Job 26:1-11

Job Rebukes Bildad

1 Then Job responded *,
2 "What a help you are to 1the weak! How you have saved the arm 2without strength!
3 "What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!
4 "To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit was expressed through you?

The Greatness of God

5 "The 3departed spirits tremble Under the waters and their inhabitants.
6 "Naked is 4Sheol before Him, And 5Abaddon has no covering.
7 "He 6stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.
8 "He 7wraps up the waters in His clouds, And the cloud does not burst under them.
9 "He 8obscures the face of the full moon And spreads His cloud over it.
10 "He has inscribed a 9circle on the surface of the waters At the 10boundary of light and darkness.
11 "The pillars of heaven tremble And are amazed at His rebuke.

Job 26:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 26

In this chapter Job, in a very sarcastic manner, rallies Bildad on the weakness and impertinence of his reply, and sets it in a very ridiculous light; showing it to be quite foolish and stupid, and not at all to the purpose, and besides was none of his own, but what he had borrowed from another, Job 26:1-4; and if it was of any avail in the controversy to speak of the greatness and majesty of God, of his perfections and attributes, of his ways and works, he could say greater and more glorious things of God than he had done, and as he does, Job 26:5-13; beginning at the lower parts of the creation, and gradually ascending to the superior and celestial ones; and concludes with observing, that, after all, it was but little that was known of God and his ways, by himself, by Bildad, or by any mortal creature, Job 26:14.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Job 6:11, 12
  • 2. Psalms 71:9
  • 3. Job 3:13; Psalms 88:10
  • 4. Job 9:5-10; Job 26:6-14; Job 38:17; Job 41:11
  • 5. Job 28:22; Job 31:12
  • 6. Job 9:8
  • 7. Job 37:11; Proverbs 30:4
  • 8. Job 22:14; Psalms 97:2; Psalms 105:39
  • 9. Job 38:1-11; Proverbs 8:29
  • 10. Job 38:19, 20, 24

Footnotes 9

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