Job 37:6
New International Version
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

New Living Translation
“He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.

English Standard Version
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.

Berean Standard Bible
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

King James Bible
For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

New King James Version
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.

New American Standard Bible
“For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’

NASB 1995
“For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’

NASB 1977
“For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’

Legacy Standard Bible
For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ And to the downpour of rain and the downpour of rains, ‘Be strong.’

Amplified Bible
“For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; And [He speaks] to the showers and to the downpour [of His mighty rains], ‘Be strong.’

Christian Standard Bible
For he says to the snow, “Fall to the earth,” and the torrential rains, his mighty torrential rains,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For He says to the snow, “Fall to the earth,” and the torrential rains, His mighty torrential rains,

American Standard Version
For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.

Contemporary English Version
Snow and heavy rainstorms

English Revised Version
For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"He says to the snow, 'Fall to the ground,' and to the pouring rain, 'Rain harder!'

Good News Translation
He commands snow to fall on the earth, and sends torrents of drenching rain.

International Standard Version
For he says to the snow, 'Fall to the earth.' He tells the rain, 'Pour down,' then it rains profusely.

Majority Standard Bible
For He says to the snow, ?Fall on the earth,? and to the gentle rain, ?Pour out a mighty downpour.?

NET Bible
For to the snow he says, 'Fall to earth,' and to the torrential rains, 'Pour down.'

New Heart English Bible
For he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth;' likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

Webster's Bible Translation
For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

World English Bible
For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For He says to snow: Be [on] the earth. And the small rain and great rain of His power.

Young's Literal Translation
For to snow He saith, 'Be on the earth.' And the small rain and great rain of His power.

Smith's Literal Translation
For he will say to the snow, Be it on earth; and to the shower of rain, and to the shower of the rains of his strength.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He commandeth the snow to go down upon the earth, and the winter rain, and the shower of his strength.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He commands the snow to descend on earth, and the winter rains, and the shower of his strength.

New American Bible
He says to the snow, “Fall to the earth”; likewise to his heavy, drenching rain.

New Revised Standard Version
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’; and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For he said to the snow, Fall on the earth; likewise to the gentle rain, and to the heavy rain;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because he says to the snow: ‘Be on the Earth, and the rain and the great spring rain’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For He saith to the snow: 'Fall thou on the earth'; Likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of His mighty rain.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
commanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty
5God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend. 6For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’ 7He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.…

Cross References
Psalm 147:16-17
He spreads the snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; / He casts forth His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?

Isaiah 55:10
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,

Jeremiah 10:13
When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Psalm 148:8
lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word,

Psalm 104:13
He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works.

Genesis 8:22
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.”

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Amos 4:7
“I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered.

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.

Job 38:22-23
Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, / which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?

Psalm 135:7
He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 14:22
Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.

Luke 8:24-25
The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

James 5:17-18
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. / Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

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.”


Treasury of Scripture

For he said to the snow, Be you on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

he

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

Psalm 147:16-18
He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes…

Psalm 148:8
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

likewise to the small, etc.

Job 36:27
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

great

Genesis 7:10-12
And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth…

Ezra 10:9,13
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain…

Proverbs 28:3
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

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Job 37
1. God is to be feared because of his great works
15. His wisdom is unsearchable in them














For He says
This phrase emphasizes the sovereignty and authority of God. In the Hebrew text, the word for "says" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is a common verb used to denote speech or command. The use of this word here underscores the power of God's word, reminiscent of the creation narrative in Genesis where God speaks things into existence. It highlights that God's commands are not mere suggestions but are executed with precision and purpose.

to the snow
The Hebrew word for "snow" is "שֶׁלֶג" (sheleg). Snow is often used in the Bible as a symbol of purity and cleansing (Isaiah 1:18). In the context of Job, snow represents the uncontrollable and majestic aspects of God's creation. It serves as a reminder of God's ability to govern the natural world, which is beyond human understanding or control. The mention of snow also reflects the geographical and climatic conditions of the ancient Near East, where snow was a rare but impactful event.

‘Fall on the earth,’
The command for snow to "fall" uses the Hebrew verb "נָפַל" (naphal), which means to descend or drop. This illustrates the obedience of creation to God's will. The earth, "אֶרֶץ" (eretz), is the recipient of this divine command, symbolizing the world and humanity's place within it. The imagery of snow falling on the earth can be seen as a metaphor for God's provision and the covering of His grace, as snow blankets the ground, transforming the landscape.

and to the gentle rain
The phrase "gentle rain" is translated from the Hebrew "מָטָר" (matar), which refers to rain in general, but the context implies a softer, more nurturing precipitation. Rain is a vital element in the agrarian society of the Bible, representing sustenance and blessing. It is a sign of God's favor and care for His creation, ensuring that the earth is watered and fruitful. The gentle nature of the rain contrasts with the more forceful imagery of a downpour, showing the multifaceted ways God interacts with the world.

‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’
The Hebrew word for "pour out" is "גָּרַע" (gara), which conveys the idea of a heavy, abundant release. The "mighty downpour" is "גֶּשֶׁם" (geshem), indicating a strong, intense rain. This phrase captures the overwhelming power and abundance of God's provision. It serves as a reminder of God's ability to provide in abundance and to cleanse and renew the earth. The imagery of a mighty downpour can also be seen as a metaphor for God's overwhelming grace and mercy, which He pours out upon His people.

(6) For he saith to the snow.--All the operations of nature obey the behest of God--the snow, the gentle showers, the drenching downpour. By means of these He sealeth up the hand of every man, obstructing and impeding their works and movements, so that all the men whom He has made may know it or know Him. This is the plain meaning, which the Authorised Version gives somewhat less clearly. Men may learn from these things that they and their works are under the control of God. They are not the entirely free agents they suppose.

Verse 6. - For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth. The phenomenon of snow is always full of marvel to an Oriental. It comes before him so seldom; it is in itself so strange; it involves things so inexplicable as the sudden solidification of a liquid, crystallization, a marked expansion of bulk, and the sudden assumption by what was colourless of a definite and dazzling colour. In Arabia and the countries bordering on Palestine snow very seldom falls; but in Palestine itself the mountain ranges of Lebanon and Hermon are never without it; and in the region occupied by Job and his friends then is reason to believe that ice and snow were not altogether infrequent (see Job 6:16, and the comment ad loc). Likewise to the small rain; or, to the light shower of rain - "the spring rain," as the Chaldee paraphrast explains it. And to the great rain of his strength; or, "the heavy winter rain," according to the same authority. "The former and the latter rain" - the rain of winter, and the rain of spring - are often mentioned by the sacred writers (see Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24; Hosea 6:3; Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:1; James 5:7). God gave both, ordinarily, in due course.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

He says
יֹאמַ֗ר (yō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to the snow,
לַשֶּׁ֨לַג ׀‪‬ (laš·še·laḡ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7950: Snow

‘Fall
הֱוֵ֫א (hĕ·wê)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1933: To fall

[on] the earth,’
אָ֥רֶץ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and to the gentle rain,
וְגֶ֥שֶׁם (wə·ḡe·šem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1653: Rain, shower

‘Pour out
וְ֝גֶ֗שֶׁם (wə·ḡe·šem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1653: Rain, shower

a mighty
עֻזּֽוֹ׃ (‘uz·zōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

downpour.’
מִטְר֥וֹת (miṭ·rō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4306: Rain


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OT Poetry: Job 37:6 For he says to the snow 'Fall (Jb)
Job 37:5
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