Who has put wisdom in the heartThis phrase emphasizes the divine origin of wisdom, suggesting that true wisdom is a gift from God. In the biblical context, wisdom is often associated with the fear of the Lord (
Proverbs 9:10). The heart, in ancient Hebrew thought, is the center of one's being, encompassing emotions, will, and intellect. This aligns with the biblical view that God is the source of all wisdom, as seen in Solomon's request for wisdom in
1 Kings 3:9-12. The rhetorical question implies that no human can claim credit for the wisdom that resides within; it is a divine endowment.
or given understanding to the mind?
Understanding, like wisdom, is portrayed as a divine gift. The mind, or "inner man," is where discernment and comprehension occur. This phrase suggests that intellectual and spiritual insight are not merely human achievements but are granted by God. This is consistent with the biblical theme that God grants understanding to those who seek Him, as seen inDaniel 2:21, where God is described as the one who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. The rhetorical nature of the question underscores human limitations and the necessity of divine intervention for true understanding.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning God's justice.
2.
GodThe Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who speaks to Job out of the whirlwind in
Job 38, challenging Job's understanding and perspective.
3.
The WhirlwindThe medium through which God speaks to Job, symbolizing God's power and majesty.
Teaching Points
Divine Source of WisdomRecognize that true wisdom and understanding are gifts from God, not merely human achievements.
Humility Before GodAcknowledge our limitations in understanding and approach God with humility, seeking His wisdom in our lives.
The Role of the Heart and MindUnderstand that God imparts wisdom to both the heart and mind, indicating a holistic approach to spiritual and intellectual growth.
Seeking God’s WisdomActively seek God's wisdom through prayer, scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Trust in God’s SovereigntyTrust that God, in His sovereignty, knows what is best for us and will provide the wisdom we need in His timing.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from Job 38
What does 'God granting heart's desires' mean?
In Job 25:4, how can anyone be vindicated before God if even those closest to Him are considered unclean?
In Job 22:5, Eliphaz accuses Job of great wickedness, yet Job 1:1 calls him blameless; how do we resolve this apparent contradiction?
How does the Bible inspire creative expression?(36)
Wisdom in the inward parts.--The mention of the inward parts and the heart here, in the midst of natural phenomena, perplexes every one; but it is a natural solution to refer them to the lightnings personified: "Who hath put such understanding in their inward parts?"
Verse 36. -
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Some refer this to human wisdom, and understand the Almighty as asking - Who has put man's wisdom into his inward parts? literally,
into his kidneys, or as our idiom would express it, "into his heart." But there is great difficulty in supposing a sudden transition from clouds and lightning in vers. 34, 35 to the human understanding in ver. 36,
with a return to clouds and rain in ver. 37. Hence many of the best critics understand ver. 36 of the purpose and intelligence that may be regarded as existing in the clouds and rain and lightning themselves, which are God's ministers, and run to and fro at his command, and execute his pleasure. (So Schultens, Rosenmuller, Professor Lee, and Professer Stanley Leathes.) To obtain this result, we must translate the word
טוּחות By "tempest" or "thunder-belts," and the word
שׂכוי, in the next clause, by "storm n or something similar (see the Revised Version, where "dark clouds" is suggested as an alternative for "inward parts'" and "meteor" as an alternative for "heart"). The whole passage will then run thus: Who
hath put wisdom in the thunderbolts? or who hath given understanding to the tempest?
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Whoמִי־(mî·šā-)Interrogative
Strong's 4310:Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffixhas putשָׁ֭ת(ṯ)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7896:To put, setwisdomחָכְמָ֑ה(ḥāḵ·māh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451:Wisdomin the heartבַּטֻּח֣וֹת(baṭ·ṭu·ḥō·wṯ)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2910:The kidneys, the inmost thoughtorא֤וֹ(’ōw)Conjunction
Strong's 176:Desire, ifgivenנָתַ֖ן(nā·ṯan)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setunderstandingבִינָֽה׃(ḇî·nāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 998:An understandingto the mind?לַשֶּׂ֣כְוִי(laś·śeḵ·wî)Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7907:Perhaps appearance, phenomenon
Links
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Job 38:36 BibleApps.comJob 38:36 Biblia ParalelaJob 38:36 Chinese BibleJob 38:36 French BibleJob 38:36 Catholic Bible
OT Poetry: Job 38:36 Who has put wisdom in the inward (Jb) 
