Job 37:18 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

With him - like as he does (Job 40:15).

Spread out - given expanse to.

Strong - firm; whence the term "firmament" (Genesis 1:6; margin, expansion, Isaiah 44:24). Not necessarily meaning solid, as many of the ancients regarded the firmament. At the same time, Elihu describes the works of God according to their phenomenal aspect, rather than their scientific: the Bible being not a treatise on science, but on religion, and therefore, while not contradicting, yet not unfolding science in detail.

Molten looking-glass - image of the bright smiling sky. Mirrors were then formed of molten polished metal, not "glass."

Job 37:18

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?