Job 38:4

Job 38:4

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, thou if thou hast understanding,

a. NLT: Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.

b. NIV: Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

c. YLT: Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Declare to Me, if you have and know understanding.

e. Septuagint: Where wast thou when I founded the earth? tell me now, if thou hast knowledge,

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell, if you know understanding!

1. “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth…”

a. Where wast thou [375 *   'eyphoh] [Strong: from 335 and 6311; what place?; also (of time) when?; or (of means) how?; --what manner, where.]

b. when I laid the foundations [3245 * yacad] [Strong: a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult:--appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure]

c. of the earth [776 * 'erets] [Strong: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). The writer in Psalms 102 eclares it was God who laid those foundations.

a).  Psalm 102:25-27 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

103:26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

103:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

2). The book of Hebrews tells us that the first person of the Triune Godhead [the Father] spoke to the second [the Son] these very words, even calling the Son “God”.

a). Hebrews 1:8-12 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

1:12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

3). The only logical conclusion is that the LORD of Job 38:1 is the pre-incarnate Jesus, the LORD of the Old Covenant.

2. “…declare, thou if thou hast understanding,”

a. declare [5046 * nagad] [Strong: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.]

b. if thou hast [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. understanding [998 * biynah] [Strong: from 995; understanding:--knowledge, meaning, X perfectly, understanding, wisdom.]

1). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional 4/14/15 In chapters 38–41 of Job is recorded a remarkable series of 77 questions about the creation—questions which God asked Job and his philosophizing friends, and which they were utterly unable to answer. At the end of the searching examination, Job could only confess: “Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not” (Job 42:3). Modern evolutionists, despite all their arrogant pretensions, still are not able to answer them either, over 35 centuries later! But there is one who can answer them, and His answers echo back from another ancient document, the marvelous eighth chapter of Proverbs. To God’s first question, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth,” comes His answer: “When he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him” (Proverbs 8:29, 30). The speaker here is the divine wisdom. He is the Word of God, the pre-incarnate Son of God, soon to become the Son of man. In this amazing chapter, He echoes an answer to the most searching of God’s inscrutable questions to Job and his friends: “Who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth?” (Job 38:8). “He set a compass [literally ‘sphericity’] upon the face of the depth: . . . When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment” (Proverbs 8:27,29). “Hast thou commanded the morning . . . and caused the dayspring to know his place?” (Job 38:12). “When he prepared the heavens, I was there” (Proverbs 8:27). Our Savior was there! “For by him were all things created” (Colossians 1:16). One more question: “Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?” (Jobn 38:17). Yes, and they have not prevailed! “For whoso findeth me findeth life, . . . all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:35, 36). HMM