Job 36:32

With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it [not to shine] by [the cloud] that cometh betwixt


This rather innocent verse in Job, a description of God, is a wonderful example of cloudy translation-pun intended.  It is from the KJV and it’s important to know that when a word or group of words is in brackets in the KJV they have been added by the translators to make the verse make sense.  Many times the verse is better understood without the additions.

Even more troubling are mistranslations of words, and that is what I want to look at here.

This verse is composed of 5 Hebrew words. The KJV uses 18 English words to translate it. 

The actual Hebrew words used are listed below with their meanings in the order we are to read them.



כף kaph

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
     (rooted in the word bow or bend)
   a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand
   b) power
   c) sole (of the foot)
   d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects



כסה kacah

1) to cover, clothe
2) to cover, conceal
3) to cover (for protection)
4) to cover over, spread over
5) to cover, overwhelm


אור 'owr

1) illuminating light


צוה tsavah

8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act)


פגע paga`

1) to cause to light upon
2) to cause to entreat
3) to make entreaty, interpose
4) to make attack
5) to reach the mark



Do you see the word ‘cloud or clouds’ anywhere?  Or the verb phrase ‘come between”?

Not only are those words not there, the concept is not there.


Many more accurate translations word this verse this way:

He conceals the light (or lightning) in his hands, commanding it to strike, or reach the mark.






The next verse says ‘The noise reports, the cattle retreat.

The KJV says it this way:

Job 36:33

The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.



Why is this important you may ask?  Because it is important to understand The Word of God.  The translators of these verses made them speak of clouds and vapor instead of lightning and thunder.

It is a poetic description of the majesty of God.


He hides lightning in his hands and commands it to strike its mark! The noise reports and cattle scatter.





There are other verses in The KJV that have added words in brackets. Try reading them without those words and see if The Spirit changes the way you understand it.

If a verse is unclear to you, be hungry! Get a translation that is clear to you and compare it to the KJV is you want.  Do some word study. You don’t have to know Hebrew or Greek. There are amazing tools available in print, on CD or on-line free.

blueletterbible.org  is a wonderful tool that allows you to follow the root words to the very origin.


Be hungry for the Words of God. Don’t be afraid to investigate. God wants you to understand Him!

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