Job 26:11

11 The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.

Job 26:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
ESV
11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.
NLT
11 The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke.
MSG
11 Thunder crashes and rumbles in the skies. Listen! It's God raising his voice!
CSB
11 The pillars [that hold up] the sky tremble, astounded at His rebuke.

Job 26:11 Meaning and Commentary

Job 26:11

The pillars of heaven tremble
Which may be understood either of the air, the lower part of the heavens, which may be thought to be the foundation, prop, and support of them, and is sometimes called the firmament, and "the firmament of his power", ( Psalms 150:1 ) ; and which seems to tremble when there are thunder and lightnings, and coruscations in it; or else the mountains, which, reaching up to the heavens, look as if they were the pillars and support of them; and are indeed said to be the foundations of heaven, which move and shake and tremble at the presence and power of God, and at any expressions of his wrath and anger, and particularly through earthquakes and storms, and tempests of thunder and lightning; see ( 2 Samuel 22:8 ) ( Psalms 68:8 ) , which are meant by what follows:

and are astonished at his reproof;
his voice of thunder, which is sometimes awful and terrible, astonishing and surprising; and, to set forth the greatness of it, inanimate creatures are represented as trembling, and astonished at it; see ( Psalms 104:7 ) ; some interpret this figuratively of angels, who they suppose are employed in the direction of the heavens, and the motion of the heavenly bodies; and who they think are the same which in the New Testament are called "the powers of heaven said to be shaken", ( Matthew 24:29 ) ; and to be the seraphim that covered their faces upon a glorious display of the majesty of God, and when the posts of the door of the temple moved at the voice of him that cried, ( Isaiah 6:1-4 ) ; but if a figurative sense may be admitted of, the principal persons in the church, sometimes signified by heaven in Scripture, may be thought of; as ministers of the word, who are pillars in the house of God; yea, every true member of the church of God is made a pillar in it; and these tremble, and are astonished oftentimes when the Lord rebukes them by afflictions, though it is in love and kindness to them, ( Proverbs 9:1 ) ( Galatians 2:9 ) ( Revelation 3:12 ) .

Job 26:11 In-Context

9 He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it.
10 He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.
11 The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.
12 By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.
13 By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S 2 Samuel 22:8
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