Job 26:7

He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, [and] hangeth the earth upon nothing.

He stretcheth out {H5186} the north {H6828} over the empty place {H8414}, and hangeth {H8518} the earth {H776} upon nothing {H1099}.

He stretches the north over chaos and suspends the earth on nothing.

He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing.

He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.

Job 26:7 presents a profound declaration of God's immense power and wisdom, spoken by Job himself in his dialogue with his friends. This verse stands out for its remarkable description of the cosmos, especially considering the ancient context in which it was written.

Context

In this chapter, Job is responding to Bildad's brief speech (Job 25), reaffirming God's omnipotence and majesty. While Job's friends focused on God's justice in relation to human sin, Job consistently points to God's unparalleled power over creation as evidence of His unfathomable ways. He is not denying God's power but rather asserting that God's ways are far beyond human comprehension, making it difficult to fully understand the reasons for suffering.

Meaning and Significance

The verse has two key parts:

  • "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place": This speaks to God's vast dominion over the celestial expanse. The "north" here likely refers to the northern sky, a region of the heavens, possibly associated with the pole star or specific constellations. The phrase "empty place" (Hebrew: tohu) suggests a void or formless expanse, emphasizing that God creates and commands even where there is nothing. This echoes the primordial "formless and void" state of the earth described in Genesis 1:2, highlighting God's power to bring order and existence out of nothingness.
  • "and hangeth the earth upon nothing": This is perhaps the most striking and scientifically prescient statement in the verse. In an era when many ancient cosmologies depicted the earth resting on pillars, waters, or mythological creatures, Job's declaration that God suspends the earth "upon nothing" is extraordinarily accurate. It describes the earth floating in space without any visible or tangible support, held in place purely by divine will. This powerfully illustrates God's supernatural power and control over His creation, a concept that resonates with the idea that Christ upholds all things by the word of His power.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "empty place" is tohu (תֹּהוּ), which is also found in Genesis 1:2 to describe the earth before creation was fully organized. It implies a state of desolation, formlessness, or void. The phrase "upon nothing" comes from the unique Hebrew word belimah (בְּלִימָה), which literally means "without anything" or "no-thing." This emphasizes the absolute absence of physical support, underscoring the miraculous nature of the earth's suspension by divine power alone.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omnipotence and Sovereignty: The verse is a powerful testament to God's absolute control over the universe. He is the ultimate architect and sustainer, capable of creating and upholding the vast cosmos without any external aid.
  • God's Unfathomable Wisdom: Job 26:7 showcases a divine knowledge of the universe that far surpasses human understanding, especially for its time. It speaks to God's profound wisdom in the intricate design and maintenance of creation. This theme is also evident in Isaiah 40:22, which describes God sitting upon the circle of the earth.
  • Biblical Accuracy and Foresight: The description of the earth suspended in space without physical support remarkably aligns with modern astronomical understanding, predating scientific discovery by thousands of years. This highlights the Bible's unique insights into the natural world, attributed to divine inspiration.

Practical Application

Job 26:7 invites us to stand in awe of our Creator. If God is powerful enough to "hang the earth upon nothing," then He is certainly capable of sustaining our lives, providing for our needs, and guiding us through our circumstances. This verse encourages a deep sense of trust and humility before a God whose power and wisdom are beyond measure. It reminds us that His ways are higher than ours, prompting us to worship Him for His incomprehensible greatness and the intricate beauty of His creation.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 9:8

    Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

  • Isaiah 40:22

    [It is] he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof [are] as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

  • Psalms 104:2

    Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

  • Psalms 104:5

    [Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.

  • Genesis 1:1

    ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 42:5

    ¶ Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

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