KJV ORIGINAL
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Look, when God holds back the waters, they dry up completely. And when he releases them, they flood and overwhelm the earth.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Job is declaring that God has complete control over water - he can cause droughts by withholding it or floods by releasing it.
📚 Historical Context
Job is responding to his friends' accusations by demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over nature. In the ancient Near East, water was crucial for survival, and people understood intimately how droughts and floods could devastate entire regions. Job uses this powerful imagery that his audience would immediately recognize to show that God controls even the most fundamental forces of nature.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.
Share or Save