Job 26:9

9 He keeps back the face of his throne, stretching out his cloud upon it.

Job 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 26:9

He holdeth back the face of his throne
His throne is the heaven of heavens; the face of it, or what is before it, is the starry and airy heavens; this face of his throne is sometimes held back, or covered with clouds, that so his throne is so far from being visible, that even the face of it, or the outside or external appearance of it, is not to be seen, as follows:

[and] spreadeth his cloud upon it;
and both he and his throne are invisible; clouds and darkness are round about him, and his pavilion round about are dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies, ( Psalms 18:11 ) ( 97:2 ) ; and even the light in which he dwells, and with which he clothes himself, is impervious to us, and is so dazzling, that itself covers and keeps back himself and throne from being seen by mortals. The Targum suggests, that what is here said to be done is done that the angels may not see it; but these always stand before the throne of God, and always behold the face of God himself.

Job 26:9 In-Context

7 He stretches out the north wind upon nothing, and he upon nothing hangs the earth;

8 binding water in his clouds, and the cloud is not rent under it.

9 He keeps back the face of his throne, stretching out his cloud upon it.

10 He has encompassed the face of the water by an appointed ordinance, until the end of light and darkness.

11 The pillars of heaven are prostrate and astonished at his rebuke.