Job 38:20
New International Version
Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?

New Living Translation
Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?

English Standard Version
that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?

Berean Standard Bible
so you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home?

King James Bible
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

New King James Version
That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?

New American Standard Bible
That you would take it to its territory, And discern the paths to its home?

NASB 1995
That you may take it to its territory And that you may discern the paths to its home?

NASB 1977
That you may take it to its territory, And that you may discern the paths to its home?

Legacy Standard Bible
That you may take it to its territory And that you may discern the paths to its home?

Amplified Bible
That you may take it to its territory And that you may know the paths to its house?

Christian Standard Bible
so you can lead it back to its border? Are you familiar with the paths to its home?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so you can lead it back to its border? Are you familiar with the paths to its home?

American Standard Version
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

Contemporary English Version
Can you lead them home?

English Revised Version
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
so that you may lead it to its territory, so that you may know the path to its home?

Good News Translation
Can you show them how far to go, or send them back again?

International Standard Version
Can you take it to its homeland, since you know the path to his house?

Majority Standard Bible
so you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home?

NET Bible
that you may take them to their borders and perceive the pathways to their homes?

New Heart English Bible
that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

Webster's Bible Translation
That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?

World English Bible
that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
That you take it to its boundary, "" And that you understand the paths of its house.

Young's Literal Translation
That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.

Smith's Literal Translation
That thou shalt take it to its bound, and that thou shalt understand the beaten paths of its house?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That thou mayst bring every thing to its own bounds, and understand the paths of the house thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In this way, you might lead each thing to its final place, and understand the paths of its house.

New American Bible
That you may take it to its territory and know the paths to its home?

New Revised Standard Version
that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do you know its borders and the path to its house?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If you know her border and the paths of her house
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If thou couldest bring me to their utmost boundaries, and if also thou knowest their paths;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Challenges Job
19Where is the way to the home of light? Do you know where darkness resides, 20so you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home? 21Surely you know, for you were already born! And the number of your days is great!…

Cross References
Genesis 1:3-5
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. / And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. / God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Psalm 104:2
He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

Jeremiah 31:35
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:

Amos 5:8
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—

John 1:4-5
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

1 John 1:5
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

Revelation 21:23-25
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. / By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory. / Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.

Psalm 74:16
The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.

Isaiah 60:19-20
No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. / Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Luke 11:34-36
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness. / Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. / So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. / Test and prove what pleases the Lord. ...


Treasury of Scripture

That you should take it to the bound thereof, and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?

it to.

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Bound Boundary Discern Dwellings Guiding Home House Limit Paths Places Shouldest Territory Thereof Understand
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Bound Boundary Discern Dwellings Guiding Home House Limit Paths Places Shouldest Territory Thereof Understand
Job 38
1. God challenges Job to answer
4. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance
31. and weakness














So you can lead it back
This phrase challenges human understanding and control over the natural world. The Hebrew root for "lead" (נָחָה, nachah) implies guidance or direction, often used in the context of God leading His people. Here, God questions Job's ability to guide the elements of creation, emphasizing human limitations. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern view of divine sovereignty over nature, contrasting human frailty with God's omnipotence.

to its border?
The term "border" (גְּבוּל, gebul) in Hebrew signifies a boundary or limit. In the context of Job, it underscores the idea that creation has divinely established limits that humans cannot alter. This reflects the biblical theme of God's order in creation, as seen in Genesis, where God sets boundaries for the sea. It serves as a reminder of the divine order and the limits of human authority.

Do you know
This rhetorical question highlights human ignorance compared to divine wisdom. The Hebrew word for "know" (יָדַע, yada) implies intimate understanding or experiential knowledge. In the context of Job, it underscores the vast gap between human and divine knowledge. This is a recurring theme in wisdom literature, where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, acknowledging human limitations in understanding God's creation.

the paths
The word "paths" (נְתִיבָה, nethibah) refers to a way or course. In ancient times, paths were crucial for travel and trade, often representing life's journey. Here, it symbolizes the intricate and ordained courses of creation that only God fully comprehends. This imagery is consistent with biblical teachings that God's ways are higher than human ways, as seen in Isaiah.

to its home?
The term "home" (בַּיִת, bayith) signifies a dwelling or resting place. In this context, it suggests the natural order and resting place of the elements within creation. The rhetorical question implies that only God knows the true "home" or purpose of each part of creation. This reflects the biblical view of God as the ultimate architect and sustainer of the universe, as seen in Psalms, where creation is depicted as God's handiwork.

(20) That thou shouldest take it--i.e., go with or track it.

Verse 20. - That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof. Can Job "take" light and darkness, and lead them to their proper places, and make them observe their proper "bounds," as God can (Genesis 1:4)? And that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof (comp. ver. 19).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
so
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you can lead it back
תִ֭קָּחֶנּוּ (ṯiq·qā·ḥen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

its border?
גְּבוּל֑וֹ (gə·ḇū·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

Do you know
תָ֝בִ֗ין (ṯā·ḇîn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

the paths
נְתִיב֥וֹת (nə·ṯî·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5410: Path, pathway

to its home?
בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (bê·ṯōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Poetry: Job 38:20 That you should take it to its (Jb)
Job 38:19
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