Job 26:12
in Job 26By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.
KJV
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
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This verse in Job 26
Commentary
9 notes on this verseIn His might the seas are suddenly gathered together, and His wisdom hath struck the proud one. What else is denoted by the title of the sea save the present world, wherein the hearts of men seeking after earthly things swell with the diverse billows of the thoughts? which same being stirred up by the exaltation of pride, whilst with cross sway they thwart one another, do as with confronting waters dash themselves together. But henceforth 'the seas are gathered together in His might,' because on the Lord being made Incarnate, the discordant hearts of worldly men believe in agreement.
This site's exposition
By His power He stirred the sea
on Job 26:12-13
"His hand pierced the fleeing serpent" stands close to the wording of Isaiah 27:1 on Leviathan. Readers divide over whether the phrase names a creature of the deep or draws on the combat imagery Isaiah turns to judgment. Delitzsch and Barnes set out both readings without settling it.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Since among the angels there are some who fell away from the reverence due to God, about whom he had already spoken, "In his angels he found wickedness" (4:18) as a consequence, he adds a remark making a distinction between the good and evil angels. …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
By his understanding he smiteth through Rahab; so the word is, and Rahab is often put for Egypt; as Ps. lxxxvii. If we consider hell beneath, though it is out of our sight, yet we may conceive the instances of God's power there.
He divideth the sea with his power,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He divideth the sea with his power - Here is a manifest allusion to the passage of the Red Sea by the Israelites, and the overthrow of Pharaoh and his host, according to the opinion of the most eminent critics. He smiteth through the proud - רהב Rahab, the very name by which Egypt is called Isa 51:9, and elsewhere. Calmet remarks: “This appears to refer only to the passage of the Red Sea, and the destruction of Pharaoh.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"Sheol" comes from a Hebrew root--"ask," because it is insatiable (Pr 27:20); or "ask as a loan to be returned," implying Sheol is but a temporary abode, previous to the resurrection; so for English Version "formed," the Septuagint and Chaldee translate; shall be born, or born again, implying the dead are to be given back from Sheol and born again into a new state [MAGEE].
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Perhaps at creation (Ge 1:9, 10). The parallel clause favors UMBREIT, "He stilleth." But the Hebrew means "He moves." Probably such a "moving" is meant as that at the assuaging of the flood by the wind which "God made to pass over" it (Ge 8:1; Ps 104:7). the proud--rather, "its pride," namely, of the sea (Job 9:13).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He divideth the sea with His power - Herder renders this: By his power he scourgeth the sea, By his wisdom he bindeth its pride. Jerome (Vulgate), “By his power the seas are suddenly congregated together The Septuagint, “By his power - κατέπαυσε την θάλασσαν katepause tēn thalassan - he makes the sea calm.” Luther, Vor seiner Kraft wird das Meer plotzlich ungestum - “By his power the sea becomes suddenly tempestuous.” Noyes renders it, “By his power he stilleth the sea.” This is undoubtedly the true meaning. There is no allusion here to the dividing of the sea when the Israelites left Egypt; but the ideals, that God has power to calm the tempest, and hush the waves into peace. The word used here (רגע râga‛) means, to make afraid, to terrify; especially, to restrain by threats; see the notes at Isa 51:15; compare Jer 31:35. The reference here is to the exertion of the power of God, by which he is able to calm the tumultuous ocean, and to restore it to repose after a storm - one of the most striking exhibitions of omnipotence that can be conceived of. By his understanding - By his wisdom. He smiteth through - He scourges, or strikes - as if to punish. The proud - The pride of the sea. The ocean is represented as enraged, and as lifted up with pride and rebellion. God scourges it, rebukes it, and makes it calm.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
the sea wrinkled Like (above:5), “my skin wrinkled.” Many wrinkles were formed. (So, when He said (Gen.:9), “Let the waters..gather,” they were gathered from their straightness and were wrinkled into many wrinkles) until they gathered into one place, which was prepared for them.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
trembled when He created them, and He caused them to congeal. They were trembling, and He rebuked them, and they stood dry and strong.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּ֭כֹחוֹ | bekhocho | by power his | H3581 → | 126 times |
| רָגַ֣ע | raga' | he stirred up | H7280 → | |
| הַיָּ֑ם | haiyam | the sea | H3220 → | 396 times |
| וּ֝בִתְבוּנָת֗וֹ | uvituvenatov | and by understanding his | H8394 → | 42 times |
| מָ֣חַץ | machatz | he shattered | H4272 → | |
| רָֽהַב׃ | rahav | Rahab | H7294 → |
בְּ֭כֹחוֹby power his
bekhochoH3581 →126 times
רָגַ֣עhe stirred up
raga'H7280 →
הַיָּ֑םthe sea
haiyamH3220 →396 times
וּ֝בִתְבוּנָת֗וֹand by understanding his
uvituvenatovH8394 →42 times
מָ֣חַץhe shattered
machatzH4272 →
רָֽהַב׃Rahab
rahavH7294 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 51:9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the…
it leads to
- Psalms 74:13–14
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
- Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- Psalms 89:10
You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
- Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
- Psalms 74:13–14
Through
Jeremiah 31:35Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 10:16
The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—the LORD of Hosts is His name.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 10:16
Through
Isaiah 51:15For I am the LORD your God who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 31:35
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the…
- Jeremiah 31:35
Through
Job 12:13Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
it leads to
About Job
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVII; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.