“Ubi eras quando ponebam fundamenta terræ ? indica mihi, si habes intelligentiam.”
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. hast: Heb. knowest understanding”
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.”
““Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.”
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.”
Seeing he could not judge of those things which were done so long before he was born, he was not able to comprehend all God’s works: much less the secret causes of his judgments.
Foundations. The Hebrews placed the earth in the centre of the universe, resting upon nothing, (chap. xxvi. 7., and xxxvi. 30.) or upon itself. See Hesiod, Theog. 325. (Calmet) — These questions seem intended to shew, that if God has created all things for man, he will not surely neglect to watch over him. (Menochius)
1. Let him tell where he was when this lower world was made, and whether he was advising of assisting in that wonderful work (v. 4): "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Thy pretensions are high; canst thou pretend to his? Wast thou present when the world was made?" See here, (1.) The greatness and glory of God: I laid the foundations of the earth. This proves him to be the only living and true God, and a God of power (Isa 40 21, Jer 10 11, 12), and encourages us to trust in him at all times, Isa 51 13, 16. (2.) The meanness and contemptibleness of man: "Where wast thou then? Thou that hast made such a figure among the children of the east, and settest up for an oracle, and a judge of the divine counsels, where was thou when the foundations of the earth were laid?" So far were we from having any hand in the creation of the world, which might entitle us to a dominion in it, or so much as being witnesses of it, by which we might have gained an insight into it, that we were not then in being. The first man was not, much less were we. It is the honour of Christ that he was present when this was done (Prov 8 22, etc., John 1 1, 2); but we are of yesterday and know nothing. Let us not therefore find fault with the works of God, nor prescribe to him. He did not consult us in making the world, and yet it is well made; why should we expect then that he should take his measures from us in governing it?
Verses 4-11 For the humbling of Job, God here shows him his ignorance, even concerning the earth and the sea. As we cannot find fault with God's work, so we need not fear concerning it. The works of his providence, as well as the work of creation, never can be broken; and the work of redemption is no less firm, of which Christ himself is both the Foundation and the Corner-stone. The church stands as firm as the earth.
“In the beginning God created heaven, and earth.”