Job 38:25
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,

Majority Standard Bible
Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt,

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;

World English Bible
Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who 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 Bible
Who 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 Bible
Who 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 1917
Who 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…

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














Who cuts a channel
The phrase "Who cuts a channel" speaks to the divine craftsmanship and sovereignty of God in creation. The Hebrew word for "cuts" is "פָּתַח" (pathach), which implies opening or carving out with precision and purpose. This imagery suggests that God, like a master artisan, has meticulously designed the natural world. In the ancient Near Eastern context, water channels were vital for irrigation and sustaining life, symbolizing God's provision and control over the life-giving forces of nature.

for the flood
The term "flood" here is translated from the Hebrew word "שֶׁטֶף" (sheteph), which can refer to a deluge or torrent of water. This word evokes the overwhelming power and potential destructiveness of water, yet it is God who directs and contains it. Historically, floods were both feared and revered in ancient cultures, often seen as acts of divine judgment or blessing. This highlights God's authority over even the most chaotic and uncontrollable elements of creation.

or clears a path
"Clears a path" is derived from the Hebrew "שׂוּם" (sum), meaning to set, place, or establish. This phrase emphasizes God's intentionality and order in the universe. In a world that often seems chaotic, this serves as a reminder of the divine order underlying all things. The imagery of clearing a path suggests preparation and guidance, akin to a shepherd leading his flock or a king preparing a way for his people.

for the thunderbolt
The "thunderbolt" is translated from the Hebrew "קֹול" (qol), which can mean voice or sound, often associated with thunder. In ancient times, thunder and lightning were seen as manifestations of divine power and presence. This phrase underscores God's control over the forces of nature that inspire awe and fear. The thunderbolt, a symbol of divine communication and judgment, reminds us of God's omnipotence and the reverence due 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
Who
מִֽי־ (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


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OT Poetry: Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel (Jb)
Job 38:24
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