21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!
21 You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
21 Why, of course you know that. You've known them all your life, grown up in the same neighborhood with them!
21 Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?
21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 38:21
Commentary on Job 38:12-24
(Read Job 38:12-24)
The Lord questions Job, to convince him of his ignorance, and shame him for his folly in prescribing to God. If we thus try ourselves, we shall soon be brought to own that what we know is nothing in comparison with what we know not. By the tender mercy of our God, the Day-spring from on high has visited us, to give light to those that sit in darkness, whose hearts are turned to it as clay to the seal, 2 Corinthians 4:6. God's way in the government of the world is said to be in the sea; this means, that it is hid from us. Let us make sure that the gates of heaven shall be opened to us on the other side of death, and then we need not fear the opening of the gates of death. It is presumptuous for us, who perceive not the breadth of the earth, to dive into the depth of God's counsels. We should neither in the brightest noon count upon perpetual day, nor in the darkest midnight despair of the return of the morning; and this applies to our inward as well as to our outward condition. What folly it is to strive against God! How much is it our interest to seek peace with him, and to keep in his love!