Bible Strands
Job 26:9
He covers the face of the full moon, spreading over it His cloud.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job addresses his companions in a discourse detailing God’s sovereign control over the cosmos. He describes divine actions that transcend human observation and comprehension.
The words — מְאַחֵ֥ז (me.'a.Chez) translates literally as [he] covers, and עֲנָנֽ/וֹ (a.na.N/o) means cloud/ his. These terms anchor the verse’s claim that God actively obscures the moon with His cloud.
The thread — The motif of divine concealment by clouds appears in Job 22:14, where thick clouds veil God, and Exodus 20:21, where Moses approaches a thick darkness. Psalms 97:2 similarly notes that clouds surround Him as He moves in judgment.
Why it lands — The text states that God hides the full moon by spreading His cloud over it, demonstrating His authority to obscure creation at will. It asks a reader to acknowledge that divine power operates beyond visible proof and requires submission to hidden sovereignty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
Cross-references
- Psalms 97:2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.
- Job 22:14 Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
- Exodus 20:21 And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
- Exodus 33:20 But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
- Exodus 34:3 No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain—not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.”
- 1 Kings 8:12 Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
- Habakkuk 3:3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and His praise filled the earth.
- 1 Timothy 6:16 He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.