Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, New Living Translation “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning? English Standard Version “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, Berean Standard Bible Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt, King James Bible Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; New King James Version “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt, New American Standard Bible “Who has split open a channel for the flood, And a way for the thunderbolt, NASB 1995 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood, Or a way for the thunderbolt, NASB 1977 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood, Or a way for the thunderbolt; Legacy Standard Bible “Who has cleft a conduit for the flood, Or a way for the thunderbolt, Amplified Bible “Who has prepared a channel for the torrents of rain and for the flood, Or a path for the thunderbolt, Christian Standard Bible Who cuts a channel for the flooding rain or clears the way for lightning, Holman Christian Standard Bible Who cuts a channel for the flooding rain or clears the way for lightning, American Standard Version Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder; Contemporary English Version Who carves out a path for thunderstorms? Who sends torrents of rain English Revised Version Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder; GOD'S WORD® Translation "Who made a channel for the flooding rains and a path for the thunderstorms Good News Translation Who dug a channel for the pouring rain and cleared the way for the thunderstorm? International Standard Version "Who cuts canals for storm floods, and paths for the lightning and thunder, NET Bible Who carves out a channel for the heavy rains, and a path for the rumble of thunder, New Heart English Bible Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm; Webster's Bible Translation Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWho cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt, World English Bible Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWho has divided a conduit for the flood? And a way for the lightning of the voices? Young's Literal Translation Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices? Smith's Literal Translation Who divided a channel for the overflowing, and a way for the lightning of the voices? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWho gave a course to violent showers, or a way for noisy thunder : Catholic Public Domain Version Who gave a course to the rainstorms, and a path to the resounding thunder, New American Bible Who has laid out a channel for the downpour and a path for the thunderstorm New Revised Standard Version “Who has cut a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWho causes a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And there was an appearance and a sound OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or a way for the lightning of the thunder; Brenton Septuagint Translation And who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God Challenges Job…24In which direction is the lightning dispersed, or the east wind scattered over the earth? 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,… Cross References 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 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. Jeremiah 51:16 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 147:8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the hills. Psalm 104:3 laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind. Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? Proverbs 8:28-29 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, / when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth. Amos 4:13 For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.” 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, Psalm 29:3-4 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters. / The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. Genesis 2:5-6 Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted, for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. / But springs welled up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Psalm 77:16-18 The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. / The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. / Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Psalm 148:8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word, 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. 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!” Treasury of Scripture Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Job 36:27,28 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: … Job 37:3-6 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth… Jump to Previous Channel Cleft Conduit Cut Cuts Divided Flaming Flash Flood Flowing Lightning Overflowing Path Rain Thunder Thunderbolt Thunder's Thunderstorm Torrents Voices Water Watercourse Waterflood Waters WayJump to Next Channel Cleft Conduit Cut Cuts Divided Flaming Flash Flood Flowing Lightning Overflowing Path Rain Thunder Thunderbolt Thunder's Thunderstorm Torrents Voices Water Watercourse Waterflood Waters WayJob 38 1. God challenges Job to answer4. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance 31. and weakness Who cuts a channel for the flood This phrase highlights God's sovereignty and control over nature. In the context of Job, God is responding to Job's questioning by illustrating His unmatched power and wisdom. The imagery of cutting a channel for the flood suggests divine intervention in the natural order, reminiscent of the creation narrative where God separates waters and establishes boundaries (Genesis 1:6-10). This also echoes the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14, where God makes a path through the waters for the Israelites, demonstrating His power to direct natural forces for His purposes. The "channel" can symbolize God's provision and guidance, as seen in Isaiah 43:19, where God promises to make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. or clears a path for the thunderbolt Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man of great faith and patience, who undergoes severe trials and questions God's justice. 2. God The Creator, who speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, challenging Job's understanding of the universe. 3. Whirlwind The medium through which God speaks to Job, symbolizing His power and majesty. 4. Flood Represents the natural forces controlled by God, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation. 5. Thunderbolt Another element of nature, illustrating God's control over powerful and awe-inspiring phenomena. Teaching Points God's SovereigntyRecognize that God is in control of all creation, from the smallest raindrop to the mightiest thunderbolt. Human Limitations Understand our limited perspective compared to God's infinite wisdom and power. Trust in God's Plan Even when we don't understand our circumstances, trust that God has a purpose and plan beyond our comprehension. Reverence for God's Power Cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for God's majesty as displayed in the natural world. Humility Before God Approach God with humility, acknowledging our inability to grasp the full scope of His creation and purposes. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 38:25?2. How does Job 38:25 reveal God's sovereignty over creation and nature's forces? 3. What does Job 38:25 teach about God's control over the natural world? 4. How can Job 38:25 deepen our trust in God's power and wisdom? 5. Connect Job 38:25 with Genesis 1:1-2 on God's creative authority. 6. How can we apply Job 38:25 to trust God in life's uncertainties? 7. How does Job 38:25 challenge the belief in human control over nature? 8. What does Job 38:25 reveal about God's sovereignty in creation? 9. How does Job 38:25 address the limits of human understanding? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 38? 11. Why did God permit Satan to test Job? 12. In Ecclesiastes 8:8, does the statement that no one can control the wind conflict with modern meteorological science and technology? 13. Zechariah 10:1: How can supernatural control of rain be reconciled with modern meteorology? 14. In Job 25:4, how can anyone be vindicated before God if even those closest to Him are considered unclean? What Does Job 38:25 Mean Who cuts a channel for the floodJob 38:25 opens with, “Who cuts a channel for the flood…?”. The LORD is speaking, challenging Job to recognize the One who literally carves out waterways for rainwater and seasonal torrents. • The image is deliberate engineering. Streams, rivers, and even flash-flood gullies exist because God Himself designed their courses (Psalm 74:15; Isaiah 43:19). • He “measures the waters in the hollow of His hand” (Isaiah 40:12), demonstrating that the hydrologic cycle is not random but overseen by precise, divine planning. • When ancient Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground, the river “stood still and rose up in a heap” (Joshua 3:13-17), a living illustration that the channels respond to their Maker’s command. The verse underscores that humanity did not sculpt earth’s waterways; Almighty God did. Therefore, every roaring flood reminds us of His active governance and our need to submit to His wisdom. or clears a path for the thunderbolt The second phrase continues: “…or clears a path for the thunderbolt”. Lightning does not strike haphazardly; the LORD charts its course. • Earlier, Job was told that God “made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt” (Job 28:26), reinforcing that weather obeys fixed ordinances set by its Creator. • Psalm 29:3-4 pictures His voice “thundering over the mighty waters,” displaying that each crack of lightning is a direct proclamation of His power. • Elihu already testified, “He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole heaven” (Job 37:3-4), pointing to God’s global oversight. Science can describe electrical charges and atmospheric conditions, yet Scripture insists those natural laws function only because God actively sustains them (Colossians 1:17). Every flash, therefore, is both a warning and a comfort: the same God who guides lightning shields His people. summary Job 38:25 brings us face-to-face with the LORD’s unrivaled authority over watercourses and lightning bolts. He alone cuts channels for floods and charts paths for thunder. Recognizing this sovereign care moves us from questioning to trusting, reminding us that the God who controls the untamable forces of nature is more than able to guide, protect, and sustain all who look to Him. (25) Who hath divided a watercourse.--Rather, cleft a channel for the water-flood.Verse 25. - Who hath divided a water-course for the overflowing of waters? rather, as in the Revised Version, Who hath cleft a channel for the water-flood? i.e. Who has furrowed and seamed the ground (in Western Asia) with deep gullies, or "water-courses," for the rapid carrying off of the violent rains to which those regions are subject? The wadies of Syria and Arabia seem to be alluded to. They too are God's work, not Job's. Or a way for the lightning of thunder? The "way" for the passage of the electric current is not marked out beforehand, like the way for the escape of the superfluous waters; but it is equally determined on and arranged previously by God, who has laid down the laws which it is bound to follow.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whoמִֽי־ (mî-) Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix cuts פִלַּ֣ג (p̄il·laḡ) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6385: To split, divide a channel תְּעָלָ֑ה (tə·‘ā·lāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8585: A channel, a bandage, plaster for the flood לַשֶּׁ֣טֶף (laš·še·ṭep̄) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7858: Flood -- a deluge or clears a path וְ֝דֶ֗רֶךְ (wə·ḏe·reḵ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action for לַחֲזִ֥יז (la·ḥă·zîz) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2385: A thunderbolt, lightning flash the thunderbolt, קֹלֽוֹת׃ (qō·lō·wṯ) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6963: A voice, sound Links Job 38:25 NIVJob 38:25 NLT Job 38:25 ESV Job 38:25 NASB Job 38:25 KJV Job 38:25 BibleApps.com Job 38:25 Biblia Paralela Job 38:25 Chinese Bible Job 38:25 French Bible Job 38:25 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel (Jb) |