Job 26 11

Job 26:11 kjv

The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

Job 26:11 nkjv

The pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke.

Job 26:11 niv

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

Job 26:11 esv

The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.

Job 26:11 nlt

The foundations of heaven tremble;
they shudder at his rebuke.

Job 26 verses

Job 26 11 Meaning

Job 26:11 conveys the awesome and unchallengeable power of God over all creation. It paints a poetic image of the cosmos, where even its most fundamental and seemingly stable structures—metaphorically referred to as "the pillars of heaven"—are violently shaken, thrown into disarray, and overwhelmed with astonishment merely by God's powerful spoken word of rebuke. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty, His effortless command over the grandest elements of His creation, and the profound, awe-inducing impact of His divine presence and voice.

Job 26 11 Context

Job 26 forms part of Job's final extended discourse, immediately preceding his oath of innocence and God's climactic speech. In this chapter, Job refutes the empty arguments of his friends, particularly Bildad, whose previous contribution was notably short and lacking. Instead of accepting his friends' simplistic link between suffering and sin, Job proclaims God's unsearchable power and wisdom. He illustrates God's magnificent cosmic governance, describing how the Creator holds chaos in check, binds the waters, divides the seas, and stretches out the heavens. Verse 11 caps these majestic descriptions, asserting that nothing in the universe, not even its supposed 'foundations,' can withstand or ignore God's supreme authority, even when expressed only as a "rebuke." This passage establishes Job's deep, albeit suffering, faith in God's immense and ultimately inscrutable power, which far surpasses human comprehension or attempts to box God into human moral systems. From an ancient cultural perspective, "pillars of heaven" was a common poetic and sometimes cosmological concept referring to the solid-appearing sky or firmament resting on foundational structures, which Job here describes as reacting intensely to God.

Job 26 11 Word analysis

• The pillars (אֲמוּדֵי - 'amudei): This Hebrew term refers to supports or columns. Here, it is used metaphorically for the cosmic foundational elements of the sky or firmament. It does not imply a literal understanding of the heavens as a physical structure supported by pillars in a scientific sense, but rather serves as a poetic expression for the most enduring and immense aspects of the created order. It emphasizes the scale and perceived permanence of creation.
• of heaven (שָׁמָ֑יִם - shamayim): This denotes the heavens, encompassing not only the immediate sky but also the expanse of the cosmos and often the dwelling place of God. In this context, it refers to the celestial realm, representing the highest and most awe-inspiring part of creation, typically considered unassailable and immovable.
• tremble (יִרְפָּ֑זוּ - yiraphu): From a root meaning to quiver, shake, totter, or be disquieted. This verb conveys a physical response of agitation or instability. It suggests a powerful, uncontrollable shaking, indicating a fundamental disruption of order and inherent fear or awe in the face of an overpowering force. The heavens themselves are depicted as experiencing physical unease.
• and are astounded (וְיִתְמְהוּ - veyitm'hu): This verb means to be amazed, astonished, or bewildered. It points to a profound sense of wonder, shock, or utter bewilderment. When applied to the "pillars of heaven," it serves as powerful personification, suggesting that even inanimate cosmic structures register a reactive state of stupefaction at God's overwhelming might. It moves beyond physical shaking to an almost cognitive or responsive state of awe.
• at his rebuke (מִגַּעֲרָתֽוֹ - mig'arato): The preposition 'mi' means "from" or "because of." The noun `ga'arah` refers to a roar, a powerful verbal reprimand, a strong warning, or a decisive command. It signifies not physical exertion or violent force, but the sheer, potent authority residing in God's spoken word. It underlines that God's power is such that His mere verbal decree or authoritative disapproval is sufficient to cause cosmic upheaval and astonishment, without any physical struggle.

• "The pillars of heaven": This phrase represents the grandest and most seemingly unchangeable elements of creation. By personifying them, Job attributes a sentient-like quality to the cosmic order, indicating that even the very fabric of existence is not beyond God's reach but directly responsive to His will.
• "tremble and are astounded": This is a powerful pairing that emphasizes the comprehensive and multifaceted impact of God's action. The "tremble" indicates a physical and existential disruption, while "astounded" suggests a profound, overwhelming emotional or responsive state of awe and bewilderment. The combination magnifies the incomprehensibility and terrifying majesty of God's power.
• "at his rebuke": This crucial phrase identifies the ultimate source of this cosmic reaction: God's authoritative command or disapproval. It powerfully communicates God's omnipotence—His ability to effect cosmic changes not through struggle or effort, but through a simple, authoritative utterance, His word alone.

Job 26 11 Bonus section

This verse carries a strong polemical undertone against ancient Near Eastern pagan cosmologies where various deities were believed to struggle with primordial chaos or maintain cosmic order through strenuous effort or violent battles. Job presents Yahweh as effortlessly exercising dominion; His mere "rebuke" is sufficient to shake the heavens, implying no cosmic adversary or inherent instability in creation that challenges His control. This is a theological declaration of God's unique sovereignty. Furthermore, Job's awe-filled acknowledgement of God's unreachable wisdom in managing the cosmos (following in verse 14 "how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who can understand the thunder of his power?") points towards the ineffable nature of the Almighty, a wisdom beyond human intellectual grasp. It anticipates later biblical affirmations of Christ's authority, such as His power to calm a storm with a word or cast out demons by command, demonstrating the ultimate manifestation of the divine "rebuke."

Job 26 11 Commentary

Job 26:11 is a profoundly poetic and theological statement, not a scientific description of the universe. In this verse, Job eloquently asserts God's transcendent and incomparable power, an authority so absolute that it makes the universe's most stable elements quiver and gasp in awe. He is building a case for the unsearchable depths of divine wisdom and strength, countering his friends' limited theology. The "pillars of heaven" serve as a striking metaphor for cosmic stability; yet, this verse teaches that ultimate stability is found only in God, and that even such apparent fixtures of creation are contingent upon His word. God's "rebuke" is the epitome of effortless power, where a mere word or expression of divine will triggers a foundational cosmic response. This underscores that everything within creation is under God's total jurisdiction and reveals His glory and might in a way that confounds all human assumptions and boasts.