Job 38:19
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
American King James Version (AKJV)
Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
American Standard Version (ASV)
Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Which is the way to the resting-place of the light, and where is the store-house of the dark;
Webster's Revision
Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is its place,
World English Bible
"What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
English Revised Version (ERV)
Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;
Clarke's Job 38:19 Bible Commentary
Where light dwelleth - What is the source of light? Yea, what is light itself? It is not in the sun, for light was before the sun; but what is light? It is no doubt a substance; but of what kind? and of what are its particles? As to darkness, what is It? Is it philosophical to say, it is the mere privation of light? I shall think philosophy has made some advances to general accuracy and perfection when it proves to us what cold is, and what darkness is, leaving mere privations out of the question.
Barnes's Job 38:19 Bible Commentary
(g) The clouds and rain also had been carefully observed, and the laws which governed them were among the inscrutable things of God:
Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
And who can empty the bottles of heaven? Job 38:37.
The clouds seem to have been regarded as a solid substance capable of holding rain like a leather bottle, and the rain was caused by their emptying themselves on the earth. Yet the whole phenomena were considered to beyond the comprehension of man. The laws by which the clouds suspended in the air, and the reason why the rain descended in small drops, instead of gushing floods, were alike incomprehensible:
Who also can understand the outspreading of the clouds,
And the fearful thunderings in his pavilion? Job 36:29.
For he draweth up the drops of water;
They distil rain in his vapor,
Which the clouds pour down;
They pour it upon man in abundance. Job 36:27-28.
He bindeth up the waters in the thick clouds,
And the cloud is not rent under them. Job 26:8.
(h) The sea had also attracted the attention of these ancient observers and there were phenomena there which they could not explain:
Who shut up the sea with doors,
continued...
Wesley's Job 38:19 Bible Commentary
38:19 Dwelleth - Hath its constant and settled abode. Whether goes the sun when it departs from this hemisphere? Where is the tabernacle and the chamber in which he is supposed to rest? And seeing there was a time when there was nothing but gross darkness upon the face of the earth, what way came light into the world? Which was the place where light dwelt at that time, and whence was it fetched? And whence came that orderly constitution and constant succession of light and darkness? Was this thy work? Or wast thou privy to it, or a counsellor, or assistant in it?