Job 38:5

Job 38:5

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

a. NLT: Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?

b. NIV: Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

c. YLT: Who placed its measures -- if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Who determined the measures of the earth, if you know? Or who stretched the measuring line upon it?

e. Septuagint: who set the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Who set its dimensions?—if you know—or who stretched a [surveyor’s] line over it?

1. “Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest?...”

a. Who hast laid [7760 * suwm or siym] [Strong: a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically):--X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down, ((over-))turn, X wholly, work.]

b. the measures [4461 * memad] [Strong: from 4058; a measure:--measure.]

c. if thou knowest [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.]

2. “…or who hath stretched the line upon it?”

a. who hath stretched [5186 * natah] [Strong: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow (down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.]

b. the line [6957 * qav; or qav] [Strong: from 6960 (Compare 6961); a cord (as connecting), especially for measuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string or accord:--line.]

1). It was the triune Godhead who measured everything in creation. All the intricacies of the animal and plant kingdoms, were designed and planned down to their very atoms that make up their material. All the measuring of all the physical components of the earth were done in light of the redemption of man.

a).  Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

b). Isaiah 40:12-14  Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

2). The creation of the earth was done with the redemption of man in mind, in particular the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. I personally believe that man and his redemption is the reason a material universe was created.

a). 1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,