All creation recognizes the boundless authority of God, so even hidden realms quiver under His rule.
“The departed spirits tremble\nUnder the waters and their inhabitants.” (Job 26:5)
In this passage, Job speaks of the vast dominion of God’s power, describing how the departed spirits tremble along with the hidden depths of creation under the waters (v.5). Job, who lived in the land of Uz sometime around 2100-1900 BC, displays an understanding that even the realm of the dead—often called Sheol in the Old Testament—remains subject to God’s unchallenged authority. Ancient Hebrew thought considered Sheol to be a place beneath the earth where departed souls existed (see lessons on Sheol described in Psalm 16:10), and here Job vividly depicts that these spirits cannot escape the presence or sovereignty of the Almighty.
Furthermore, the picture of trembling spirits provides an echo of how all creation stands in awe of God’s majesty. This awe-filled response finds full expression later in the New Testament, where Jesus conquers the grave and demonstrates that divine sovereignty encompasses every dimension, including sin and death (Romans 6:9). Job’s words emphasize that no corner of existence—seen or unseen—falls outside the Creator’s rule, foreshadowing the tremendous hope found in the resurrection and the assurance that God’s power extends throughout all eternity.
Job 26:5 meaning
“The departed spirits tremble\nUnder the waters and their inhabitants.” (Job 26:5)
In this passage, Job speaks of the vast dominion of God’s power, describing how the departed spirits tremble along with the hidden depths of creation under the waters (v.5). Job, who lived in the land of Uz sometime around 2100-1900 BC, displays an understanding that even the realm of the dead—often called Sheol in the Old Testament—remains subject to God’s unchallenged authority. Ancient Hebrew thought considered Sheol to be a place beneath the earth where departed souls existed (see lessons on Sheol described in Psalm 16:10), and here Job vividly depicts that these spirits cannot escape the presence or sovereignty of the Almighty.
Furthermore, the picture of trembling spirits provides an echo of how all creation stands in awe of God’s majesty. This awe-filled response finds full expression later in the New Testament, where Jesus conquers the grave and demonstrates that divine sovereignty encompasses every dimension, including sin and death (Romans 6:9). Job’s words emphasize that no corner of existence—seen or unseen—falls outside the Creator’s rule, foreshadowing the tremendous hope found in the resurrection and the assurance that God’s power extends throughout all eternity.