The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word "dead" here doesn't just mean deceased people; it refers to the "Rephaim," ancient, formidable spirits or beings associated with the underworld. This hints that God's awesome power extends even to the very foundations of the realm of the dead, causing these formidable spirits to tremble.
The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job has just been criticized by Bildad, who insisted that humans are insignificant and utterly helpless before God. Now, Job is responding by showcasing God's immense power, not just in the heavens that Bildad mentioned, but also in the deepest, most hidden realms of existence, including the underworld and the vast oceans. He points out that even the departed spirits, referred to as the Rephaim or "shades," tremble under God's authority, along with all that dwells in the watery depths.
What does it mean for the 'dead' to tremble? Job paints a vivid picture of the underworld acknowledging God's power.
Job uses the term 'Rephaim' (often translated as 'shades' or 'departed spirits') to refer to the inhabitants of the underworld. This isn't just a neutral observation; Job declares they 'tremble' under God's dominion.
Job brings the unseen depths of the ocean and the underworld into view, revealing God's comprehensive oversight.
The phrase 'under the waters and their inhabitants' speaks of the vast, mysterious realms that are hidden from human eyes.
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Understand the original words
rephaim · Hebrew Noun
Those who have departed from this life; in the Old Testament, it often refers to those residing in Sheol (the place of the dead). It carries a sense of shadowy existence apart from the living world.
chul · Hebrew Verb
To shake, quiver, or be agitated. It often denotes a reaction of fear or awe in the presence of divine power or overwhelming judgment.
Job's powerful imagery of the deep and the realm of the dead reflects an ancient Near Eastern cosmology, where the underworld was often conceived as a watery abyss, and the dead (the Rephaim) were seen as mighty, shadowy figures trembling before divine power. This picture stands in contrast to the more linear, focused view of Sheol common in later Israelite thought, emphasizing a broader, more mythic cosmic understanding.
c. 2000-1800 BC
Rise of Amorite dynasties
Various Amorite city-states rise to prominence in Mesopotamia, influencing the cultural and political landscape.
c. 1800-1600 BC
Old Babylonian Empire flourishes
Under rulers like Hammurabi, Babylon becomes a major power, consolidating laws and culture, with a worldview that would eventually influence surrounding regions.
c. 1550-1200 BC
Late Bronze Age flourishing
A period of relative stability and extensive trade networks across the Near East, including areas where the traditions that shaped the book of Job were developing.
c. 1200 BC
Possible Sea Peoples Invasions
Widespread disruption and collapse in the Eastern Mediterranean, potentially impacting the geopolitical context and oral traditions.
c. 1000 BC - 700 BC
Development of Ancient Israelite traditions
The traditions and theological understanding that form the backdrop for the Hebrew Bible, including concepts of Sheol and the divine realm, take shape.
c. 800 BC - 500 BC— this verse
Composition of the Book of Job
The book of Job is believed to have been written or compiled during this period, reflecting ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions and theological debates.
This Psalm directly parallels Job's imagery, asking if God would show wonders to the dead or if the departed spirits would arise, reinforcing the idea of the dead being in a realm distinct from the living and subject to God's knowledge.
Proverbs 2:18This passage speaks of the 'way of the immoral woman' leading down to the dead, suggesting that the realm of the departed (Rephaim) is a place of final consequence, echoing the somber context of Job 26:5.
Isaiah 14:9Isaiah describes Sheol (the grave/underworld) being stirred up to meet the king of Babylon, mentioning that 'the shades rise up and all the earthly rulers' to confront him, underscoring the concept of a realm of the dead that is dramatically affected by events and power.
Revelation 20:13This verse describes the sea giving up its dead, which directly relates to Job 26:5's mention of the inhabitants of the waters and the dead under them, illustrating God's ultimate dominion over even those lost in the depths.
barnesJob 26:5: "Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof."
Dead things - Job here commences his description of God, to show that his views of his majesty and glory were in no way inferior to those which had been expressed by Bildad, and that what Bildad had said conveyed to him no real information. In this description he far surpasses Bildad in loftiness of conception, and sublimity of description. Indeed, it may be doubted whether for grandeur this passage is surpas…
clarkeJob 26:5: "Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof."
Dead things are formed from under the waters - This verse, as it stands in our version, seems to convey no meaning; and the Hebrew is obscure; הרפאים, harephaim, "the Rephaim," certainly means not dead things; nor can there be any propriety in saying that dead things, or things without life, are formed under the waters, for such things are formed everywhere in the earth, and under the earth, as well as under…
The word "dead" here doesn't just mean deceased people; it refers to the "Rephaim," ancient, formidable spirits or beings associated with the underworld. This hints that God's awesome power extends even to the very foundations of the realm of the dead, causing these formidable spirits to tremble.
Job has just been criticized by Bildad, who insisted that humans are insignificant and utterly helpless before God. Now, Job is responding by showcasing God's immense power, not just in the heavens that Bildad mentioned, but also in the deepest, most hidden realms of existence, including the underworld and the vast oceans. He points out that even the departed spirits, referred to as the Rephaim or "shades," tremble under God's authority, along with all that dwells in the watery depths.
Job has just been criticized by Bildad, who insisted that humans are insignificant and utterly helpless before God. Now, Job is responding by showcasing God's immense power, not just in the heavens that Bildad mentioned, but also in the deepest, most hidden realms of existence, including the underworld and the vast oceans. He points out that even the departed spirits, referred to as the Rephaim or "shades," tremble under God's authority, along with all that dwells in the watery depths.
"The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants." — The word "dead" here doesn't just mean deceased people; it refers to the "Rephaim," ancient, formidable spirits or beings associated with the underworld. This hints that God's awesome power extends e…
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Last reviewed October 2026