14 The verb is plural: “they do not know it.” This suggests that the mountains would not know it. Some follow the with a singular verb, i.e., God does not know it, meaning, it is so trifling to God that he can do it without thinking. But the better interpretation may be “suddenly.” This would be interpreted from the as it stands; it would imply “before they know anything,” thus “suddenly” (Gray, Dhorme, Buttenwieser, et. al.). D. W. Thomas connects the meaning to another verb based on Arabic and translates it, “so that they are no longer still” (“Additional Notes on the Root yada` in Hebrew,” 15 [1964]: 54–57). J. A. Emerton works with a possible root יָדַע (yada’) meaning “be still” (“A Consideration of Some Alleged Meanings of yada` in Hebrew,” 15 [1970]: 145–80).
15 This line beginning with the relative pronoun can either be read as a parallel description of God, or it can be subordinated by the relative pronoun to the first (“they do not know who overturned them”).
16 Shakes the earth out of its place probably refers to earthquakes, although some commentators protest against this in view of the idea of the pillars. In the ancient world the poetical view of the earth is that it was a structure on pillars, with water around it and under it. In an earthquake the pillars were shaken, and the earth moved.
17 The verb הִתְפַלָּץ (hitfallats) is found only here, but the root seems clearly to mean “to be tossed; to be thrown about,” and so in the Hitpael “quiver; shake; tremble.” One of the three nouns from this root is פַּלָּצוּת (pallatsut), the “shudder” that comes with terror (see Job 21:6; Isa 21:4; Ezek 7:18; and Ps 55:6).
18 The form could also be subordinated, “that it shine not” (see further §109.g).
19 The verb זָרַח (zarakh) means “rise.” This is the ordinary word for the sunrise. But here it probably has the idea of “shine; glisten,” which is also attested in Hebrew and Aramaic. There are various views on the meaning of this line in this verse. Some think it refers to some mysterious darkness like the judgment in Egypt (Exod 10:21–23), or to clouds building (3:5), often in accompaniment of earthquakes (see Joel 2:10, 3:15–16; Isa 13:10–13). It could also refer to an eclipse. All this assumes that the phenomenon here is limited to the morning or the day; but it could simply be saying that God controls light and darkness.
20 The verb חָתַם (khatam) with בְּעַד (bé’ad) before its complement, means “to seal; to wall up; to enclose.” This is a poetic way of saying that God prevents the stars from showing their light.
21 Or “marches forth.”
22 The reference is probably to the waves of the sea. This is the reading preserved in and , as well as by J. Crenshaw, “Wÿdorek `al-bamote ‘ares,” 34 (1972): 39–53. But many see here a reference to Canaanite mythology. The marginal note in the has “the back of the sea dragon.” The view would also see in “sea” the Ugaritic god Yammu.
23 The Hebrew has עָשׁ (’ash), although in 38:32 it is עַיִשׁ (’ayish). 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.
24 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).
25 The identification of this as the Pleiades is accepted by most (the 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.
26 Heb “and the chambers of the south.”
27 Only slight differences exist between this verse and 5:9 which employs the simple ו (vav) conjunction before אֵין (’eyn) in the first colon and omits the ו (vav) conjunction before נִפְלָאוֹת (nifla’ot, “wonderful things”) in the second colon. There is probably great irony in Job’s using this same verse as in 5:9. But Job’s meaning here is different than Eliphaz.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

he who removes mountains, and they know it not,

when he overturns them in his anger,

who shakes the earth out of its place,

and its pillars tremble;

who commands the sun, and it does not rise;

who seals up the stars;

who alone stretched out the heavens

and trampled the waves of the sea;

who made the Bear and Orion,

the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;

who does great things beyond searching out,

and marvelous things beyond number.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

He moves mountains without their knowing it

and overturns them in his anger.

He shakes the earth from its place

and makes its pillars tremble.

He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;

he seals off the light of the stars.

He alone stretches out the heavens

and treads on the waves of the sea.

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,

the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,

miracles that cannot be counted.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

He removes mountains without their knowledge,

overturning them in his anger.

He shakes the earth from its place

so that its pillars tremble.

He commands the sun not to shine

and seals off the stars.

He alone stretches out the heavens

and treads on the waves of the sea.

He makes the stars: the Bear, Orion,

the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky.

He does great and unsearchable things,

wonders without number.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Without warning, he moves the mountains,

overturning them in his anger.

He shakes the earth from its place,

and its foundations tremble.

If he commands it, the sun won’t rise

and the stars won’t shine.

He alone has spread out the heavens

and marches on the waves of the sea.

He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion,

the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.

He does great things too marvelous to understand.

He performs countless miracles.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“He is the one who moves mountains, and they do not know how,

who overturns them in his anger.

He is the one who shakes the earth from its place,

and its pillars tremble.

He is the one who commands the sun, and it does not rise,

and he seals up the stars.

He is the one who alone stretches out the heavens

and who tramples on the waves of the sea.

He is the one who made the Bear and Orion,

the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

He is the one who does great things beyond understanding

and marvelous things beyond number.

KJV 1900King James Version

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not:

Which overturneth them in his anger.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place,

And the pillars thereof tremble.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;

And sealeth up the stars.

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens,

And treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion,

And Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

Which doeth great things past finding out;

Yea, and wonders without number.

Public Domain