Job 26:12 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

He speaks either,

1. Of God's dividing the Red Sea for the Israelites to pass over; and consequently the Hebrew word rahab, which here follows, and is translated pride, or the proud, is meant of Egypt, which is oft called Rahab, as Psalms 87:4, Psalms 89:10 Isaiah 51:9. But it seems most probable that that work was not yet done, and that Job lived long before Israel's coming out of Egypt. Or rather,

2. Of the common work of nature and providence in raising tempests, by which he breaketh or divideth the waves of the sea, by making deep furrows in it, and casting up part of the waters into the air, and splitting part of them upon the rocks and shores of the sea. By his understanding, i.e. by his wise counsel and administration of things, so as may obtain his own glorious ends. The proud; either,

1. The whale, which is called king over all the children of pride, Job 41:34, and which is sometimes by force of tempests cast upon the shore. Or rather,

2. The sea, which is fitly called proud, as its waves are called, Job 38:11, because it is lofty, and fierce, and swelling, and unruly; which God is said to smite when he subdues and restrains its rage, and turns the storm into a calm.

Job 26:12

12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.a