The Meaning of Job 38:35 Explained

Job 38:35

KJV: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

YLT: Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'

Darby: Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

ASV: Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Canst thou send  lightnings,  that they may go,  and say  unto thee, Here we [are]? 

What does Job 38:35 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 38:35 mean?

Can you send out lightnings that they may go and say to you Here we [are]
הַֽתְשַׁלַּ֣ח בְּרָקִ֣ים וְיֵלֵ֑כוּ וְיֹאמְר֖וּ לְךָ֣ הִנֵּֽנוּ

הַֽתְשַׁלַּ֣ח  Can  you  send  out 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
בְּרָקִ֣ים  lightnings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בָּרָק  
Sense: lightning.
וְיֵלֵ֑כוּ  that  they  may  go 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְיֹאמְר֖וּ  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְךָ֣  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
הִנֵּֽנוּ  Here  we  [are] 
Parse: Interjection, first person common plural
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.