Christians how do you explane this verse?

Question

Job26:8
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

Whoever wrote this book thought that clouds could be "rent," when actually clouds are made of water. How do you explane this?

I'm not trying to convert anybody, please don't be mad. I'm curious what you will say...

Answer 1

It's poetic language. Waters also cannot be "bound" either. What would you tie them with? It's figurative.

Answer 2

The Bible is not a scientific text. It is accurate and true, but it is not to be taken a hundred percent literally. Bear in mind that it was written by essentially nomadic shepherds. That they were right on so many points about the nature of the universe is incredible. They wrote about 'countless stars' when most educated people *knew* there were only a few thousand stars in the sky. If one takes the Old Earth view of creationism then the first chapter of Genesis is a spot on description of the Big Bang as told from the point of view of an observer standing where the earth would be and watching it unfold around them. (The word translated as 'day' is 'yom' and is more properly translated as 'period of time' which isn't bad for a nomadic shepherd, who although educated, had no concept for a number as huge as a billion).

So the authors of the Bible did not know that clouds were made out of water vapor. They described the world around them with the best knowledge they had at the time, just as we do now.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

Well This was written many years ago when they had no idea
of Cloud formation.

See it states that the clouds are made by water ( which is true) and the clouds do not rent ( meaning leak or tear) Which is also true But in the due time it rains,but till then the water is in the clouds in the sky If you were thousands years back you would not understand this. See the truth in the Bible.
There is much more to learn which we are not aware yet.

Answer 4

The passage in Job is absolutely right. God causes water to defy gravity. Have you ever seen a really cloudy day when it did not rain? The cloud doesn't tear or burst open and drop all it's water out. Job is having a conversation with his friend Bildad. He wants to explain the power of God in the way the clouds are formed. He is a man from ancient times. He never touched a cloud. When it rained they thought the cloud broke open and dropped it water. hope this helps

Answer 5

This is why having an easy to read translation helps.

Job 26:8 (New International Version)
8 He wraps up the waters in his clouds,
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.

Answer 6

This is just an example of many in Job, for how God does things that human beings cannot explain, in order to prove to Job and the reader that God is supreme and His ways are unknowable.

You have to remember the audience, which was what, 2000, 3000 years ago. If you started talking about water vapor and evaporation, etc. they wouldn't know what the f--- you're talking about.

But the ancient Israelite for whom Job was written probably did understand the passage and probably did wonder how it was that a cloud could hold all that water without being rent by the weight of the water.

The answer, and the whole point of the book of Job, is that "God can do it, because God does a lot of things that you can't understand with your puny human brain, so why are you questioning Him?"

Answer 7

I'm not a Christian at all, but I think you're nitpicking just a little. In ancient days when this was written, people didn't understand that clouds were made of water vapor. It could just be poetic. It also could be a mistake in translation, since the Bible's been translated by a zillion people in many ways for many reasons.

Answer 8

I don't quite understand your question BUT here is what I have::::: From the New International Version of the bible.........Job 26:8 "HE WRAPS UP THE WATERS IN HIS CLOUDS , YET THE CLOUDS DO NOT BURST UNDER THEIR WEIGHT."

Answer 9

Job is talking to Bildad in this chapter. In the chapter before, Bildad is talking about the lowleness of man and how we can't be seen by God as anything but unworthy. Job is basically rebuking him. Telling him that God is greater then man, and that if he can create the heavens, the earth, and everything found on it that He can do anything. He is talking about the creation. About how God created the earth, and made things work. Read the whole chapter and maybe this one will make sense to you. Also, read the chapter or two before, so you can get the whole picture.

Answer 10

maybe this definition of the word rend...in which rent is a form and is used in the scripture you are presenting will help you grasp its meaning more fully

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -

–verb (used with object) 1. to separate into parts with force or violence: The storm rent the ship to pieces.
2. to tear apart, split, or divide: a racial problem that is rending the nation.
3. to pull or tear violently (often fol. by away, off, up, etc.).
4. to tear (one's garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc.
5. to disturb (the air) sharply with loud noise.
6. to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings.
–verb (used without object) 7. to split or tear something.
8. to become torn or split.



He held back the water and did not allow it to come forth.

Answer 11

Thats why i dont like King James Verson bibles. The old english will just confuse you . Well I looked at the verse in my own bible, and I still have no clue. Sorry.