Ayub 26:7

26:7 He spreads out the northern skies ¹  over empty space; ² 

he suspends the earth on nothing. ³ 

Ayub 26:1

Job’s Reply to Bildad ⁴ 

26:1 Then Job replied:

1 Samuel 2:8

2:8 He lifts the weak ⁵  from the dust;

he raises ⁶  the poor from the ash heap

to seat them with princes

and to bestow on them an honored position. ⁷ 

The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord,

and he has placed the world on them.

Mazmur 24:2

24:2 For he set its foundation upon the seas,

and established ⁸  it upon the ocean currents. ⁹ 

Mazmur 93:1

Psalm 93 ¹⁰ 

93:1 The Lord reigns!

He is robed in majesty,

the Lord is robed,

he wears strength around his waist. ¹¹ 

Indeed, the world is established, it cannot be moved.

Mazmur 104:5

104:5 He established the earth on its foundations;

it will never be upended.

Zakharia 12:1-2

The Repentance of Judah

12:1 The revelation of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: The Lord – he who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth, who forms the human spirit within a person ¹²  – says, 12:2 “I am about to make Jerusalem ¹³  a cup that brings dizziness ¹⁴  to all the surrounding nations; indeed, Judah will also be included when Jerusalem is besieged.

Pengkhotbah 3:5

3:5 A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

[26:7]  ¹ sn The Hebrew word is צָפוֹן (tsafon). Some see here a reference to Mount Zaphon of the Ugaritic texts, the mountain that Baal made his home. The Hebrew writers often equate and contrast Mount Zion with this proud mountain of the north. Of course, the word just means north, and so in addition to any connotations for pagan mythology, it may just represent the northern skies – the stars. Since the parallel line speaks of the earth, that is probably all that was intended in this particular context.

[26:7]  ² sn There is an allusion to the creation account, for this word is תֹּהוּ (tohu), translated “without form” in Gen 1:2.

[26:7]  ³ sn Buttenwieser suggests that Job had outgrown the idea of the earth on pillars, and was beginning to see it was suspended in space. But in v. 11 he will still refer to the pillars.

[26:1]  ⁴ sn These two chapters will be taken together under this title, although most commentators would assign Job 26:5-14 to Bildad and Job 27:7-23 to Zophar. Those sections will be noted as they emerge. For the sake of outlining, the following sections will be marked off: Job’s scorn for Bildad (26:2-4); a better picture of God’s greatness (26:5-14); Job’s protestation of innocence (27:2-6); and a picture of the condition of the wicked (27:7-23).

[2:8]  ⁵ tn Or “lowly”; Heb “insignificant.”

[2:8]  ⁶ tn The imperfect verbal form, which is parallel to the participle in the preceding line, is best understood here as indicating what typically happens.

[2:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “a seat of honor.”

[24:2]  ⁸ tn The prefixed verbal form is understood as a preterite, referring to the creation of the world.

[24:2]  ⁹ sn He…established it upon the ocean currents. The description reflects ancient Israelite prescientific cosmology, which is based on outward appearances. The language also suggests that God’s creative work involved the subjugation of chaos, symbolized by the sea.

[93:1]  ¹⁰ sn Psalm 93. The psalmist affirms that the Lord is the king of the universe who preserves order and suppresses the destructive forces in the world.

[93:1]  ¹¹ sn Strength is compared here to a belt that one wears for support. The Lord’s power undergirds his rule.

[12:1]  ¹² tn Heb “who forms the spirit of man within him” (so NIV).

[12:2]  ¹³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[12:2]  ¹⁴ sn The image of a cup that brings dizziness is that of drunkenness. The Lord will force the nations to drink of his judgment and in doing so they will become so intoxicated by his wrath that they will stumble and become irrational.