Job 9:8-11 | NET2full | STEP | he alone spreads out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea .

‏ Job 9:8-11

8 he alone spreads out the heavens
and treads ^{▼▼tn Or “marches forth.”} on the waves of the sea. ^{▼▼tn The reference is probably to the waves of the sea. This is the reading preserved in NIV and NAB, as well as by J. Crenshaw, “Wedōrēk ʿal-bāmŏtê ʾāreṣ,” CBQ 34 (1972): 39-53. But many see here a reference to Canaanite mythology. The marginal note in the RSV has “the back of the sea dragon.” The view would also see in “sea” the Ugaritic god Yammu.}
9 He makes the Bear, ^{▼▼sn The Hebrew has עָשׁ (ʿash), although in 38:32 it is עַיִשׁ (ʿayish). This has been suggested to be Aldebaran, a star in the constellation Taurus, but there have been many other suggestions put forward by the commentaries.} Orion, ^{▼▼sn There is more certainty for the understanding of this word as Orion, even though there is some overlap of the usage of the words in the Bible. In classical literature we have the same stereotypical reference to these three (see E. Dhorme, Job, 131).} and the Pleiades, ^{▼▼sn The identification of this as the Pleiades is accepted by most (the Vulgate has “Hyades”). In classical Greek mythology, the seven Pleiades were seven sisters of the Hyades who were pursued by Orion until they were changed into stars by Zeus. The Greek myth is probably derived from an older Semitic myth.}
and the constellations of the southern sky; ^{▼▼tn Heb “and the chambers of the south.”}
10 he does great and unsearchable things, ^{▼▼tn Only slight differences exist between this verse and 5:9 which employs the simple ו (vav) conjunction before אֵין (ʾen) in the first colon and omits the ו (vav) conjunction before נִפְלָאוֹת (niflaʾot, “wonderful things”) in the second colon.} ^{▼▼sn There is probably great irony in Job’s using this same verse as in 5:9. But Job’s meaning here is different than that of Eliphaz.}
and wonderful things without number.
11 If ^{▼▼tn The NIV has “when” to form a temporal clause here. For the use of “if,” see GKC 497 §159.w.} he passes by me, I cannot see ^{▼▼tn The imperfect verbs in this verse are consistent with the clauses. In the conditional clauses a progressive imperfect is used, but in the following clauses the verbs are potential imperfects.} him; ^{▼▼tn The pronoun “him” is supplied here; it is not in MT, but the Syriac and Vulgate have it (probably for translation purposes as well).}
if he goes by, I cannot perceive him. ^{▼▼sn Like the mountains, Job knows that God has passed by and caused him to shake and tremble, but he cannot understand or perceive the reasons.}