How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

JOB 37:17KJV
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Job 37:17 (KJV)

What does Job 37:17 mean?

Job 37:17 describes the experience of feeling warmth in your clothes when God calms the earth with a south wind. The verse points to the mysterious way God controls the weather, making people notice how their garments become warm when the air grows still and mild.

In this verse, Elihu is speaking to Job, drawing attention to the everyday wonders that show God's power. Elihu uses the example of the warm south wind, which in that region brings heat and calm, to highlight how little people understand about God's control over nature. The verse invites Job to consider how even simple experiences, like feeling warmth in your clothes, are connected to God's actions in the world.

The Hebrew behind Job 37:17

  • "garments" (בֶּגֶד, beged): This word refers to clothing or garments, emphasizing the personal, everyday experience of warmth that everyone can relate to.
  • "warm" (חָמַם, chamam): This verb means to be or become warm. Here, it draws attention to the physical sensation that comes from a change in the weather, making the experience vivid and relatable.
  • "quieteth" (שָׁקַט, shaqat): This word means to make quiet, still, or calm. It highlights the idea that God is the one who brings peace or calm to the earth, often through changes in the wind or weather.
  • "earth" (אֶרֶץ, erets): This word means the land or earth, showing that God's actions affect the whole world, not just individuals.
  • "south" (דָּרוֹם, darom): This refers to the south, which in the climate of the ancient Near East, usually brought warm, gentle winds. The mention of the south wind helps the reader understand why the garments become warm.

Why Job 37:17 matters

  • Job 37:17 helps clear up that the verse is not just about weather, but about recognizing God’s hand in everyday, physical experiences that people often take for granted.
  • The verse emphasizes how little humans understand about the natural world and God’s control over it, supporting Elihu’s larger point that God’s ways are beyond human comprehension.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage where Elihu is urging Job to reflect on God’s greatness and the mystery of His works, preparing the way for God’s own response later in the book.

Where else these words appear

“warm” Hebrew H2525 · used in 2 verses

  • Joshua 9:12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:

“south” Hebrew H1864 · used in 14 verses

  • Deuteronomy 33:23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
  • Ezekiel 40:24 After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.
  • Ezekiel 40:45 And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.

“quieteth” Hebrew H8252 · used in 41 verses

  • Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
  • 2 Chronicles 14:6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
  • Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.