Job 36:31
New International Version
This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.

New Living Translation
By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance.

English Standard Version
For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.

Berean Standard Bible
For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

King James Bible
For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

New King James Version
For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.

New American Standard Bible
“For by them He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance.

NASB 1995
“For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance.

NASB 1977
“For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance.

Legacy Standard Bible
For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance.

Amplified Bible
“For by these [mighty acts] He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.

Christian Standard Bible
For he judges the nations with these; he gives food in abundance.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For He judges the nations with these; He gives food in abundance.

American Standard Version
For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

Contemporary English Version
By producing such rainstorms, God rules the world and provides us with food.

English Revised Version
For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is how he uses the rains to provide for people and to give them more than enough food.

Good News Translation
This is how he feeds the people and provides an abundance of food.

International Standard Version
He uses them to judge some people and give food to many.

Majority Standard Bible
For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

NET Bible
It is by these that he judges the nations and supplies food in abundance.

New Heart English Bible
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

Webster's Bible Translation
For by them he judgeth the people; he giveth food in abundance.

World English Bible
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For He judges peoples by them, "" He gives food in abundance.

Young's Literal Translation
For by them He doth judge peoples, He giveth food in abundance.

Smith's Literal Translation
For by them he will judge the peoples; he will give food to abundance.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For he judges the people by these things, and he gives food to a multitude of mortals.

New American Bible
For by these he judges the nations, and gives food in abundance.

New Revised Standard Version
For by these he governs peoples; he gives food in abundance.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For by these he judges the people; and he gives food to many.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because by them he will judge the nations and he will give food to the many
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For by these He judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elihu Declares God's Justice and Power
30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea. 31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance. 32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.…

Cross References
Psalm 147:8
who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills.

Psalm 104:13-15
He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works. / He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: / wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.

Acts 14:17
Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Isaiah 55:10-11
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

Jeremiah 5:24
They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

Hosea 2:21-22
“On that day I will respond—” declares the LORD—“I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth. / And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel.

Deuteronomy 11:14
then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil.

James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Zechariah 10:1
Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field.

Joel 2:23
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

1 Kings 18:41-45
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” / So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. / “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” ...

Psalm 65:9-13
You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth. / You soak its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth. / You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty. ...

Isaiah 30:23
Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures.

Ezekiel 34:26
I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season—showers of blessing.


Treasury of Scripture

For by them judges he the people; he gives meat in abundance.

by

Job 37:13
He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

Job 38:22,23
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, …

Genesis 6:17
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

he giveth

Job 38:26,27
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; …

Psalm 65:9-13
Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it…

Psalm 104:13-15,27,28
He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works…

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Abundance Bread Food Full Gives Judge Judges Judgeth Measure Meat Nations Peoples Provides Way
Job 36
1. Elihu shows how God is just in his ways
16. How Job's sins hinder God's blessings
24. God's works are to be magnified














For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance
For by these
The phrase "For by these" refers to the preceding verses where Elihu speaks of God's control over the natural elements, such as rain and clouds. In the Hebrew text, the word "these" (בָּהֶם, bahem) points to the instruments of God's providence and judgment. This highlights the multifaceted nature of God's creation, where the same elements can be used for both blessing and discipline. Theologically, this underscores God's sovereignty and wisdom in using creation to fulfill His purposes.

He judges the nations
The word "judges" (יָדִין, yadin) in Hebrew conveys the idea of governance and decision-making. It implies that God is actively involved in the affairs of the world, holding nations accountable for their actions. Historically, this reflects the biblical understanding that God is not a distant deity but one who is intimately involved in human history. The phrase suggests that God's judgments are not arbitrary but are based on His righteous standards, as seen throughout the biblical narrative.

and provides food in abundance
The Hebrew word for "provides" (יָתֵן, yaten) indicates a generous giving, reflecting God's provision and care for His creation. The phrase "food in abundance" (לָחֶם לָשֹׂבַע, lechem lasova) emphasizes God's ability to sustain life through His creation. This is reminiscent of the biblical theme of God's provision, as seen in the manna provided to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16). It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the abundance that comes from His hand, encouraging believers to trust in His provision even in times of uncertainty.

(31) For by them--i.e., these roots of the sea, these drops of water, these rain-clouds. "He judgeth peoples" by withholding them, or "giveth meat in abundance" by sending rain on the earth; or He may use them in excess, to chastise nations by inundations and the like. The change from roots of the sea to bottom of the sea in the Authorised Version has obscured the meaning of "them" in the next verse, unless, indeed, we understand it generally, by these things.

Verse 31. - For by them judgeth he the people. By his clouds God works two opposite effects. On the one hand, he executes judgment upon the peoples, destroying their crops, causing widespread ruin by inundations, smiting and slaying numbers with his thunderbolts; on the other, he giveth meat in abundance, restoring to the parched earth its fertility by means of copious and refreshing showers, stimulating vegetation, and so furthering the harvest.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

by these
בָ֭ם (ḇām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

He judges
יָדִ֣ין (yā·ḏîn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1777: A straight course, sail direct

the nations
עַמִּ֑ים (‘am·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and provides
יִֽתֶּן־ (yit·ten-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

food
אֹ֥כֶל (’ō·ḵel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 400: Food

in abundance.
לְמַכְבִּֽיר׃ (lə·maḵ·bîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4342: Abundance


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OT Poetry: Job 36:31 For by these he judges the people (Jb)
Job 36:30
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