Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
People 1 ▾
Job Patriarchal 1
Speakers 1 ▾
Job human 1-14
Historic voices 5 ▾
An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 1× 7 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-14 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 5 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 3-14 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 5, 8, 11, 14
Manuscript witnesses 4 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 88 ▾
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What is Job 26 about?

Job answers Bildad first with sharp irony, asking how such counsel has helped one without power or saved the arm that has no strength. He then rises to a soaring description of God's majesty over all creation, telling how He stretches out the north over the empty place and hangs the earth upon nothing, binds up the waters in His clouds, and stills the sea by His power. Yet Job confesses that these are but the outskirts of His ways, and only a whisper is heard of Him, for the thunder of His power none can understand. His wonder at the God whose greatness exceeds all human grasp prepares the way for the LORD's own answer from the whirlwind.

Historical backdrop

Job belongs to the patriarchal world, the age of Abraham, before there was an Israel, a law, or a priesthood. His wealth is counted the way a Middle Bronze Age chieftain's was, in herds of sheep and camels, oxen and donkeys, and he himself offers the sacrifices for his household as head of his own clan. The land of Uz lay east toward Edom and the Arabian desert, open country where raiding bands like the Sabeans and Chaldeans could sweep off a man's herds in a morning. Nothing in the book speaks of Sinai or the covenant: its questions are older than the nation, set in the wide world before the promise narrowed to one people.

Matthew Henry on Job 26
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 26
The Church Fathers on Job 26
Cited by the confessions

Job 26

Job Chapter 26
26
1Then Job answered and said,
2How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!
3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!
4To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?
5They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.
6Sheol is naked beforeGod, And Abaddon hath no covering.
7He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.
9He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.
11The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.
12He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.
13By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.
14Lo, 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?
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What is Job 26 about?

Job answers Bildad first with sharp irony, asking how such counsel has helped one without power or saved the arm that has no strength. He then rises to a soaring description of God's majesty over all creation, telling how He stretches out the north over the empty place and hangs the earth upon nothing, binds up the waters in His clouds, and stills the sea by His power. Yet Job confesses that these are but the outskirts of His ways, and only a whisper is heard of Him, for the thunder of His power none can understand. His wonder at the God whose greatness exceeds all human grasp prepares the way for the LORD's own answer from the whirlwind.