Job 26:13

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

By his spirit {H7307} he hath garnished {H8235} the heavens {H8064}; his hand {H3027} hath formed {H2342} the crooked {H1281} serpent {H5175}.

With his Spirit he spreads the heavens; his hand pierces the fleeing serpent.

By His breath the skies were cleared; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.

Commentary

Job 26:13 is a profound declaration by Job about God's immense power and sovereign control over all creation, from the celestial order to the forces of chaos.

Context

This verse is part of Job's response to Bildad, where Job asserts God's incomparable power and wisdom, far beyond human comprehension or even the understanding of the heavenly beings. In Job chapter 26, Job articulates a magnificent poem praising God's omnipotence, showcasing His control over the natural world, the underworld, and the heavens. He emphasizes that what he describes is merely "the outskirts of his ways" (Job 26:14), implying the vastness of God's power.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omnipotence and Creativity: The first part, "By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens," speaks to God's intricate and beautiful design of the cosmos. The Hebrew word for "garnished" (shaphar) can imply beauty, brightness, or order. It highlights that the vastness and complexity of the stars, planets, and celestial phenomena are not random but deliberately and beautifully arranged by God's creative breath. This echoes the role of God's Spirit in creation as seen in Genesis 1:2 and Psalm 33:6, where the heavens were made by the word of the Lord and the breath of His mouth.
  • Sovereignty Over All Forces: The second part, "his hand hath formed the crooked serpent," is more enigmatic but equally powerful. The "crooked serpent" (Hebrew: bariach nagash) is often interpreted as a reference to a primordial sea monster or a cosmic force of chaos, such as Leviathan mentioned elsewhere in Job (Job 41) and Isaiah (Isaiah 27:1). It signifies that even the most formidable, chaotic, or seemingly malevolent entities are ultimately subject to God's control and were formed by His hand. This emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty, not just over order and beauty, but also over the forces that might represent rebellion or disorder.

Linguistic Insights

The term "crooked serpent" (Hebrew: bariach nagash) is significant. Bariach can mean "fleeing," "piercing," or "crooked," while nagash is "serpent." This imagery likely refers to a powerful, elusive, and potentially dangerous creature, often associated with ancient Near Eastern myths of chaos monsters. Job’s point is that even such a creature, symbolizing untamed power or chaos, is not outside the scope of God’s creative and governing hand.

Practical Application

Job 26:13 reminds believers of God's absolute power and control over all aspects of existence. In a world that often feels chaotic or overwhelming, this verse offers comfort and assurance that nothing is beyond God's reach. He who meticulously orders the heavens also holds sway over every disruptive force. This truth encourages us to place our trust fully in God's divine sovereignty, knowing that He is in control, even when circumstances seem "crooked" or out of control. It calls us to marvel at His creative genius and rest in His omnipotence.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 27:1

    ¶ In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea.

  • Psalms 104:30

    Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

  • Psalms 74:13

    Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

  • Psalms 74:14

    Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, [and] gavest him [to be] meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

  • Psalms 33:6

    By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

  • Psalms 33:7

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

  • Genesis 1:2

    And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
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