Job 9:5-10

5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,
6 who 1shakes the earth out of its place, and 2its pillars tremble;
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;
8 who alone 3stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;
9 who 4made 5the Bear and 6Orion, the Pleiades 7and the chambers of the south;
10 who does 8great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.

Job 9:5-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 9

This and the following chapter contain Job's answer to Bildad, and in this he asserts the strict justice at God; which is such, that no man can be just in his sight, not being able to answer to one charge, or for one sin, of a thousand he is guilty of, Job 9:1-3; and that such are his wisdom and power, that the most daring man cannot expect to succeed in an opposition to him, Job 9:4; instances are given of his power in the works of nature and providence, Job 9:5-10; notice is taken of the imperceptibleness of his actions and motions, and of his sovereignty in all his ways, Job 9:11,12; and of his fierce wrath and anger, which is such as obliges the proudest of men to stoop under him; and therefore Job chose not to contend in a judicial way with him, but in a suppliant manner would entreat him, since his hand was so heavy upon him, Job 9:13-21; he affirms, in direct opposition to Bildad and his friends, and insists upon it, that God afflicts both the righteous and the wicked; yea, gives the earth to the latter when he slays the former, Job 9:22-24; he then observes the shortness of his days, and complains of his heavy afflictions, Job 9:25-28; and concludes, that it was in vain for him to expect his cause to be heard before God, there being no daysman between them; and wishes that the dread of the Divine Majesty might be taken from him, and then he would freely and without fear speak unto him, Job 9:29-35.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Isaiah 2:19, 21; Isaiah 13:13; Haggai 2:6, 21; Hebrews 12:26
  • 2. Job 26:11; Psalms 75:3
  • 3. Job 26:7; Psalms 104:2; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 51:15; Zechariah 12:1
  • 4. Genesis 1:16
  • 5. Job 38:32
  • 6. Job 38:31; Amos 5:8
  • 7. Job 37:9
  • 8. See Job 5:9
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