Job 26:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 26:9

Job 26:9. He holdeth back Namely, from our view, that its effulgent brightness may not dazzle our sight; the face of his throne The heaven of heavens: where he dwells, its light and glory being too great for mortal eyes; and spreadeth his clouds upon it And thereby mercifully hides from our eyes those overpowering splendours which we could not bear to behold. Bishop Patrick, however, understands this merely of God’s covering the face of the sky with clouds, to prevent “the beams of the... 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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 26:9

JOB'S THOUGHT REGARDING THE CREATION BY GOD'S SPIRIT"He that encloseth the face of his throne,And spreadeth his cloud upon it.He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters,Unto the confines of light and darkness.The pillars of heaven tremble.And are astonished at his rebuke.He stirreth up the sea with his power,And by his understanding smiteth through Rahab.By his Spirit the heavens are garnished;His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways:And... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 26:9

Job 26:9. He holdeth back the face of his throne, &c.— He covereth the place of his immediate presence, spreading his cloud over it. Heath. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 26:9

9. Rather, He encompasseth or closeth. God makes the clouds a veil to screen the glory not only of His person, but even of the exterior of His throne from profane eyes. His agency is everywhere, yet He Himself is invisible (Psalms 18:11; Psalms 104:3). 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 26:9

(9) He holdeth back the face.—Or, covereth the face of his throne in the heavens, spreading his rack of cloud upon it. 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

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