Job 38:21

“Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?”

This verse is part of a larger portion of the Book of Job where God responds to Job’s questions and complaints about his suffering. Job had been enduring immense hardship and was questioning why he was going through such trials. In chapters 38 to 41, God speaks to Job out of a whirlwind, humbling him and reminding him of His sovereign power and wisdom.

In Job 38:21, God asks Job if he knows the answer to a particular question. The question is twofold:

“Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born?” – God is asking Job if he knows the answer to the question because he has divine knowledge or insight that comes from being present at the time of creation. God is highlighting the limited perspective of human beings and emphasizing that Job’s understanding is limited to his own lifespan.: 2. “or because the number of thy days is great?” – God is further challenging Job by asking if he has gained vast knowledge and wisdom due to the length of his days. This emphasizes that human beings, regardless of how long they live, still have limited understanding compared to God.

The purpose of God’s response to Job throughout this chapter is to put Job in his place and help him recognize the greatness and majesty of God. By asking these rhetorical questions, God is highlighting the vast difference between His knowledge and wisdom and Job’s limited understanding.