Job 37:7

Job 37:7

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

a. NLT: Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.

b. NIV: So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.

c. YLT: Into the hand of every man he sealeth, For the knowledge by all men of His work.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: God seals up (stops, brings to a standstill by severe weather) the hand of every man [and now under His seal their hands are forced to inactivity], that all men whom He has made may know His doings (His sovereign power and their subjection to it).

e. Septuagint: He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings:  He seals [a judgment] with the hand of every man, so that all people He has made may know.

1.  “He sealeth up the hand of every man…”

a. He sealeth up [2856 * chatham] [Strong: a primitive root; to close up; especially to seal:--make an end, mark, seal (up), stop.] [Gesenius: to seal, to seal up, to set a seal upon.][AMG: A verb meaning to set a seal on, to seal up. It indicates the act of affixing an impression to serve as a seal on something, then sealing it up as well.]

1). I believe the Hebrew definition of “sealeth” is pregnant with meaning, it is obvious that God not only sealed men’s hands, but also a mans hand is his seal, not unlike a seal on a signet ring. No two fingerprints are the same and I believe that is by God’s design.

b. the hand [3027 * yad] [Strong: a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad, (broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, + creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship, force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in, labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine, ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain, power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing, + thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side, where, + wide, X with (him, me, you), work, + yield, X yourselves.]

c. of every man [120 * 'adam] [Strong: from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

2.  “…that all men may know his work.”

a. that all men [582 * 'enowsh] [Strong: from 605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified 120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively):--another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word.]

b. may know [3045 * yada’] [Strong: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), X will be, wist, wit, wot.]

c. his work [4639 * ma`aseh] [Strong: from 6213; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property:--act, art, + bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, X well, ((handy-, needle-, net-))work(ing, - manship), wrought.]

1). There is no doubt a double meaning here. One that all men may see the fact that no two fingerprints are the same by design to show the wondrous creation of God and two, that all men may know a particular person has done a particular job.