Job Chapter 38 verse 4 Holy Bible
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
read chapter 38 in ASV
Where were you when I put the earth on its base? Say, if you have knowledge.
read chapter 38 in BBE
Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
read chapter 38 in DARBY
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
read chapter 38 in KJV
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
read chapter 38 in WBT
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
read chapter 38 in WEB
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
read chapter 38 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 4. - Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Wast thou present? Didst thou witness it? If not, what canst thou know concerning it? And if thou knowest nothing of creation, what canst thou know of deeper things? The metaphor, by which the creation of the earth is compared to the foundation of an edifice, is a common one (Psalm 102:25; Psalm 104:5; Proverbs 8:29: Isaiah 48:13; Isaiah 51:13, 16; Zechariah 12:1; Hebrews 1:10, etc.), and is to be viewed as a concession to human weakness, creation itself, as it actually took place, being inconceivable. Declare, if thou hast understanding. That is, if thou hast any knowledge on the subject (comp. ver. 18).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) Where wast thou?--The comparison of the creation of the world to the building of an edifice is such a concession to the feebleness of man as serves of itself to heighten the effect of the inevitable answer to the question preferred.
