Teks -- Job 38:3 (NET)

38:3 Get ready for a difficult task like a man; I will question you and you will inform me!

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Job 38:3 - Gird up

As warriors then did for the battle.

JFB: Job 38:3 - a man

Hero, ready for battle (1Co 16:13), as he had wished (Job 9:35; Job 13:22; Job 31:37). The robe, usually worn flowing, was girt up by a girdle when men ran, labored, or fought (1Pe 1:13).

Clarke: Job 38:3 - Gird up now thy loins

Gird up now thy loins - I will not confound thee with my terrors; dismiss all fearful apprehensions from thy mind; now act like a man, כגבר kegeber , like a hero: stand and vindicate thyself. For I will demand of thee - I will ask thee a series of questions more easy of solution than those which thou hast affected to discuss already; and then thou shalt have the opportunity of answering for thyself. The most impressive and convincing manner of arguing is allowed to be that by interrogation, which the Almighty here adopts. The best orations delivered by the ancients were formed after this manner. That celebrated oration of Cicero against Catiline, which is allowed to be his masterpiece, begins with a multitude of short questions, closely pressed upon each other. See the end of the chapter, Job 38:40 (note).

Defender: Job 38:3 - answer thou me

God finally answers Job, but He does so with about seventy-seven rhetorical questions, not one of which has anything to do with the sufferings of Job, or the sufferings of anyone else. Evidently the purpose of the book of Job, in spite of the opinions of most commentators, is not to answer the question as to why righteous people suffer. Although this is the burning theme throughout the entire dialogue between Job and his critics (and a very important question it is), God never answers it at all in His four-chapter monologue.

Instead, His questions all have to do with His great creation, and man's responsibility thereto. That, evidently, is God's great concern. He is rebuking Job (and all men, indirectly), not for sinning or for lack of faith (Job had passed those tests perfectly), but for his inability to answer His questions about the creation. Adam and his descendants had been given dominion over the creation (Gen 1:26-28), which certainly entailed learning to understand it and to care for its creatures, but it had now been about 2000 years since this first great commission was given, and little had been accomplished, with even the most righteous of men more concerned about their own affairs than about God's creation."

TSK: Job 38:3 - Gird // for // answer thou me

Gird : Job 40:7; Exo 12:11; 1Ki 18:46; Jer 1:17; 1Pe 1:13

for : Job 13:15, Job 13:22, Job 23:3-7, Job 31:35-37

answer thou me : Heb. make me know

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Job 38:3 - Gird up now thy loins // I will demand of thee

Gird up now thy loins as warriors then did for the battle. Prepare thyself for the combat with me, which thou hast oft desired. I accept of thy challenge, Job 13:22 , and elsewhere.

I will demand of thee or, I will ask thee questions ; which he doth in the following verses.

Haydock: Job 38:3 - Loins // Answer

Loins, like one about to engage in an arduous task, (Haydock) or journey, (Calmet) to explore the ways of divine Providence. (Haydock) ---

Answer my reasons, if thou art able. (Calmet) ---

Hebrew, "make me know." (Haydock) ---

Only the Creator hath perfect knowledge of all his works, as may appear by induction or example: 1. of inanimate; 2. of living things, ver. 39. (Worthington)

Gill: Job 38:3 - Gird up now thy loins like a man // for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me

Gird up now thy loins like a man,.... Like a man of valour that girds on his harness for battle: Job is bid to prepare for the controversy the Lord was entering into with him; and bring forth his strong reasons and most powerful arguments in his own defence. The allusion is to the custom in the eastern countries, where they wore long garments, to gird them about their loins, when they engaged in work or war. Job had blustered what he would do, and now he is dared to it; see Job 23:4;

for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me; put questions to him, to which he required a direct and positive answer. Jehovah takes the part of the opponent in this dispute, and gives that of the respondent to Job; since Job himself had put it to his option which to take, Job 13:22.