By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up - into rivers and streams for the refreshment of man (Genesis 1:9-10; Job 38:8-12; Psalms 104:8-13; Proverbs 8:24-29).
And the clouds drop down the dew. Since dew does not descend from the clouds, but is formed near the ground, the Hebrew for dew is here used to express small or gentle rain (Job 36:27-28); or else "the clouds" are used here for the lower regions of the air, where the dew is formed. Scripture describes the facts of nature according to phenomena, not in scientific language, which would unfit it for the majority. As the first clause describes one instance of God's wisdom on earth, so the second describes one in the heavens or air (Deuteronomy 33:28). The dew in the East is a most important boon for vegetation, in the absence of rain.