What Does Job 38:34 Mean in the King James?

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Job 38:34 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Your voice can rise toward the clouds, but it cannot command the waters that may cover you.

THE MEANING

The question places your voice at the edge of its reach: you can call toward the clouds, but you cannot summon or contain the rain. The waters that cover you remain beyond your command.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that calling for what you need means you can control what arrives.

THE ROOT

הֲתָרִים

hatarim

GROWS FROM

רום

r-w-m

to rise, be high; in this verb, to raise or lift high

“lift up” in this verse is hatarim. The verb pictures your voice rising toward the clouds. Its root also names what is high and height itself, yet the question separates elevation from authority: your voice can rise without governing the rain.

ALSO GROWS

ram: high, exalted

רָם

This branch names the elevated state the verb produces; a voice raised high still does not gain power over the waters.

marom: height, high place

מָרוֹם

The same root can name the height itself, echoing the clouds as the upward boundary of the question.

THE PATTERN

The elements answer to divine command, while human voices cannot govern their force.

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

Job 37:6 · KJVHere snow and rain are addressed by divine command, showing the weather as a realm under God’s authority.

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.

Psalm 29:3 · KJVThe LORD’s voice is placed upon the waters, where the human voice in Job 38:34 cannot command them.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Matthew 8:27 · KJVThe wind and sea obey a voice with authority over the elements, extending the pattern beyond rain and clouds.

THE THREAD

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.

Psalm 29:3 · KJV

Job asks whether your voice can rise to the clouds and bring waters over you. Psalm 29 uses the same Hebrew word, ⁨קוֹל⁩ (qol, voice or sound), for the LORD’s voice upon the waters, shifting the image from human reach to divine command.

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