Job 26:10

He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

He hath compassed {H2328} the waters {H6440}{H4325} with bounds {H2706}, until the day {H216} and night {H2822} come to an end {H8503}.

He fixed a circle on the surface of the water, defining the boundary between light and dark.

He has inscribed a horizon on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.

He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.

Commentary

Job 26:10 stands as a profound declaration of God's immense power and meticulous control over the natural world. It is part of Job's eloquent discourse, where he defends God's sovereignty and wisdom against the limited understanding of his friends.

Context

This verse is found within Job's response to Bildad, one of his three friends. Throughout the book of Job, the characters grapple with the perplexing question of suffering and divine justice. Here, in Job chapter 26, Job articulates a magnificent poem extolling God's unsearchable power and wisdom in creation, from the celestial bodies to the depths of the earth. He asserts that human understanding, even his own, cannot fully grasp the extent of God's majesty, setting the stage for God's later speech from the whirlwind.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty over Creation: The verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute authority over the seemingly chaotic elements of nature. By "compassing the waters with bounds," God imposes order and limits on what could otherwise be destructive forces, demonstrating His ultimate control. This theme resonates with other biblical accounts of creation, such as the separation of waters in Genesis 1:9-10.
  • Established Order and Stability: The phrase "until the day and night come to an end" emphasizes the permanence and unwavering nature of God's decrees regarding creation. These boundaries are not temporary; they are fixed and enduring, ensuring the stability and predictability of the natural world. This points to the reliability of God's established laws.
  • God's Infinite Wisdom: The precision implied in "compassing the waters with bounds" highlights the intricate design and profound wisdom inherent in God's creative acts. It suggests a deliberate, intelligent ordering of the cosmos, far beyond human comprehension.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "compassed" is chug (Χ—Χ•Χ’), which literally means "to draw a circle" or "to make a circuit." This conveys the idea of God drawing a precise, unbreachable perimeter around the waters, much like a potter shapes clay. It speaks to the exactness of divine creation.
  • "Bounds" comes from the Hebrew choq (Χ—Χ§), meaning a statute, decree, or prescribed limit. This reinforces the idea that these are not arbitrary barriers but divinely ordained laws governing the natural world.
  • The phrase "until the day and night come to an end" signifies the duration of the current cosmic order. It implies that as long as the present world exists, these divine boundaries will remain, underscoring God's faithfulness in upholding His creation, a concept also touched upon in God's covenant with day and night in Jeremiah 33:20-21.

Practical Application

Job 26:10 offers profound comfort and calls for awe in the face of God's majesty. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, this verse reminds us that a sovereign God holds all things in His hands. His established order provides a foundation of stability, assuring us that even the most powerful natural forces are under His control. It encourages us to trust in His unfailing wisdom and power, knowing that the same God who sets limits for the oceans also governs the details of our lives. This perspective fosters a spirit of worship and reliance on the Creator who maintains the very fabric of existence.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 38:8

    Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?

  • Job 38:11

    And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

  • Proverbs 8:29

    When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

  • Jeremiah 5:22

    Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

  • Psalms 33:7

    He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

  • Psalms 104:6

    Thou coveredst it with the deep as [with] a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

  • Psalms 104:9

    Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
← Back