Job 37:4 - After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

Generated Verse: Job 37:4

What does "Job 37:4" mean?


This verse from Job 37:4 is part of Elihu's speech, where he is trying to explain the power and majesty of God through descriptions of natural phenomena, particularly storms. Let's break it down:

"After it a voice roars." "It" likely refers to lightning, the preceding action in a storm. The "voice" is the thunder that follows.
"He thunders with the voice of his majesty." This connects the thunder directly to God. It's not just a natural sound; it is the voice of God, demonstrating his power and greatness. The word "majesty" emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of this voice.
"He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard." This suggests that when God's voice (thunder) is heard, it is unrestrained and complete. There is no attenuation, no withholding of power. The thunder is not weak or muffled, but full and intense. It speaks to the unbridled nature of God's power and revelation.

In essence, the verse means:

Following the lightning, a powerful thunder roars. This thunder is not just a sound of nature, but the majestic voice of God himself. When God speaks through this thunder, He does so with unrestrained power and intensity, demonstrating His complete and overwhelming authority.

Contextual Significance:

Elihu is trying to convey to Job the sheer immensity and incomprehensibility of God. By using the storm as an example, he is showing Job that God's ways are beyond human understanding. The verse emphasizes the power and authority of God, which is important in the context of Job's suffering. Elihu suggests that Job should not question God's actions but recognize and respect His power and wisdom. This sets the stage for God's own speech in the subsequent chapters of the book.

The roaring and unrestrained nature of the storm mirrors, in Elihu's view, the force of God's pronouncements and judgments, as well as His unsearchable plans.

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