Job 26:5 - Exposition

Dead things are formed from under the waters ; rather, the dead from under the waters tremble. Hehraists generally are agreed that one of the meanings of Rephaim ( רְפָאִים ) is "the dead" or the departed, considered especially as inhabitants of Hades (comp. Psalms 88:11 ; Proverbs 2:18 ; Isaiah 14:9 ; Isaiah 26:14 ). And if so, this meaning is certainly appropriate here. Blidad had illustrated God's dominion from his power in heaven. Job shows that it exists alike in heaven and earth (verses 7-13), and in the region under the earth (verses 5, 6). There, in Sheol, under the waters of the ocean, the dead tremble at the thought of the Most High; they tremble together with other inhabitants thereof, as evil spirits, rebel intelligences, east down to Hades, and there held in durance (Jud Job 1:6 ).