Job 9 6

Job 9:6 kjv

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Job 9:6 nkjv

He shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;

Job 9:6 niv

He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.

Job 9:6 esv

who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;

Job 9:6 nlt

He shakes the earth from its place,
and its foundations tremble.

Job 9 verses

Job 9 6 Meaning

Job 9:6 speaks of God's overwhelming power as the One who causes the earth to tremble and shifts its stable foundations, making even the pillars that support it quake. This verse conveys God's absolute sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His capacity to destabilize the very ground beneath humanity's feet, thereby underscoring His incomparability and the futility of any attempt to contend with Him.

Job 9 6 Context

Job 9:6 is part of Job’s second response to his friends, specifically Bildad’s accusation of Job’s unrighteousness. Job acknowledges God’s incomparable power and righteousness (Job 9:1-4). However, instead of offering comfort, this truth leads Job to despair. He understands that God is mighty beyond measure, a Being so powerful that no one can possibly contend with Him, nor escape His judgment, nor truly comprehend His ways. Verses 5 and 6 depict God as the one who effortlessly moves mountains and shakes the earth, illustrating a raw, irresistible, cosmic power. This demonstration of God's immense natural force establishes the core dilemma for Job: if God is this overwhelmingly powerful, and seemingly operates without needing to explain His actions, how can an innocent person like Job plead his case or find justice? The historical and cultural context reflects an ancient Near Eastern understanding where earthquakes and geological events were often attributed directly to divine action, demonstrating supreme power.

Job 9 6 Word analysis

• He (הוּא - Hu): This refers to God. The pronoun emphatically places God as the singular, exclusive agent of the actions described. It stresses the unique, divine identity capable of such feats.
• who shakes (מַרְגִּיז - margiz): From the root רָגַז (ragaz), meaning to tremble, quake, be agitated, vexed. In this causative form, it signifies causing to tremble or be agitated. It often denotes a violent, internal tremor of the earth, akin to an earthquake, directly caused by divine agency.
• the earth (אֶרֶץ - eretz): Refers to the physical ground, the solid land, or the habitable world. It represents the most fundamental and seemingly stable element of creation from a human perspective.
• from its place (מִמְּקוֹמָהּ - mimmᵉqomah): This phrase emphasizes the complete displacement or destabilization of something inherently considered stationary and firm. It highlights God's power not just to shake but to utterly uproot and dislodge creation from its established order.
• and its pillars (וְעַמּוּדֶיהָ - vᵉʽammûdeyha): 'Pillars' (ammud) refer to the foundational supports, common in ancient cosmology to describe how the earth was upheld. These "pillars" were considered the bedrock of stability. By depicting them trembling, Job emphasizes that even the most fundamental and seemingly immutable supports of the cosmos are utterly subservient to God's will.
• tremble (יִתְפַּלָּצוּן - yithpallaṣun): From a root related to trembling or shaking violently, suggesting great dread or horror. This verb emphasizes a strong, uncontrollable shaking, signifying the inherent fear and instability of creation when confronted by divine power.

Words-Group analysis

• "He who shakes the earth from its place": This phrase asserts God's direct, personal, and forceful intervention in the natural world. It positions God not merely as a creator who established a fixed order but as an active sovereign who can alter or dismantle that order at will. This challenges any notion of an impersonal or distant deity, emphasizing an active, immediate divine presence in the forces of nature.
• "and its pillars tremble": This refers to ancient understanding of the earth as resting on foundational supports, possibly massive physical structures or cosmic underpinnings. The trembling of these fundamental 'pillars' implies that no part of creation, however strong or foundational it may appear, is beyond God's absolute control or impervious to His power. It vividly conveys the total submission of creation to its Maker, underscoring His might to Job’s profound helplessness.

Job 9 6 Bonus section

Ancient Near Eastern cosmologies often envisioned the earth as a flat disc resting upon subterranean pillars, indicating stability and order. Job's assertion that God can shake the earth from its place and make its pillars tremble is a powerful subversion of this perceived stability. It signifies that even what humanity considers the most fundamental and unchanging aspects of existence are entirely contingent upon God’s will. This polemic against the idea of inherent cosmic stability, separate from divine oversight, places God as the singular, active force behind both the creation and any reordering of the cosmos. This radical sovereignty leaves humanity utterly reliant on God's character rather than any fixed order, a truth that both comforts and confounds Job throughout his ordeal.

Job 9 6 Commentary

Job 9:6 forcefully articulates the terrifying reality of God's majestic power as understood by Job. It's a statement not of admiration, but of existential dread for one who feels wrongly afflicted. God is depicted as the ultimate force of nature, effortlessly dislodging mountains and making the very foundations of the earth tremble. This divine might transcends human comprehension and capability, leaving no room for human contention or argument. The imagery highlights that the created order, however stable it seems to humanity, is entirely dependent on the Creator and utterly pliable to His sovereign will. For Job, this truth underscores his despair: how can a mere mortal possibly present his case, seek justice, or even survive, when facing an omnipotent Being who governs by irresistible might, and whose actions seem unfathomable? The verse firmly establishes God's absolute, uncontested dominion over all things.