Job 26 5

Job 26:5 kjv

Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

Job 26:5 nkjv

"The dead tremble, Those under the waters and those inhabiting them.

Job 26:5 niv

"The dead are in deep anguish, those beneath the waters and all that live in them.

Job 26:5 esv

The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.

Job 26:5 nlt

"The dead tremble ?
those who live beneath the waters.

Job 26 verses

Job 26 5 Meaning

Job 26:5 declares God's awesome power by asserting His dominion over the realm of the dead. It vividly portrays the "Rephaim"—ancient spirits or inhabitants of the underworld, often associated with powerful deceased figures or giants—trembling in fear and agony "below the waters," which refers to the deepest abysses of the cosmic ocean or the netherworld. The phrase "their inhabitants" further emphasizes that all who dwell in these deepest, darkest places are subject to God's supreme authority, acknowledging His terrifying and undeniable might that reaches beyond the grasp of life.

Job 26 5 Context

Job 26:5 initiates Job's final, climactic speech to his friends, specifically countering Bildad's previous assertion of God's remote power (Job 25). Job sarcastically points out the inadequacy of Bildad's speech (26:1-4) and then launches into a magnificent poetic declaration of God's infinite, incomprehensible power. Far from being a mere distant deity, Job depicts a God whose omnipotence penetrates the deepest recesses of the underworld (Sheol), controls the primeval chaotic waters, sets bounds for light and darkness, and maintains the cosmic order. This verse serves as the powerful opening of this demonstration, establishing God's unparalleled authority over even the most terrifying or formidable entities associated with death and chaos in ancient Near Eastern thought, setting the stage for descriptions of God's dominion over the earth and heavens. It also functions as a polemic against any pagan notion of distinct deities controlling the underworld or chaotic forces; instead, the one God of Israel holds absolute, unchallengeable sway.

Job 26 5 Word analysis

• The Rephaim (רְפָאִים - Rəp̄āʾīm)

  • Word Level: This Hebrew plural noun can refer to an ancient race of giants (Gen 14:5, Deut 2:10-11) or, more commonly in poetic books, the shades or spirits of the dead in Sheol (Isa 26:14, Prov 21:16). In Job 26:5, the latter meaning is strongly favored by context, signifying deceased mighty ones or primordial beings inhabiting the underworld. Their mention emphasizes God's power over death and the realm beyond human life.
  • Significance: It portrays an inescapable dominion of God, where even those believed to be beyond human reach are subservient to Him.

• tremble (יְחוֹלְלוּ - yĕḥōlelū)

  • Word Level: From the root חול (chul/chol), meaning "to writhe, be in travail, tremble, whirl." It conveys a strong sense of fear, agony, or painful agitation. It's not a mere shiver but a violent, uncontrollable reaction.
  • Significance: This active, vivid verb powerfully expresses the abject terror and involuntary submission of the Rephaim to God's presence or authority, despite their feared status. It speaks of divine judgment.

• below (מִתַּחַת - mittaḥaṯ)

  • Word Level: A preposition meaning "from beneath," indicating depth or a location far below the observer.
  • Significance: Locates the Rephaim in the deepest parts of the cosmos, emphasizing God's penetration into even the most inaccessible realms.

• the waters (מַיִם - mayim)

  • Word Level: The plural noun for "water," here understood in a cosmic sense, referring to the vast, primeval, or subterranean oceans. In ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, chaotic waters often represented forces hostile to order or life, or the realm under the earth.
  • Significance: This refers not merely to a physical location, but to the mythical, dark depths often associated with chaos and the abyss from which God brought forth order (Gen 1:2). God's dominion extends even to these formidable forces.

• and their inhabitants (וְשֹׁכְנֵיהֶם - wĕshōḵnêhem)

  • Word Level: The conjunction "and" (wĕ-) connecting "Rephaim" with "their inhabitants," suggesting either an expanded reference to all who dwell with the Rephaim or as a descriptive parallelism emphasizing the comprehensive nature of those subject to fear. "Inhabitants" (שֹׁכְנֵיהֶם - shōḵnêhem) literally means "dwellers of them" (i.e., of the waters).
  • Significance: Reinforces the idea that God's power is absolute and comprehensive, reaching all living or deceased entities, even those considered to reside in the most secure or terrifying environments beneath the cosmic waters. It underlines that no creature, no matter how powerful or hidden, is outside His terrifying influence.

• "The Rephaim tremble below the waters":

  • This phrase encapsulates the core assertion of God's supremacy over death and the cosmos. It paints a picture of dread in the realm believed to be most fearsome to humans. It’s an active display of God's power, not a passive acknowledgment.
  • It presents a reversal of power dynamics: those typically feared (Rephaim) are now the ones fearing, indicating an even greater power above them.

• "below the waters and their inhabitants":

  • This combination strengthens the imagery of God's pervasive dominion. The "waters" add a dimension of primordial chaos, reinforcing God's cosmic authority. The added "inhabitants" clarify that not only the specific Rephaim but all entities residing in the watery depths or the netherworld are subject to God's fearful presence. This broadens the scope of divine authority to encompass all hidden realms.

Job 26 5 Bonus section

This verse, along with subsequent verses in Job 26 (e.g., God stretching out the north over chaos, hanging the earth on nothing, dividing the sea and striking Rahab), belongs to a significant collection of "cosmic poems" within Job. These sections reveal an understanding of cosmology that echoes but often transcends contemporary Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) myths. While ANE cultures often envisioned multiple gods struggling with forces of chaos and death, Job's portrayal consistently emphasizes the singular and absolute sovereignty of the one true God over these very same elements. The "Rephaim" here, as distinct entities from general human dead, possibly allude to very old, powerful beings that even mythology held in awe, underscoring God's ultimate power. Job demonstrates that God's justice might be mysterious, but His power is indisputable and reaches into every conceivable domain, leaving no entity or realm outside of His direct, terrifying control.

Job 26 5 Commentary

Job 26:5 is a profoundly theological statement from Job, demonstrating his deep understanding of God's awesome power. In response to his friends' limited wisdom, Job uses striking poetic imagery to assert that God's authority extends even to the most unreachable and terrifying realms—the underworld (Sheol) and the primordial watery chaos. The "Rephaim," spirits of the mighty dead, are depicted not as sovereign in their dark abode, but as violently trembling ("writhe" is often suggested as a strong translation) beneath the cosmic waters. This tremor is not from cold or despair, but from fear of God’s terrifying and irresistible might. The "waters" represent the foundational abyss upon which creation rests and, symbolically, the very source of chaos and death, all of which God effortlessly controls and subjugates. This verse sets the stage for Job's subsequent, even grander, descriptions of God's power over the earth and skies (26:6-14), cementing his conviction that God is sovereign over all, seen and unseen, known and unknown.