At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

JOB 37:1KJV
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Job 37:1 (KJV)

What does Job 37:1 mean?

In Job 37:1, Elihu describes how deeply he is shaken as he speaks about the thunder associated with God’s voice. His words convey a powerful response to what he hears, using the movement of his heart to express his agitation.

Elihu is speaking to Job and the others gathered with him. After speaking of thunder in the preceding verse, he pictures his heart moving out of its place, as though the sound has jolted him from within.

The Hebrew behind Job 37:1

  • “heart” — לֵב (lev): The word can refer to the inner person, including thoughts and feelings. Here, Elihu describes more than a physical heartbeat: his whole inner response is disturbed.
  • “trembleth” — חָרַד (ḥarad): The word often carries the sense of shaking with fear or alarm. Elihu’s choice of word gives his reaction an intensity that goes beyond quiet attention.

Why Job 37:1 matters

  • Elihu presents thunder as something that affects him personally. The words “my heart” show that he is describing his own response, not merely giving an account of the weather.
  • The verse prepares for Elihu’s call to listen. His own trembling comes just before he says, “Hear attentively the noise of his voice” (Job 37:2).
  • The phrase “moved out of his place” is a vivid picture of disturbance. It gives readers a way to imagine how strongly the sound has affected Elihu.

Where else these words appear

“out” Hebrew H5425 · used in 8 verses

  • Leviticus 11:21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
  • Job 6:9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
  • Psalms 146:7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

“this” Hebrew H2063 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • Leviticus 16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
  • 2 Samuel 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

“trembleth” Hebrew H2729 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 27:33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
  • 1 Samuel 28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
  • Ezekiel 26:16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.