Job 37:2 · Bible study
Job 37:2 Commentary: Hear the Thunder of His Voice
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Elihu exhorts attention to the thunder as God's voice. Explore the Hebrew words for 'raging' and 'rumbling' and the storm context that leads to Job 38.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Elihu commands his audience to listen intently to the thunder as the very voice of God, a prelude to the divine speech in Job 38.
- Key words: shim'u shamo'a (hear attentively, cognate infinitive absolute for emphasis); rogez (raging, turmoil of thunder); hegeh (rumbling, growling murmur of the storm).
- Main debate: Whether the storm is a literal, present phenomenon that Elihu points to, or a purely literary device used to frame the divine speeches.
- Theological theme: Natural revelation as a call to humility, God’s power displayed in creation prepares the heart to receive God’s word.
- Best use: As a text for sermons or teaching on hearing God through creation, the discipline of attention, and the humbling encounter with divine majesty before direct address.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
KJV King James Version 1769
Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Hearken diligently to the trembling of His voice, Yea, the sound from His mouth goeth forth.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Hear attentively the roar of his voice, and the murmur going forth from his mouth.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Hear ye attentively the terror of his voice, and the sound that cometh out of his mouth.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Oid atentamente su voz terrible, y el sonido que sale de su boca.
Ouvi atentamente o estrondo de sua voz, e o som que sai de sua boca,
Écoutez, écoutez le frémissement de sa voix,
O höret doch, wie der Donner zürnt, und was für Gespräch von seinem Munde ausgeht!
Hoort met aandacht de beweging Zijner stem, en het geluid, dat uit Zijn mond uitgaat!
Udite, udite il fragore della sua voce, il rombo che esce dalla sua bocca!
Pod wszystkiem niebem prosto go wypuszcza, a światłość jego po wszystkich kończynach ziemi.
Слушайте, слушайте голос Его и гром, исходящий из уст Его.
聽啊， 神轟轟的 聲音 是他口中 所發的 響聲。
Give ear to the rolling noise of his voice; to the hollow sound which goes out of his mouth.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Job 37:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Job 37:2 captures a moment of real, present storm. Adam Clarke states that “the successive peals were now breaking over the house” and that the storm continued until God spoke from the whirlwind. Barnes notes that “the tempest was already seen rising” and that Elihu calls his hearers to attend to the low muttering thunder. Wesley and Matthew Henry concur that thunder and lightning serve as “sensible indications of the glory and majesty” of God, designed to startle their audience into awareness. The Hebrew construction shim'u shamo'a (lit. “hear attentively”) reinforces this urgency. The thunder is consistently read as the voice of God himself, not a mere natural phenomenon. The parallel word hegeh (rumbling or muttering) further paints the sound as a sustained, growling peal. Across Protestant, Anglican, and Methodist traditions, this verse is understood as a call to let nature’s storm prepare the heart for divine speech.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Thunder is presented as the voice of God, and Elihu commands his listeners to give it their full attention as preparation for the divine speech from the whirlwind.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of Elihu’s call to listen | Elihu intends to direct attention to God’s majesty displayed in the storm, humbling human pride. | Some commentators see this as a genuine attempt to instruct Job, while others view Elihu as self-important and his theology as incomplete, needing God’s own correction in Job 38-41. |
| Literal storm or literary framework | The thunder is presented as God’s voice, and the description aligns with an actual thunderstorm. | Some (Clarke, Barnes) strongly argue the storm is physically present and ongoing. Others treat the description as an extended metaphor for divine power that functions rhetorically, regardless of real-time weather. |
| Precise nuance of Hebrew terms | Both <em>rogez</em> and <em>hegeh</em> refer to the audible phenomena of thunder, a loud, disruptive sound followed by a lower rumble. | The specific connotation of <em>hegeh</em> ranges from ‘muttering’ or ‘growling’ (Barnes, Cambridge) to ‘moaning’ or ‘sighing’ (lexicon). This affects whether the sound is purely threatening or also carries an undertone of pathos. |
| Relationship to natural revelation | The passage teaches that God reveals himself through creation, and human beings should pay attention. | Christians differ on how much of God’s character can be known from nature alone (general revelation) versus how much requires special revelation in Scripture and Christ. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In the ancient Near East, thunder was routinely associated with divine presence. Canaanite and Mesopotamian literature depict storm gods who speak through thunder. The Old Testament inherits this imagery but transforms it: Yahweh alone commands the storm. Psalm 29 famously uses seven repetitions of “the voice of Yahweh” to describe thunder shaking the wilderness. Job 37:2 fits squarely into this tradition.
The broader context of Elihu’s speech is his attempt to humble Job through the display of God’s power in nature. Chapters 36, 37 catalogue meteorological wonders: clouds, lightning, rain, snow, and the northern cold. Elihu argues that if Job cannot understand these ordinary marvels, he has no right to question God’s moral governance. The storm itself becomes a pedagogical tool.
The sequence is dramatic. Elihu sees a storm gathering. His own heart trembles (v. 1). He commands his listeners to “hear attentively the noise of his voice”, the thunder. This is not mere spectacle. In the biblical world, the thunderstorm was God’s war-chariot (Psalm 18:10, Habakkuk 3:11). It announced judgment or deliverance. Here it prepares for the theophany of Job 38:1, where “Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind.”
By commanding attention to the natural voice of God, Elihu sets the stage for the special revelation that follows. The reader learns that God’s speech in creation is always preliminary to his speech in direct address. The storm humbles; the voice from the whirlwind teaches.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Job 37:2. The verse is consistent across major Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions. The repetition shim'u shamo'a (hear attentively) is stable and well-attested in the Masoretic Text.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Job 37:2 has been read as a call to attend to God’s voice in creation. The early church father Gregory the Great, in his Morals on Job, interpreted the thunder as a figure of divine judgment that shakes the proud and awakens the humble. In the Reformation, both Luther and Calvin used this passage to argue that God’s power is displayed in natural phenomena, teaching submission to God’s will. The verse also appears in hymns of the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly those describing storms as acts of worship. In modern liturgical use, it often appears in readings for seasons of repentance, such as Lent, where the call to ‘hear’ invites self-examination. The image of thunder as God’s voice is echoed in African American spirituals that speak of God riding the storm. Across traditions, this verse is treasured as a poetic reminder that creation is not mute: it speaks, and the first step of wisdom is to listen.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The storm is the sermon. Elihu does not argue from abstract principles. He points to a real event. The thunder is God’s voice, and the right response is attention, not explanation.
- Natural revelation prepares for special revelation. The thunder leads to the whirlwind. God’s works in creation open ears for his words in Scripture. The sermon from the storm is meant to quiet the human heart before the divine speaker.
- Fear is the beginning of wisdom. Elihu’s heart trembles (v. 1) before he commands others to listen. A proper awe before God’s power in nature is not superstition but reverence. It creates space for repentance and trust.
Five-point outline
- God speaks through what we cannot control. The thunder has no human off-switch. It comes uninvited, reminding us that God is not at our disposal.
- The language of creation is not optional. Elihu insists his listeners hear it. Ignoring the thunder is ignoring the Creator who sends it.
- Repetition for emphasis. “Hear, oh, hear” translates a Hebrew cognate infinitive absolute, it means “hear completely, without distraction.” God demands full attention.
- The specific vocabulary matters. Rogez (raging) and hegeh (rumbling) give texture to the sound. It is not a single clap but a sustained, growling communication.
- Every storm ends in silence, and that silence may contain God’s word. After the thunder in Job 38, God speaks in a way that addresses Job’s heart. The noise prepares for the still, small voice of divine dialogue.
Illustration hooks
- Standing on a porch during a thunderstorm. You cannot make yourself heard. The thunder has the last word. That overwhelming sound can feel like an invitation to stop talking and start listening.
- A parent’s firm voice at a crowded dinner table. Not anger, but authority. The noise of the storm is like that: it commands attention not to frighten, but to communicate something important.
- Soundcheck before a concert. The thunder is the soundcheck for God’s entrance. Elihu is telling everyone to be quiet and pay attention because the main event is coming.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God still speak through nature today, or was that only for biblical times?
- How do I know when I am hearing God’s voice versus just my own thoughts, especially when the message is uncomfortable?
- If God speaks through storms, what about natural disasters? Is that God’s judgment or just the way the world works?
Leading a Discussion
This verse invites a group to consider how God speaks outside the pages of Scripture. Elihu’s command to “hear attentively” implies that attentive listening is a skill. The storm is not an interruption but a sermon. Use these questions to explore how your group experiences God’s voice in creation and how that relates to the Bible.
Discussion questions
- Read Job 37:1-5 aloud. What do you picture as you hear these words? How does Elihu’s language affect you?
- The Hebrew uses a doubled verb: “hear attentively” or “hear with hearing.” Why do you think the text emphasises the act of listening so strongly?
- Elihu says his own heart trembles before he asks others to listen (v. 1). What does that reveal about the kind of leader or teacher he is?
- How does this picture of God speaking through thunder compare to the way God speaks to Elijah in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12)? Are these contradictory, or do they work together?
- In what ways have you experienced God’s voice through nature, storms, sunsets, landscapes? Has that experience ever felt as commanding as the thunder here?
- This passage sets the stage for God’s direct speech from the whirlwind in Job 38. How does Elihu’s sermon prepare Job (and the reader) for what God is about to say?
- If God still speaks through creation, what does that mean for how we treat the natural world? Does it change how we listen on a quiet day?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 19:16 | On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. |
| Exodus 19:19 | When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. |
| Job 36:29 | Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion? |
| Job 36:33 | Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up. |
| Job 37:5 | God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend. |
| Job 38:1 | Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind, |
| Psalms 29:3 | Yahweh’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters. |
| Psalms 29:9 | Yahweh’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the thunder and lightning described are actually God’s voice speaking from his mouth. This shows that God can speak loudly even during a storm.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the Hebrew wording for "hear attentively" and suggests the tempest may already be gathering as God prepares to speak to Job. He explains that the words for "noise" and "sound" describe the commotion and low, growling mutter of thunder, which Scripture often presents as the voice of God.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Christians who hold this view see the noise of thunder as the voice of God speaking from His mouth. It is not an ordinary sound but God’s own word. This gives hope that God is always present and in control.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note draws attention to the physical, audible nature of God's speech. The commentator emphasizes that God's voice produces an actual sound and noise that proceeds from His mouth, something meant to be heard directly.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill distinguishes between two kinds of divine voice in the verse: the loud, violent thunderclap and the softer rumbling at a distance. He notes the Hebrew word for "sound" can also mean private meditation, so Gods voice comes both as a mighty crack and as a still whisper, and both deserve attention.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
The commentary notes that the noise of thunder includes a muttering sound. It suggests this sound gives people a reason to tremble.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch note that the repeated word for sound in this verse calls to mind the seven sounds in Psalm 29. They also explain that the word for thunder means to set free rather than give direction. You may find hope in Christ and the resurrection.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the thunder and lightning Elihu describes as the actual beginning of the storm from which God will speak in chapter 38. The poet intends the reader to understand that the storm is already gathering during Elihu's final speech, making his descriptions not just general theology but the immediate setting for God's arrival.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that God uses thunder and lightning to show his glory and power so that people will notice him. You may find comfort in knowing God leaves clear signs of his greatness even for those who cannot see or hear.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that thunder likely broke in while Elihu was speaking, and God used that storm to begin his own address. The thunder is called God's voice because by it he speaks to make people fear him. The word "mouth" refers to God's command that produces these sounds.