Job 38:29
New International Version
From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens

New Living Translation
Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?

English Standard Version
From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?

Berean Standard Bible
From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven,

King James Bible
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

New King James Version
From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?

New American Standard Bible
“From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

NASB 1995
“From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

NASB 1977
“From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

Legacy Standard Bible
From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

Amplified Bible
“Out of whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

Christian Standard Bible
Whose womb did the ice come from? Who gave birth to the frost of heaven

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whose womb did the ice come from? Who gave birth to the frost of heaven

American Standard Version
Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

Contemporary English Version
Who gives birth to the sleet and the frost

English Revised Version
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
From whose womb came the ice, and who has given birth to the frost in the air?

Good News Translation
Who is the mother of the ice and the frost,

International Standard Version
Whose womb brings forth the ice? Who gives birth to frost out of an empty sky,

Majority Standard Bible
From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven,

NET Bible
From whose womb does the ice emerge, and the frost from the sky, who gives birth to it,

New Heart English Bible
Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?

Webster's Bible Translation
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

World English Bible
Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoarfrost of the heavens, "" Who has begotten it?

Young's Literal Translation
From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?

Smith's Literal Translation
From whose womb came forth the ice? and the hoarfrost of the heavens, who brought it forth?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Out of whose womb came the ice; and the frost from heaven who hath gendered it?

Catholic Public Domain Version
From whose womb did the ice proceed, and who created the frost from the air?

New American Bible
Out of whose womb comes the ice, and who gives the hoarfrost its birth in the skies,

New Revised Standard Version
From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Out of whose womb did the dew and ice come forth? And who begot the hoary frost of heaven?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the dew and ice? From whose belly did they go out? And who begot the frost of Heaven?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoar-frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Challenges Job
28Does the rain have a father? Who has begotten the drops of dew? 29From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven, 30when the waters become hard as stone and the surface of the deep is frozen?…

Cross References
Psalm 147:16-17
He spreads the snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; / He casts forth His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?

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,

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.

Psalm 148:8
lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word,

Proverbs 25:23
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.

Isaiah 40:22
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Genesis 8:22
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.”

Psalm 104:13
He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works.

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.

Amos 4:7
“I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered.

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!”

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.”

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.


Treasury of Scripture

Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?

Job 38:8
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

Job 6:16
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

Job 37:10
By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

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Begotten Belly Birth Body Cold Forth Frost Gives Gray Heaven Heavens Hoarfrost Hoar-Frost Hoary Ice Mist Sky Womb
Jump to Next
Begotten Belly Birth Body Cold Forth Frost Gives Gray Heaven Heavens Hoarfrost Hoar-Frost Hoary Ice Mist Sky Womb
Job 38
1. God challenges Job to answer
4. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance
31. and weakness














From whose womb
The phrase "from whose womb" uses the imagery of birth to describe the origin of ice. In Hebrew, the word for "womb" is "רֶחֶם" (rechem), which is often used to denote the source or origin of something. This metaphorical language emphasizes the mysterious and divine origin of natural phenomena. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the womb was seen as a place of creation and nurturing, highlighting God's role as the ultimate Creator who brings forth the wonders of nature.

does the ice emerge
The emergence of ice is depicted as a process akin to birth, suggesting a deliberate and purposeful act of creation. The Hebrew word for "ice" is "קֶרַח" (qerach), which appears in various biblical texts to describe cold and frozen conditions. This imagery would resonate with Job and his contemporaries, who experienced the harshness of winter and the formidable power of ice. It underscores God's sovereignty over the natural world, as He alone orchestrates the formation of ice.

and who gives birth
The act of giving birth is a powerful metaphor for creation and origination. In this context, it signifies God's active role in bringing forth the frost. The Hebrew verb "יָלַד" (yalad) means "to give birth" or "to beget," emphasizing the intentionality and authority of God in the natural order. This phrase invites reflection on the divine wisdom and power that govern the cycles of nature, reminding believers of God's intimate involvement in the world.

to the frost
The term "frost" in Hebrew is "כְּפֹר" (kephor), which refers to the thin layer of ice crystals that form on surfaces in cold conditions. Frost is a common phenomenon in the biblical lands, and its mention here serves to illustrate the intricate and delicate aspects of God's creation. The frost, like the ice, is a testament to God's meticulous design and control over the environment, reinforcing the theme of His omnipotence.

from the heavens
The phrase "from the heavens" indicates the divine origin of the frost. In Hebrew, "שָׁמַיִם" (shamayim) is used for "heavens" and often denotes the sky or the abode of God. This expression highlights the transcendence and majesty of God, who commands the elements from His heavenly realm. It serves as a reminder of the divine order and the heavenly authority that governs earthly phenomena, encouraging believers to trust in God's providence and wisdom.

Verse 29. - Out of whose womb came the ice? Modern scientists admit that the process by which a liquid is metamorphosed into a solid transcends their utmost power of thought. They know nothing more than the fact that at the temperature of 32° Fahr. water, and at other temperatures other liquids, are solidified (see an article by Professor Tyndall on the generation of a snowflake in the Contemporary Review of 1880). It is thus not only creation itself, but the transformations of created things, that transcend the scientific intellect and are inexplicable. And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? This is the same question as that of the previous clause, expressed in different words

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
From whose
מִ֭י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

womb
מִבֶּ֣טֶן (mib·be·ṭen)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

does the ice
הַקָּ֑רַח (haq·qā·raḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7140: Ice, hail, rock crystal

emerge?
יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

Who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

gave birth to
יְלָדֽוֹ׃ (yə·lā·ḏōw)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

the frost
וּכְפֹ֥ר (ū·ḵə·p̄ōr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3713: A cover, a tankard, white frost

from heaven,
שָׁ֝מַיִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky


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OT Poetry: Job 38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? (Jb)
Job 38:28
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