The Meaning of Job 38:21 Explained

Job 38:21

KJV: Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

YLT: Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days are many!

Darby: Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!

ASV: Doubtless , thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Knowest  thou [it], because thou wast then born?  or [because] the number  of thy days  [is] great? 

What does Job 38:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 38:19-41 - What Man Cannot Do
In this chapter a number of nature-pictures pass before us. These include the creation of the earth, Job 38:4-7; the sea, Job 38:8-11; light, Job 38:12-15; the mysteries of the unseen, Job 38:16-18; snow and rain, Job 38:22-30; the constellations of heaven, Job 38:31-38; and the recesses of the forest-glades, Job 38:39-41.
What does it all mean? Ah! there are times when the voice of God through nature falls on our hearts like sweet music, and we hardly know whence or how, but we are comforted and strengthened. The peace passes understanding. Besides, the frequent question, Hast thou? was intended to turn Job's attention to the great mysteries contained in common and ordinary things. If he could not unravel these, how could he hope to fathom all the wonderful dealings of God with the human soul? His ways are above ours and His thoughts higher than ours; but we are sure from Calvary that He is love. Let us quiet ourselves, therefore, and trust. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 38

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

What do the individual words in Job 38:21 mean?

Do you know [it] because then you were born Or [because] the number of your days [is] great
יָ֭דַעְתָּ כִּי־ אָ֣ז ؟ תִּוָּלֵ֑ד וּמִסְפַּ֖ר יָמֶ֣יךָ ؟ רַבִּֽים

יָ֭דַעְתָּ  Do  you  know  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
؟ תִּוָּלֵ֑ד  you  were  born 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
וּמִסְפַּ֖ר  Or  [because]  the  number 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִסְפָּר  
Sense: number, tale.
יָמֶ֣יךָ  of  your  days  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
؟ רַבִּֽים  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.

What are the major concepts related to Job 38:21?

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