Job 26 12

Job 26:12 kjv

He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

Job 26:12 nkjv

He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm.

Job 26:12 niv

By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.

Job 26:12 esv

By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab.

Job 26:12 nlt

By his power the sea grew calm.
By his skill he crushed the great sea monster.

Job 26 verses

Job 26 12 Meaning

Job 26:12 declares God's absolute sovereignty and power over the chaotic forces of the world, whether natural or symbolic. It highlights His unparalleled ability to bring order from disorder and to decisively defeat all forms of rebellious power and arrogance, executing His will through both sheer might and infinite wisdom.

Job 26 12 Context

Job 26 marks a turning point in Job's responses, showcasing his profound knowledge of God's majesty, even as he grappled with his suffering. Having listened to Bildad's and Zophar's limited and somewhat generic theological pronouncements, Job delivers a magnificent soliloquy extolling the boundless power, wisdom, and transcendence of God. Chapter 26 particularly focuses on God's incomprehensible works in creation, from the depths of Sheol to the heights of the heavens. Verse 12 is part of this extended hymn of praise, where Job affirms God's dominion not only over the physical universe but also over symbolic forces of chaos and rebellion, thereby challenging any notion of God's weakness or limited understanding. Job effectively silences his friends by demonstrating a more expansive and reverent understanding of God's omnipotence.

Job 26 12 Word analysis

• By his power (בְּכֹחֽוֹ – bəḵōḥô): "By" (בְּ - be) indicates instrumentality or means. "His power" (kōaḥ) refers to God's inherent, unchallengeable strength, might, and ability. It denotes His dynamic force. This power is absolute and operates effortlessly.

• he stilled (רָגַע – râḡaʿ): The verb in this context means "to quiet," "to give rest to," or "to calm." It implies bringing violent forces under control, subduing them into order. It conveys the idea of an effortless, decisive command rather than a struggle.

• the sea (יָם – yām): In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the sea often symbolized primordial chaos, disorder, and forces resistant to divine order. It was viewed as untamed, vast, and threatening. God "stilling the sea" highlights His supremacy over chaotic natural forces, which contrasts with other ancient myths where deities had to fight a mighty battle to subdue the sea. For the Hebrews, God's command over the literal sea (as seen in creation and the Red Sea crossing) was a fundamental demonstration of His unique power.

• by his understanding (וּבִתְבוּנָתוֹ – ûḇiṯḇûnāṯô): "By" again indicates the means. "His understanding" (těḇûnâ) signifies God's divine insight, discernment, intelligence, and skillful wisdom. It means God's actions are not random or merely by raw force, but are purposed, intelligent, and perfectly orchestrated. His power is always coupled with His perfect wisdom.

• he shattered (מָחַץ – māḥaṣ): This verb means "to strike," "to smite," "to break in pieces," "to wound mortally," or "to crush." It implies a decisive, violent, and complete destruction or defeat. The action is forceful and permanent.

• Rahab (רָהַב – rāhāḇ): This term has layered meanings in the Bible.

  • Mythological imagery: In ancient Near Eastern myths, "Rahab" (or similar figures like Leviathan or Tiamat) refers to a primeval, chaotic sea monster or dragon-like creature, embodying rebellious disorder, which creator deities had to subdue. Job employs this poetic imagery not to suggest God struggled with a literal monster, but to signify God's complete triumph over any and all mythical or spiritual powers that might contend with His sovereignty. It's a polemic, asserting Yahweh's effortless, ultimate victory over what other cultures saw as powerful, defiant deities.
  • Symbolic for Egypt: In several prophetic books (e.g., Ps 87:4; Isa 30:7, 51:9), Rahab is used poetically as a derogatory epithet for Egypt, referring to its pride, arrogance, and reliance on its own power rather than God. In this sense, "shattering Rahab" can allude to God's judgment and defeat of the powerful Egyptian empire, particularly evident in the Exodus.
  • Thus, "shattering Rahab" represents God's decisive victory over both symbolic cosmic chaos and historical, political pride that stands against Him.

• Words-group analysis:

  • By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab: This parallel structure (synthetic parallelism) contrasts and reinforces two distinct but related aspects of God's dominion. The first clause ("power" and "stilling the sea") speaks of God's ability to subdue physical and cosmic chaos, establishing order and peace. The second clause ("understanding" and "shattering Rahab") highlights God's strategic wisdom in decisively conquering spiritual rebellion, arrogant earthly powers, or mythical threats. Both phrases emphasize that nothing is beyond God's control, whether natural phenomena or hostile, prideful forces. The combined imagery demonstrates a God who effortlessly orders the universe and subjugates its enemies, doing so with both strength and intellect.

Job 26 12 Bonus section

The poetic language used by Job in chapter 26, particularly verse 12, echoes ancient Near Eastern cosmologies while subtly but powerfully subverting them. Many surrounding cultures had creation myths involving a violent struggle between a chief deity and a primeval monster of the sea (e.g., Marduk vs. Tiamat in Babylonian myth, Baal vs. Yam in Ugaritic texts). In contrast, Job presents Yahweh not as struggling but effortlessly "stilling" and "shattering" these chaotic forces. This serves as a strong polemic, emphasizing the unique, absolute sovereignty of the God of Israel. He is not just stronger than other gods; He simply commands what others struggle to control. This verse highlights the deep integration of God's power and wisdom; they are not separate attributes but intrinsically linked in all His majestic actions, demonstrating that God's authority is based on both might and perfect design. It implies that nothing, whether physical chaos or the forces of spiritual evil, operates outside the scope of God’s complete control and ultimate judgment.

Job 26 12 Commentary

Job 26:12 is a profound declaration of God's uncontested omnipotence and omnicompetence. It stands as Job's testament that God not only orchestrates the visible cosmos but also effortlessly reigns over the deepest symbolic and historical forces of chaos and rebellion. The stilling of the "sea" represents God's quiet command over all primeval and ongoing natural disorder, ensuring His creation operates according to His design. The shattering of "Rahab," infused with mythological undertones, illustrates God's absolute conquest over any defiant, powerful entity – whether spiritual, mythical, or human-based (like arrogant nations). The phrase's power lies in attributing both sheer "power" and insightful "understanding" to God's actions, demonstrating that His control is not merely brute force but purposeful, wise, and supreme. Job uses this high poetic language to demonstrate his comprehensive theology of God, far surpassing his friends' arguments, emphasizing God's transcendence and His role as the sovereign controller of all existence. It foretells Christ's calming of the stormy sea, confirming divine authority over chaos, and God's final victory over all evil, symbolizing Rahab.