Job 26:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 26:8

He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds - That is, he seems to do it, or to collect the waters in the clouds, as in bottles or vessels. The clouds appear to hold the waters, as if bound up, until he is pleased to send them drop by drop upon the earth.And the cloud is not rent under them - The wonder which Job here expresses is, that so large a quantity of water as is poured down from the clouds, should be held suspended in the air without seeming to rend the cloud, and falling all at once.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 26:8

Job 26:8. He bindeth up the waters Those fluid and heavy bodies, pressing downward with great force; in his thick clouds As it were in bags, keeping them there suspended often for a long time; and the cloud is not rent under them But sustains them, notwithstanding their great weight, so that they do not burst forth all at once, and fall suddenly and violently upon the earth, but distil in dews, drops, and showers, to moisten, refresh, and fertilize it in due season. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 26:1-14

Bildad speaks and Job replies (25:1-26:14)It seems either that Job’s friends have no answer to what he says or that they are tired of arguing with him and see no point in continuing the debate. Bildad has only a brief speech, to which Job replies, and Zophar does not speak at all.In an effort to bring Job to repentance, Bildad impresses upon him the greatness of the God with whom Job argues. His kingdom is all-powerful, his armies of angelic beings more than can be counted (25:1-3). In... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 26:8

8. in . . . clouds—as if in airy vessels, which, though light, do not burst with the weight of water in them (Proverbs 30:4). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 26:1-14

Job’s denunciation of Bildad’s wisdom ch. 26"Chapter 26 is one of the grandest recitals in the whole book. It is excelled only by the Lord’s speeches, as is fitting. It sounds well in Job’s mouth, and ends the dialogue, like the first movement of a symphony, with great crashing chords." [Note: Andersen, p. 216.] Job began by rebuking Bildad’s attitude (Job 26:1-4). Sarcastically he charged Bildad with the same weakness and inability Bildad had attributed to all men (Job 26:2-3). Bildad’s words... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 26:1-23

4. Job’s third reply to Bildad chs. 26-27Job’s long speech here contrasts strikingly with Bildad’s short preceding speech (ch. 25). In the first of these two chapters, Job addressed his remarks to Bildad’s most recent comments. In the second, he broadened his view to include all three of his companions. The "you" in Job 26:2-4 is singular in Hebrew, but the "you" in Job 27:5 is plural. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 26:1-14

Job’s Eighth Speech (Job 26, 27)1-4. Job taunts Bildad with the worthlessness of his remarks as a solution of the problem.2, 3, 4 are spoken ironically. 2. Him that is without power] i.e. Job himself. 4. To whom hast thou uttered words?] i.e. surely not to Job who knows it already.5-14. The manifestations of God’s power and work in the world below, in earth and in heaven. Some scholars think these vv., which are quite in the tone of Job 25:2-3, should be inserted after Job 25:3 as a misplaced... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 26:8

(8) He bindeth up the waters.—The idea of the waters being bound up in the clouds, so that the clouds are not rent thereby, is similar to that in Genesis 1:7. The conception is that of a vast treasury of water above the visible sky, which is kept there in apparent defiance of what we know as the laws of gravitation, and which all experience would show was liable to fall of itself. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 26:1-14

Appearances Job 26:7 Let us see how oftentimes appearances are false. A great many things seem to be... and are not We think we see; we say, Seeing is believing: but it is not. It does seem as though the Lord did hang the world or the earth upon nothing. But what if 'nothing' be greater than something? It would be like the Bible thus to educate us. I. Now take an instance or two in illustration of the fact that the Bible often says things which it means to be taken in the contrary way. 'The... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 26:1-14

XXII.THE OUTSKIRTS OF HIS WAYSJob 26:1-14; Job 27:1-23Job SPEAKSBEGINNING his reply Job is full of scorn and sarcasm."How hast thou helped one without power! How hast thou saved the strengthless arm! How hast thou counselled one void of knowledge, And plentifully declared the thing that is known!"Well indeed hast thou spoken, O man of singular intelligence. I am very weak, my arm is powerless. What reassurance, what generous help thou hast provided! I, doubtless, know nothing, and thou hast... read more

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