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Job

About this book
Chapter 37

1 At this also my heart pounds and leaps from its place. 2 Listen carefully to the thunder of his voice, to the rumbling that proceeds from his mouth.⁠ 3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go, even his lightning to the far corners of the earth. 4 After that a voice roars; he thunders with an exalted voice, and he does not hold back his lightning bolts when his voice is heard. 5 God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. 6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall to earth,’ and to the torrential rains, ‘Pour down.’ 7 He causes everyone to stop working, so that all people may know his work. 8 The wild animals go to their lairs, and in their dens they remain. 9 A tempest blows out from its chamber, icy cold from the driving winds. 10 The breath of God produces ice, and the breadth of the waters freeze solid. 11 He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through the clouds.⁠ 12 The clouds go round in circles, wheeling about according to his plans, to carry out all that he commands them over the face of the whole inhabited world. 13 Whether it is for punishment, or for his land, or for mercy, he causes it to find its mark. 14 “Pay attention to this, Job! Stand still and consider the wonders God works.⁠ 15 Do you know how God commands them, how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud? 16 Do you know about the balancing of the clouds, that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge? 17 You, whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind, 18 will you, with him, spread out the sky, solid as a mirror of molten metal?⁠ 19 Tell us what we should say to him. We cannot prepare a case because of the darkness. 20 Should he be informed that I want to speak? If a man speaks, surely he will be swallowed up! 21 But now, the sun cannot be looked at—it is bright in the skies—after a wind passed and swept the clouds away. 22 From the north he comes in golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty. 23 As for the Almighty, we cannot attain to him! He is great in power, but justice and abundant righteousness he does not oppress. 24 Therefore people fear him, for he does not regard all the wise in heart.”

Texts in conversation

Compare Job 37:14 and 1 Enoch 2:1

Hebrew Bible · Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

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Summary

1 Enoch echoes the language of Job 37 in pointing out the wonders of creation and the movements of the stars and the sky. This specific language is only found in Job, suggesting that 1 Enoch uses it to establish its own authority.

Passages

Job 37:14

Hebrew Bible
12 The clouds go round in circles, wheeling about according to his plans, to carry out all that he commands them over the face of the whole inhabited world. 13 Whether it is for punishment, or for his land, or for mercy, he causes it to find its mark. 14 “Pay attention to this, Job! Stand still and consider the wonders God works. 15 Do you know how God commands them, how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud?
500–401 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Job

1 Enoch 2:1

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
1 Observe everything that occurs in the heaven, how the celestial bodies do not alter their paths, and the lights in the sky, how they all rise and set orderly, each in its own season, without deviating from their assigned courses. 2 Look at the earth, and pay attention to the things that unfold from beginning to end, how consistent they are, how nothing on earth changes, how all of God’s works appear to you. 3 Observe the summer and winter, how the entire earth is filled with water, and how clouds, dew, and rain cover it.
300 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Enoch

References

"... The idea of considering or contemplating the works of God is found only in Job 37:14 within the Hebrew Bible. In the context of both 1 Enoch 2:1 and Job 37:14-22 the works of the sky are described in detail. The verbal connections between the texts is strengthened by the fact that they share similar contexts ..."
Colby J. Townsend, “The Use of Scripture in 1 Enoch 1–36” (diss., University of Utah, 2016), 55.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Job 37:14 and 1 Enoch 2:1

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