Job 26:5-14

5 They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.

6 Sheol is naked before [God], And Abaddon hath no covering.

7 He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.

8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.

9 He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.

10 He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.

12 He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.

13 By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.

14 Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?

Job 26:5-14 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.