Job 38:26
New International Version
to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert,

New Living Translation
Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?

English Standard Version
to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man,

Berean Standard Bible
to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives,

King James Bible
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

New King James Version
To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;

New American Standard Bible
To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a person in it,

NASB 1995
To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a man in it,

NASB 1977
To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a man in it,

Legacy Standard Bible
To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a man in it,

Amplified Bible
To bring rain on the uninhabited land, And on the desert where no man lives,

Christian Standard Bible
to bring rain on an uninhabited land, on a desert with no human life,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
to bring rain on an uninhabited land, on a desert with no human life,

American Standard Version
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

Contemporary English Version
on empty deserts where no one lives?

English Revised Version
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
to bring rain on a land where no one lives, on a desert where there are no humans,

Good News Translation
Who makes rain fall where no one lives?

International Standard Version
to bring rain upon a land without inhabitants, a desert in which no human beings live,

Majority Standard Bible
to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives,

NET Bible
to cause it to rain on an uninhabited land, a desert where there are no human beings,

New Heart English Bible
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man;

Webster's Bible Translation
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness in which there is no man;

World English Bible
to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
To cause [it] to rain on a land [with] no man, "" A wilderness [with] no man in it.

Young's Literal Translation
To cause it to rain on a land -- no man, A wilderness -- no man in it.

Smith's Literal Translation
To cause it to rain upon the earth, not a man; the wilderness not a man in it?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, where no mortal dwelleth :

Catholic Public Domain Version
so that it would rain on the earth far from man, in the wilderness where no mortal lingers,

New American Bible
To bring rain to uninhabited land, the unpeopled wilderness;

New Revised Standard Version
to bring rain on a land where no one lives, on the desert, which is empty of human life,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who causes it to rain on a land where no man is, in the wilderness where there is no inhabitant,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
To send down rain on the land without a man, and in the wilderness where is no man
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is, On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
to rain upon the land where there is no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited land,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Challenges Job
25Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt, 26to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives, 27to satisfy the parched wasteland and make it sprout with tender grass?…

Cross References
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. ...

Psalm 104:10-14
He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains. / They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. / The birds of the air nest beside the springs; they sing among the branches. ...

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 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.

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.

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.”

Psalm 147:8-9
who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills. / He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.

Isaiah 40:28-29
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out. / He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.

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.

Hosea 6:3
So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.

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.

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.” ...

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.

Job 5:10
He gives rain to the earth and sends water upon the fields.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

Job 38:11
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

on the wilderness

Psalm 104:10-14
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills…

Psalm 107:35
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

Psalm 147:8,9
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains…

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Job 38
1. God challenges Job to answer
4. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance
31. and weakness














to bring rain
The phrase "to bring rain" highlights God's sovereign control over nature. In Hebrew, the word for rain is "מָטָר" (matar), which signifies not just the physical act of rain but also the divine provision and blessing. Rain in the ancient Near East was crucial for survival, symbolizing life and sustenance. In the context of Job, God is emphasizing His power to provide and sustain life even in the most desolate places. This reflects the broader biblical theme that God is the ultimate provider, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 11:14, where rain is a sign of God's favor.

on a barren land
The term "barren land" refers to a place devoid of life and productivity. The Hebrew word "שְׁמָמָה" (shemamah) can mean desolation or wasteland. This imagery is powerful, as it contrasts the life-giving rain with the lifelessness of the barren land. Historically, the Israelites understood the significance of barren lands, often associating them with judgment or testing, as seen in the wilderness wanderings. Yet, God’s ability to bring rain to such places underscores His power to bring life and hope where there seems to be none.

on a desert
The word "desert" in Hebrew is "מִדְבָּר" (midbar), which can also mean wilderness. Deserts in biblical times were places of danger, scarcity, and testing. They were often seen as places where one could encounter God, as Moses did at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-2). The mention of a desert here emphasizes the miraculous nature of God’s provision. It serves as a reminder that God can bring transformation and renewal even in the most inhospitable environments.

where no man lives
This phrase highlights the isolation and desolation of the location. The Hebrew "אִישׁ" (ish) for "man" indicates the absence of human presence or cultivation. In the ancient world, uninhabited places were often seen as chaotic and untamed. By bringing rain to such places, God demonstrates His authority over all creation, not just the inhabited and cultivated areas. This serves as a metaphor for God’s ability to reach into the desolate areas of our lives, bringing His presence and life where there is none.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A righteous man tested by God through immense suffering, seeking understanding of his trials.

2. God
The Creator, who speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, questioning him to reveal divine wisdom and power.

3. Barren Land/Desert
Symbolic of desolation and lifelessness, representing areas beyond human habitation and control.

4. Whirlwind
The medium through which God communicates His majesty and authority to Job.

5. Rain
A symbol of God's provision and sovereignty over creation, even in places unseen by humans.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty
Recognize that God is in control of all creation, even in places where human influence is absent.

Divine Provision
Trust in God's ability to provide for all needs, even in seemingly desolate or hopeless situations.

Human Limitations
Acknowledge our limited understanding and control, and the need to rely on God's wisdom and power.

Purpose in Creation
Understand that God's actions, like sending rain to uninhabited lands, have purpose beyond human comprehension.

Faith in the Unseen
Develop faith in God's work and provision, even when it is not immediately visible or understood.(26) To cause it to rain on the earth.--Because God is mindful of His creation, independently of the wants of man.

Verse 26. - To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man. God not only causes his rain to fall equally on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45), but equally, or almost equally, on inhabited lauds and uninhabited. His providence does not limit itself to supplying the wants of man, but has tender regard to the beasts, and birds, and reptiles, and insects which possess the lands whereon man has not yet set his foot.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
to bring rain
לְ֭הַמְטִיר (lə·ham·ṭîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4305: To rain

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a barren
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

land,
אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

on a desert
מִ֝דְבָּ֗ר (miḏ·bār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

where no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

man [lives],
אָדָ֥ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT Poetry: Job 38:26 To cause it to rain (Jb)
Job 38:25
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