Job 9 5

Job 9:5 kjv

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Job 9:5 nkjv

He removes the mountains, and they do not know When He overturns them in His anger;

Job 9:5 niv

He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.

Job 9:5 esv

he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,

Job 9:5 nlt

"Without warning, he moves the mountains,
overturning them in his anger.

Job 9 verses

Job 9 5 Meaning

Job 9:5 powerfully describes the absolute and overwhelming might of God, depicting Him as capable of dislodging the most enduring elements of creation, such as mountains, with such ease that these massive formations are "unaware" of their relocation. This highlights God's effortlessness and the supreme transcendence of His power. The verse further states that God "overturns them in His anger," signifying that these cosmic acts are deliberate expressions of His sovereign will, executed with righteous authority, even if their ultimate purpose is incomprehensible to human observers.

Job 9 5 Context

Job 9:5 is a cornerstone of Job's profound discourse concerning God's overwhelming power and justice, articulated in response to Bildad's simplistic arguments. Within the broader chapter of Job 9, Job acknowledges God's unchallengeable might, expressing that no human being can contend or stand justified before such an omnipotent being. This verse, in particular, illustrates God's cosmic authority, emphasizing His ability to manipulate the fundamental structure of the earth. Historically and culturally, in the ancient Near East, mountains were perceived as symbols of stability, permanence, and even the abodes of deities. Job's declaration of God's power to "remove mountains" directly challenges and refutes any polytheistic notion of competing gods or autonomous natural forces, affirming the sole, absolute sovereignty of Yahweh over all creation. The "anger" mentioned here should not be construed as capricious emotion but rather as righteous, decisive power and unyielding resolve by which God enforces His will over the natural world.

Job 9 5 Word analysis

• (ul)

  • He removes (הַמַּעְתִּיקִ֥ - ha'ma'atiq): Derived from the Hiphil participle of עָתַק (ataq), meaning "to dislodge," "to cause to move," or "to carry away." This indicates a powerful, active, and deliberate act of displacement. It signifies a profound intervention, not a gradual process like erosion, but an immediate and forceful change, emphasizing God's direct agency and the instantaneous nature of His power.
  • mountains (הָרִים֙ - ha'rim): The plural of הַר (har), meaning "mountain." Mountains symbolize permanence, strength, stability, and enduring grandeur in both ancient and modern thought. Their very nature speaks of unchangeable rootedness. Therefore, the removal of mountains represents the ultimate display of power, an ability to alter the most fixed and mighty elements of the created order effortlessly.
  • and they know it not (וְלֹ֤א יָֽדְעוּ֙ - v'lo yade'u): This phrase contains the negative particle and the Qal imperfect of יָדַע (yada), "to know." This can be interpreted in several ways, each highlighting God's immense power and transcendence:
    1. Personification: The mountains themselves are unaware, signifying God's ease and effortlessness in performing such monumental tasks that even the subjects of His power remain oblivious. This underscores His ultimate sovereignty and control over creation, which obeys His will implicitly, without resistance or comprehension.
    2. Human Ignorance: Humanity does not comprehend the full extent or immediate agency of God's work. Natural calamities might be seen as impersonal events, rather than direct, personal acts of divine power. This reflects Job's own struggle to understand God's mysterious ways.
    3. God's Hiddenness: God's operations are so subtle or profound that the world does not grasp the "how" or "why" behind them, emphasizing His inscrutability.
  • when He overturns them (וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר הוֹפִּיכֵֽם - va'asher ho'fi'chem): The verb הוֹפִּיךְ (hofich) is the Hiphil perfect of הָפַךְ (hafak), meaning "to turn," "overthrow," "overturn," or "transform radically." This implies more than mere relocation; it suggests a violent reordering or total subversion of their original state. It signifies a destructive, reshaping power, where stability gives way to chaos at God's command. The conjunction "when" introduces the consequence or manifestation of His anger.
  • in His anger (בְּאַפּֽוֹ׃ - b'ap'po): Comprises the preposition "in" (בְּ - b') and אַף (aph), meaning "nose" or "nostril," by extension signifying "anger" or "wrath" (often due to the flaring of nostrils in anger). This is not human-like volatile emotion, but a manifestation of God's holy indignation and His sovereign will. It signifies the authoritative and unchallengeable nature of His actions. In Job's context, this "anger" represents God's might as an uncontainable and mysterious force that impacts creation according to His righteous purposes, which remain inscrutable to Job.

• (ul)

  • He removes mountains: This phrase emphasizes God's direct, personal, and forceful action upon the most enduring and stable features of the earth. It is an act of divine re-creation or destruction on a cosmic scale, demonstrating unparalleled strength.
  • and they know it not: This distinct phrase either highlights the overwhelming effortlessness with which God performs these colossal tasks, rendering even the "mountains" passive and unconscious of their fate, or it underscores humanity's profound incomprehension of God's majestic and mysterious workings.
  • when He overturns them in His anger: This segment details the manner and motivation of God's actions. "Overturns" reinforces the radical, transformative nature of the change—not just moving, but reordering. "In His anger" portrays these cataclysmic events as deliberate acts of divine judgment or righteous decree, flowing from God's character and purposes, which remain largely unfathomable to Job.

Job 9 5 Bonus section

This verse vividly paints a picture of the "terrible majesty" of God, emphasizing a side of His nature that is awe-inspiring and frightening due to its boundless power and unsearchable ways. It's a key example of how Job, even in his suffering, maintains a profound respect for God's ultimate sovereignty, even when he doesn't understand His specific actions. The contrast between the immense, immovable mountains and God's effortless, perhaps even unnoticed, act of dislodging and overturning them serves as a stark reminder of humanity's insignificance and inability to fathom the divine will. It lays groundwork for the recurring theme in Job of human ignorance and the immeasurable gap between God's thoughts and human comprehension, culminating in God's own declarations from the whirlwind later in the book.

Job 9 5 Commentary

Job 9:5 serves as a profound theological statement by Job about God's utterly incomparable and incomprehensible power. He portrays God not merely as a creator, but as an active manipulator of creation's most formidable elements. The image of "removing mountains" encapsulates a divine strength that exceeds any earthly force or human imagination, illustrating that what is monumental and fixed for humanity is utterly mutable under God's hand. The phrase "they know it not" accentuates either God's supreme transcendence – so powerful that His actions are effortless and the subjects of His power remain oblivious – or humanity's limited capacity to grasp the scope and direct agency of God in natural phenomena. The subsequent declaration, "when He overturns them in His anger," grounds these incredible acts within the context of divine sovereignty and righteous will. This "anger" signifies not a human outburst but a holy resolve and supreme authority that allows God to enact His cosmic decrees, often with cataclysmic results. For Job, this realization underscores the futility of a human seeking to contend with such a God, deepening his sense of awe and fear before the unsearchable majesty and mysterious workings of the Almighty. The verse implicitly argues against any belief that creation or natural forces operate outside God's direct, personal control, affirming His singular dominion over all things.