as his masterpiece. A small portion of it I will transcribe:

Wolken stromen herauf!

Sichtbar ist; der komant, der Ewige!

Nun schweben sie, rauschen sie, wirbeln die Winde!

Wie beugt sich der Wald! Wie hebet sich det Strom!

Sichtbar, wie du es Sterblichen seyn kannst,

Ja, das bist du, sichtbar, Unendlicher!

Zurnest du, Herr,

Weil Nacht dein Gewand ist?

Diese Nacht ist Segen der Erde.

Vater, du Zurnest nicht!

Seht ihr den Zeugendes Nahen, den zucken den Strahi?

Hort ihr Jehovah’s Donner?

Hort ihr ihn? hort ihr ihn.

Der erschtternden Donner des Herrn?

Herr! Herr! Gott!

Barmhertzig, und gnadig!

Angebetet, gepriesen,

Sey dein herrlicher Name!

Und die Gowitterwinde! Sie tragen den Donner!

Wie sie rauschen! Wie sie mit lawter Woge den Wald du: chstromen!

Und nun schwiegen sie. Langsam wandelt

Die schwartze Wolke.

Seht ihr den neurn Zeugen des Nahen, den fliegenden Strahl!

Horet ihr hoch in Wolke den Donner dex Herrn?

Er ruft: Jehova! Jehova!

Und der geschmetterte Wald dampft!

Abet nicht unsre Hutte

Unser Vater gebot

Seinem Verderber,

Vor unsrer Hutte voruberzugehn!

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 37

At this also my heart trembled, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning to the ends of the earth. And after it a voice roars: and he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he. And out of the south comes the whirlwind ( Job 37:1-5 , Job 37:9 ):

And the waters... and he goes on and uses actually this gathering storm and weaving it into his speech with Job. He's not really saying much, just a lot of words. And then,

Fair weather comes out of the north: with God is awesome majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him [or reverence him]: and he respecteth not any that are wise of heart ( Job 37:22-24 ).

Chapter 37

At this also my heart trembled, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning to the ends of the earth. And after it a voice roars: and he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he. And out of the south comes the whirlwind ( Job 37:1-5 , Job 37:9 ):

And the waters... and he goes on and uses actually this gathering storm and weaving it into his speech with Job. He's not really saying much, just a lot of words. And then,

Fair weather comes out of the north: with God is awesome majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him [or reverence him]: and he respecteth not any that are wise of heart ( Job 37:22-24 ). "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

God thundereth marvellously with his voice,.... Or "marvels" c, or marvellous things, which may respect the marvellous effects of thunder and lightning: such as rending rocks and mountains; throwing down high and strong towers; shattering to pieces high and mighty oaks and cedars, and other such like effects, mentioned in Psalms 29:5; and there are some things reported which seem almost incredible, were they not well attested facts; as that an egg should be consumed thereby, and the shell unhurt; a cask of liquor, the liquor in it spoiled, and the cask not touched; money melted in the purse, and the purse whole; the fetus in the womb killed, and the woman preserved; with other things of the like kind mentioned by various writers d; and which are to be accounted for only by the swift motion and piercing and penetrating nature of lightning. So the voice of God in the Gospel thunders out and declares many wonderful things; as the doctrines of the trinity of Persons in one God; of the everlasting love of the three Persons; of the Person of Christ, and the union of the two natures in him; of his incarnation, of redemption and salvation by him; of regeneration by the spirit of God; of union to Christ, and communion with him; and of the resurrection of the dead: and it produces marvellous effects, attended with a divine power; as quickening sinners dead in trespasses and sins; enlightening those who are darkness itself; bearing down all opposition before it; casting down the strong holds of sin and Satan, and reducing the most stubborn and obstinate to the obedience of Christ;

great things doth he, which we cannot comprehend; or "know" e: great things in creation, the nature and causes of which lie greatly out of the reach of man; and which he rather guesses at than knows, and still less comprehends. Great things in providence; in sustaining all creatures and providing for them; and in the government of the world, and in his dispensations in it; his judgments being unsearchable, and his ways past finding out: and great things in grace; as the salvation of sinners by Christ, and the conversion of their souls by his Spirit; and even what is known of them is known but in part and very imperfectly. This is a transition to other great things done by the Lord, besides those before mentioned, and particular instances follow.

c נפלאות "mirabilia", Pagninus, Montanus. d Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 51. Senec. Nat. Quaest. l. 2. c. 31. e ולא נרע "et nesciemus", Pagninus, Montanus; so Schultens.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.   2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.   3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.   4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.   5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

      Thunder and lightning, which usually go together, are sensible indications of the glory and majesty, the power and terror, of Almighty God, one to the ear and the other to the eye; in these God leaves not himself without witness of his greatness, as, in the rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, he leaves not himself without witness of his goodness (Acts 14:17), even to the most stupid and unthinking. Though there are natural causes and useful effects of them, which the philosophers undertake to account for, yet they seem chiefly designed by the Creator to startle and awaken the slumbering world of mankind to the consideration of a God above them. The eye and the ear are the two learning senses; and therefore, though such a circumstance is possible, they say it was never known in fact that any one was born both blind and deaf. By the word of God divine instructions are conveyed to the mind through the ear, by his works through the eye; but, because those ordinary sights and sounds do not duly affect men, God is pleased sometimes to astonish men by the eye with his lightnings and by the ear with his thunder. It is very probable that at this time, when Elihu was speaking, it thundered and lightened, for he speaks of the phenomena as present; and, God being about to speak (Job 38:1; Job 38:1), these were, as afterwards on Mount Sinai, the proper prefaces to command attention and awe. Observe here, 1. How Elihu was himself affected, and desired to affect Job, with the appearance of God's glory in the thunder and lightning (Job 37:1; Job 37:2): "For my part," says Elihu, "my heart trembles at it; though I have often heard it, often seen it, yet it is still terrible to me, and makes every joint of me tremble, and my heart beat as if it would move out of its place." Thunder and lightning have been dreadful to the wicked: the emperor Caligula would run into a corner, or under a bed, for fear of them. Those who are very much astonished, we say, are thunder-struck. Even good people think thunder and lightning very awful; and that which makes them the more terrible is the hurt often done by lightning, many having been killed by it. Sodom and Gomorrah were laid in ruins by it. It is a sensible indication of what God could do to this sinful world, and what he will do, at last, by the fire to which it is reserved. Our hearts, like Elihu's should tremble at it for fear of God's judgments, Psalms 119:120. He also calls upon Job to attend to it (Job 37:2; Job 37:2): Hear attentively the noise of his voice. Perhaps as yet it thundered at a distance, and could not be heard without listening: or rather, Though the thunder will be heard, and whatever we are doing we cannot help attending to it, yet, to apprehend and understand the instructions God thereby gives us, we have need to hear with great attention and application of mind. Thunder is called the voice of the Lord (Psalms 29:3-9, c.), because by it God speaks to the children of men to fear before him, and it should put us in mind of that mighty word by which the world was at first made, which is called thunder. Psalms 104:7, At the voice of thy thunder they hasted away, namely, the waters, when God said, Let them be gathered into one place. Those that are themselves affected with God's greatness should labour to affect others. 2. How he describes them. (1.) Their original, not their second causes, but the first. God directs the thunder, and the lightning is his, Job 37:3; Job 37:3. Their production and motion are not from chance, but from the counsel of God and under the direction and dominion of his providence, though to us they seem accidental and ungovernable. (2.) Their extent. The claps of thunder roll under the whole heaven, and are heard far and near; so are the lightnings darted to the ends of the earth; they come out of the one part under heaven and shine to the other, Luke 17:24. Though the same lightning and thunder do not reach to all places, yet they reach to very distant places in a moment, and there is no place but, some time or other, has these alarms from heaven. (3.) Their order. The lightning is first directed, and after it a voice roars,Job 37:4; Job 37:4. The flash of fire, and the noise it makes in a watery cloud, are really at the same time; but, because the motion of light is much quicker than that of sound, we see the lightning some time before we hear the thunder, as we see the firing of a great gun at a distance before we hear the report of it. The thunder is here called the voice of God's excellency, because by it he proclaims his transcendent power and greatness. He sends forth his voice and that a mighty voice,Psalms 68:33. (4.) Their violence. He will not stay them, that is, he does not need to check them, or hold them back, lest they should grow unruly and out of his power to restrain them, but lets them take their course, says to them, Go, and they go--Come, and they come--Do this, and they do it. He will not stay the rains and showers that usually follow upon the thunder (which he had spoken of, Job 36:27; Job 36:29), so some, but will pour them out upon the earth when his voice is heard. Thunder-showers are sweeping rains, and for them he makes the lightnings,Psalms 135:7. (5.) The inference he draws from all this, Job 37:5; Job 37:5. Does God thunder thus marvellously with his voice? We must then conclude that his other works are great, and such as we cannot comprehend. From this one instance we may argue to all, that, in the dispensations of his providence, there is that which is too great, too strong, for us to oppose or strive against, and too high, too deep, for us to arraign or quarrel with.