Job 38:31 Meaning: Who Binds the Pleiades?
“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
Meaning in one sentence
God asks Job if he can bind the Pleiades or loosen Orion, revealing His sovereignty over creation and Job's limited understanding.
Context
God has finally answered Job, but not with explanations. From a whirlwind, God fires question after question about the natural world. He asks about the earth's foundations, the sea's boundaries, and here, the stars. Verse 31 is part of a series about constellations. In the ancient world, people saw the stars as mysterious and powerful. But God asks Job if he can bind the Pleiades or loosen Orion. These are rhetorical questions. The answer is no. Job cannot do what only the Creator can. The message is not about astronomy; it is about power and trust. God is showing Job that he is in no position to judge God's ways.
Key Words
The Hebrew verbs and nouns in this verse carry weight. The word for ‘bind’ is qashar, not a loose knot but a strong, deliberate tying. God uses the form that means ‘you will bind on,’ as if Job could take the stars and lash them together. The noun for ‘bonds’ (ma'adannot) is disputed. The KJV translated it as ‘sweet influences,’ thinking of the pleasant spring that the Pleiades herald. But the parallel with ‘cords’ for Orion suggests it means ‘bands’ or ‘chains.’ Either way, the point stands: Job cannot control the stars. The Pleiades come in spring; Orion brings winter. We cannot rush one or stop the other. Only God can. This word study reminds us that God's power is not just in the big miracles but in the steady movement of the heavens.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in two main ways. Some, like Matthew Henry and John Wesley, understand ‘sweet influences’ as the joy of spring that the Pleiades bring, and ‘bands of Orion’ as winter storms that bind the earth. In this view, God asks if Job can control the seasons. Other scholars, like the Cambridge Bible and Keil & Delitzsch, see a more literal image: binding the stars of the Pleiades together and loosing the cords that hold Orion. Both readings honor the text. Across traditions, believers agree on the core truth: only God has the power to govern the heavens. Our place is not to command but to trust.
A common misunderstanding
Some assume this verse proves that the stars have special influences on human life, or that God is acknowledging the power of astrology. In fact, the verse is a rhetorical question meant to humble Job. God is not teaching about star influences; He is pointing out that Job cannot even control the constellations. The focus is on God's authority, not on any supposed power of the stars. The Bible elsewhere warns against seeking guidance from the stars, so this verse does not endorse it.
Living This Out
Perhaps this week you face a situation you cannot fix: a strained relationship, a job loss, a health concern that drags on. Like Job, you may want answers or control. This verse asks you to pause and look up. If God holds the Pleiades in place and loosens the cords of Orion, He can hold your life together too. You do not have to manage the seasons of your soul on your own. You can release the need to control outcomes. Instead, you can rest in the One who binds and loosens the stars. Your part is not to command the heavens but to trust the One who does.
Main takeaway: Only God has the power to order the stars and the seasons; we can trust Him with what we cannot control.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God asked Job, “Can you tie up the stars?” Only God can do that. You can trust God because He is very strong.
For ages 9, 12
When you look at the stars at night, remember that God placed them there and holds them together. Job thought he could question God, but God showed him how little he knew. This verse reminds us that God's wisdom is far greater than ours. Even when you don't understand what is happening, you can trust the God who controls the stars.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean to 'bind the Pleiades'?
It is a rhetorical question. God asks Job if he can tie together the star cluster called the Pleiades. The answer is no. Only God has the power to hold the stars in their place.
Does Job 38:31 teach that stars have influence over our lives?
No. God is not teaching about star influences. He is asking if Job can control the constellations. The point is God's sovereignty, not that stars have power over humans. The Bible elsewhere warns against astrology.
Why do some translations say 'sweet influences' while others say 'bonds'?
The Hebrew word 'ma'adannot' is ambiguous. It can mean either 'bonds' (like chains) or 'delights' (related to pleasure). The KJV chose 'sweet influences' to reflect the pleasant spring season of the Pleiades. Most modern translations use 'bonds' or 'bands' to match the parallel with Orion's cords.
What is the context of this verse in the book of Job?
Job has been suffering and demanding answers from God. God responds with a series of questions about creation, including the stars. The questions are meant to show Job that he is not in a position to judge God's ways. Verse 31 is part of that larger argument.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study