Job 37:6 Meaning: When God Commands the Snow and Rain
For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.
For to snow He saith, `Be on the earth.' And the small rain and great rain of His power.
For he saith to the snow, Fall on the earth! and to the pouring rain, even the pouring rains of his might.
Meaning in one sentence
Job 37:6 reveals God's direct command over snow and rain.
Context
Elihu is the last speaker before God himself answers Job. In Job 37, Elihu describes how God controls the weather, thunder, lightning, snow, and rain, to show his power and wisdom. Job and his friends have been arguing about why the righteous suffer. Elihu takes a different approach: he points to creation and says, in effect, stop trying to understand God's hidden purposes and start paying attention to what he does right in front of you. This verse falls in a section where Elihu lists one natural wonder after another, each one a quiet sign that God is at work.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight here. First, God says (amar) to the snow. This is the same word used in Genesis for God's creative commands: 'Let there be light.' It is a word that creates what it speaks. Second, the verb for fall (heve') is unusual, it sounds like an Arabic word meaning to fall gently, as snow does. Elihu may be reaching for a rare word to catch something ordinary yet mysterious. Third, rain appears twice. The first word matar is the common term. The second geshem means a shower or downpour, and it is called 'the showers of his mighty rain', the word might (oz) is the same used for God's strength elsewhere. So the picture is of light snow and powerful rain, both equally under his command.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a clear statement of God's sovereignty over nature. Matthew Henry, in his Puritan devotional style, urges readers to see God's hand in everyday weather, not just in dramatic events. Barnes, a Protestant scholar, connects it to Genesis: God speaks, and it happens. The Cambridge Bible notes that the verse likely refers to the heavy winter rains of the Near East. Some Jewish commentators, like the medieval rabbi Aben Ezra, puzzled over the unusual Hebrew phrase be thou on the earth, suggesting a missing letter. All these readings agree on the main point: snow and rain are not random accidents but responses to the Creator's word.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think this verse is just a poetic description of weather, like a nature poem. In fact, the verb 'says' carries the same weight as God's commands in Genesis 1. This is not mere observation; it is a claim that every snowfall and rainstorm happens because God speaks it into being. The weather is not independent; it is obedient.
Living This Out
This week, when you see rain falling or snow covering the ground, stop and let yourself remember: this is not random. The same God who spoke light into existence speaks to that cloud. If he can command a snowflake, he can handle what worries you today. You do not need to understand his larger plans, the weather is beyond you, and so are his ways. But you can trust the one who speaks to both the gentle rain and the mighty downpour.
Main takeaway: God speaks to the snow and rain, and they obey him, showing his sovereign care over every detail of creation.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Did you know God tells the snow when to fall? He tells the rain when to pour, too. He is the boss of the weather, and he takes care of everything.
For ages 9, 12
Snow and rain seem ordinary, but the Bible says they come because God commands them. The same God who made the whole world speaks to a single snowflake. That means nothing is too small for him to notice or control. Next time it rains, remember: God is in charge of that, and he is in charge of your life too.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean that God 'says' to the snow in Job 37:6?
The Hebrew word 'amar' is the same word used when God created the world in Genesis. It means God speaks with authority, and what he says happens. So this verse is not just a poetic description; it is a claim that snow and rain come because God commands them directly.
Why does Job talk so much about weather and nature?
Job's friend Elihu is trying to show that God's wisdom is far beyond human understanding. By pointing to snow, rain, thunder, and lightning, Elihu is saying: if you can't even explain how snow forms or where rain comes from, how can you expect to understand God's purposes in your suffering? Nature humbles us.
Are there different Hebrew words for rain in this verse?
Yes. The first word 'matar' is the common word for rain. The second 'geshem' means a shower or downpour. Together they paint a picture of rain in all its forms, from light showers to heavy storms, all equally under God's command.
Does the Bible mention snow anywhere else?
Yes, several times. Psalm 147:16 says God 'gives snow like wool.' Job 38:22 asks if Job has 'entered the storehouses of the snow.' Snow is consistently presented as something God creates and controls, a sign of his power and provision.
Is Job 37:6 about literal snow and rain, or is it a metaphor?
Most Christians read it as literal: God really does control the weather. But the point is metaphorical too, if God commands something as ordinary as snow, he certainly commands the events of our lives. The literal truth points to a deeper trust.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study