Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
He divideth the sea with His power - Herder renders this:
By his power he scourgeth the sea,
By his wisdom he bindeth its pride.
Jerome (Vulgate), "By his power the seas are suddenly congregated together The Septuagint, "By his power - ́ ́ katepause tēn thalassan - he makes the sea calm." Luther, Vor seiner Kraft wird das Meer plotzlich ungestum - "By his power the sea becomes suddenly tempestuous." Noyes renders it, "By his power he stilleth the sea." This is undoubtedly the true meaning. There is no allusion here to the dividing of the sea when the Israelites left Egypt; but the ideals, that God has power to calm the tempest, and hush the waves into peace. The word used here ( râga‛ ) means, to make afraid, to terrify; especially, to restrain by threats; see the notes at Isaiah 51:15; compare Jeremiah 31:35. The reference here is to the exertion of the power of God, by which he is able to calm the tumultuous ocean, and to restore it to repose after a storm - one of the most striking exhibitions of omnipotence that can be conceived of.
By his understanding - By his wisdom.
He smiteth through - He scourges, or strikes - as if to punish.
The proud - The pride of the sea. The ocean is represented as enraged, and as lifted up with pride and rebellion. God scourges it, rebukes it, and makes it calm.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Job 26:12:
Proverbs 8:24
Isaiah 51:4
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