Job 26:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Job opens his own hymn on God's power, declaring that even the realm of the departed beneath the waters trembles under His gaze.
What Does Job 26:5 Mean?
Having silenced Bildad, Job now outdoes him in praising God's majesty, beginning in the deepest, most hidden place imaginable. The dead and the waters beneath represent the lowest reaches of creation, far from human sight.
Job's point is that nothing lies outside God's reach, not even the unseen world of the departed. The depths that terrify the living are open and subject to the Lord. This is comfort wrapped in awe: the God who rules the deepest places is the same God who holds the soul of every sufferer.
Job 26:5 in the Original Language
repha'im (רְפָאִים), 'dead things' -- the shades or departed ones, the inhabitants of the realm beneath.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 26:5
What does Job 26:5 mean?
Job opens his own hymn on God's power, declaring that even the realm of the departed beneath the waters trembles under His gaze.