Bible Commentaries
Job 26

Verse 1

answered = replied [to Bildad]. See note on Job 4:1 .

Verse 3

as it is = the thing that is. See note on "sound wisdom". Proverbs 2:7 .

Verse 4

spirit. Hebrew. neshamah . App-16 .

Verse 5

Dead things are formed from under the waters. The Ellipsis must be supplied thus: "[The place where] the Rephaim stay [which is] beneath the waters, and the things that are therein. "This place thus answers to the other place, Sheol, the grave, in the next verse.

Dead things. Hebrew "The Rephaim", the offspring of the fallen angels, akin to the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4 . See App-23 and App-25 and note on Isaiah 26:14 , Isaiah 26:19 ).

are formed = remain. Hebrew. hul , a Homonym with three meanings: (1) to stay , remain , as here; Genesis 8:10 . Judges 3:25 . 2 Samuel 3:29 . Lamentations 4:6 . Hosea 11:6 , even to wait , hence to trust , Job 35:14 . Compare Psalms 37:7 . Lamentations 3:26 ; (2) to be in pain , and hence to bring forth , Deuteronomy 2:25 .Isaiah 23:4 ; Isaiah 26:18 ; Isaiah 54:1 ; Isaiah 66:8 . Psalms 29:9 , &c.; (3) to be formed as made or brought forth, Job 26:13 .Psalms 51:5 ; Psalms 90:2 .Deuteronomy 32:18 . Proverbs 8:24 , Proverbs 8:25 ; Proverbs 26:10 . Proverbs 15:7 .

Verse 6

Hell. Hebrew. Sheol . App-35 .

destruction. Hebrew. Abaddon .

Verse 7

north. See note on Psalms 75:6 . Isaiah 14:13 , Isaiah 14:14 .

upon nothing = not on any thing.

Verse 11

tremble . . . astonished. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia . App-6 .

Verse 13

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

garnished = beautified.

hath formed = doth stay. See note on Job 26:5 .

crooked = fleeing. Heb barih . The word occurs only here; Isaiah 27:1 ; Isaiah 43:14 , referring to the constellation "Serpens".

serpent = nachash, the shining one. Hence a serpent; here, the constellation so called.

Verse 14

but how little a portion = 'tis but a whisper.