He is the Maker of the Bear and OrionThis phrase acknowledges God's sovereignty and creative power over the universe. The "Bear" refers to the constellation Ursa Major, known for its prominent position in the northern sky. Orion, a well-known constellation, is often associated with a mighty hunter in mythology. In the ancient Near Eastern context, these constellations were significant for navigation and timekeeping. The mention of these celestial bodies highlights God's authority over the cosmos, contrasting human limitations with divine omnipotence. This aligns with other scriptures that emphasize God's creation of the heavens, such as
Psalm 147:4 and
Isaiah 40:26.
of the Pleiades
The Pleiades, a cluster of stars, are often associated with the agricultural calendar, marking the seasons for planting and harvesting. In Job's time, these stars were visible in the spring, symbolizing renewal and hope. The reference to the Pleiades underscores God's control over time and seasons, as seen inGenesis 1:14, where God establishes celestial bodies to mark days and years. This also reflects the theme of God's wisdom in creation, as seen inProverbs 3:19-20.
and the constellations of the south
This phrase likely refers to constellations visible in the southern hemisphere, which were less familiar to the people of the ancient Near East. The mention of southern constellations expands the scope of God's creative work beyond the familiar, emphasizing His universal dominion. This can be connected to passages likePsalm 19:1, which declare the heavens as a testament to God's glory. The inclusion of southern constellations also serves as a reminder of the vastness of God's creation, which is beyond human comprehension, as echoed inIsaiah 55:9.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and his quest to understand the reasons behind it.
2.
GodThe Creator, who is being described by Job as the Maker of the constellations, emphasizing His power and sovereignty over the universe.
3.
Bear (Ursa Major)A constellation mentioned in the verse, known in Hebrew as "Ash" or "Ayish," which signifies God's creation and control over the cosmos.
4.
OrionAnother constellation, known in Hebrew as "Kesil," often associated with a mighty hunter, symbolizing God's majestic creation.
5.
PleiadesA cluster of stars, known in Hebrew as "Kimah," representing the beauty and intricacy of God's handiwork in the heavens.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in CreationRecognize that God is the ultimate Creator and Sustainer of the universe. His power is evident in the vastness and complexity of the cosmos.
Humility Before GodAcknowledge our limited understanding compared to God's infinite wisdom and power. Like Job, we should approach God with humility, especially in times of suffering or confusion.
Worship Through CreationLet the beauty and order of the natural world lead us to worship and praise God. The constellations serve as a reminder of His creative genius and care.
Trust in God's ControlEven when life seems chaotic, trust that God is in control, just as He governs the stars and constellations. His plans are perfect and beyond our comprehension.
Seeking God in SufferingIn times of trial, like Job, seek to understand God's character and purposes. Use the majesty of creation as a reminder of His presence and power.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Job 9:9?
2.How does Job 9:9 reveal God's power through creation?
3.What do "Bear, Orion, and Pleiades" signify about God's authority over the universe?
4.How can recognizing God's creation in Job 9:9 strengthen our faith today?
5.Connect Job 9:9 with Genesis 1:16 on God's creation of celestial bodies.
6.How can acknowledging God's cosmic control influence our daily trust in Him?
7.What does Job 9:9 reveal about God's power and creation?
8.How does Job 9:9 relate to the constellations mentioned?
9.Why does Job reference specific stars in Job 9:9?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 9?
11.Amos 5:8 – How can we reconcile the claim that God formed the Pleiades and Orion with modern astronomy, which dates these stars to vastly different periods?
12.What does the Bible say about climate change?
13.Job 9:8 portrays God walking on the sea, yet there is no historical or scientific evidence of such a literal phenomenon—should this be seen as metaphorical?
14.In Job 9:7, the text suggests God can command the sun not to rise, but astronomy shows consistent solar cycles--does this imply poetic exaggeration or a literal event?What Does Job 9:9 Mean
He is the Maker• Job’s declaration begins with an unwavering recognition that God alone created and sustains everything.
• “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Nothing exists apart from His deliberate act (John 1:3;Colossians 1:16).
• The statement reinforces that creation is not random but purposeful; the stars proclaim His glory (Psalm 19:1).
• When life feels chaotic, remembering the Maker anchors faith, reminding us that the One who flung galaxies into space also oversees the details of our lives (Psalm 95:6;Romans 1:20).
of the Bear• The Bear (Ursa Major, often linked to the “Great Bear”) guided ancient travelers. God named and positioned every star (Psalm 147:4-5).
• Job later hears God ask, “Can you guide the Bear with her cubs?” (Job 38:32). The implied answer is no—only the Creator directs the cosmos.
• As dependable as the Bear’s circling pattern is, it exists because God set it there, underscoring His reliability in every season (Amos 5:8).
and Orion• Orion, a striking winter constellation, testifies to God’s artistry and power. “Can you loosen the cords of Orion?” (Job 38:31).
• The imagery of “cords” suggests strength and fixed order. Humanity cannot tamper with what God has fastened.
• Orion’s seasonal appearance mirrors life’s cycles—yet each cycle is under God’s sovereign timetable (Psalm 104:19;Jeremiah 31:35).
of the Pleiades• The Pleiades (the Seven Sisters) shine as a compact, glittering cluster. God asks Job, “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades?” (Job 38:31).
• Their tight formation displays God’s ability to hold creation together (Colossians 1:17).
• As He “binds” these stars, He also holds believers securely (John 10:29), encouraging trust amid uncertainty.
and the constellations of the south• Ancient observers in the Near East saw southern star groupings rise in warmer months. Even regions Job never visited fell under God’s creative scope.
• This phrase widens the lens: God’s reach is global, not local (Psalm 139:7-10).
• Whether northern Bear or southern constellations, every quadrant of the sky echoes, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness” (Psalm 24:1).
summaryJob 9:9 paints a sky-wide portrait of God’s unrivaled power. By naming specific constellations, Scripture grounds His sovereignty in the tangible heavens we can observe. Each cluster of stars—Bear, Orion, Pleiades, or the southern constellations—testifies that the Creator who set them in place is both mighty and personal. When circumstances feel as vast and uncontrollable as the night sky, this verse invites confidence: the same God who orders the stars holds our lives in His faithful hands.
(9)
Which maketh Arcturus . . .--This shows us that in the time of this writer, whoever he was, his fellow-countrymen had attained to such knowledge of astronomy as is here implied in the specific names of definite constellations. The Great Bear is the glory of the northern hemisphere, Orion of the southern sky, and the Pleiades of the east; the chambers of the north are the unknown and unexplored regions, of which the speaker has no personal experience.
Verse 9. -
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades; literally,
which maketh '
AshKesiland Kimah. The rendering of the LXX. (
ὁ ποιῶν Πλειάδα καὶ Ἕσπερον καὶ Ἀρκτοῦρον), supported, as it is, by most of the other ancient versions and by the Targums, has caused the
stellar character of these names to be generally recognized; but the exact meaning of each term is, to some extent, still a matter of dispute. On the whole, it seems most probable that '
Ash or '
Aish (
Job 38:32), designates "the Great Bear," called by the Arabs
Nahsh while
Kesil is the name of the constellation of Orion, and
Kimah of that of the Pleiades. The word '
Ash means "a litter," and may be compared with the Greek
ἅμαξα and our own" Charles's Wain," both of them names given to the Great Bear, from a fancied resemblance of its form to that of a vehicle.
Kesil means "an insolent, rich man" (Lee); and is often translated by "fool" in the Book of
Proverbs 14:16;
Proverbs 15:20;
Proverbs 19:1;
Proverbs 21:20, etc. It seems to have been an
epitheton usitatum of Nimrod, who, according to Oriental tradition, made war upon the gods, and was bound in the sky for his impiety - the constellation being thenceforth called "the Giant" (
Gibbor)' or "the insolent one' (Kesil), and later by the Greeks "Orion" (comp.
Amos 5:8; and
infra'
Job 38:31).
Kimah undoubtedly designates "the Pleiades." It occurs again, in connection with
Kesil in
Job 38:31, and in
Amos 5:8 The meaning is probably "a heap," "a cluster" (Lee); which was also the Greek idea:
Πλειάδες,
ὅτι πλείους ὁμοοῦ κατὰ μίαν συναγωγήν (Eustath., 'Comment. in Hom. II.,' 18:488); and which has been also inimitably expressed by Tennyson in the line, "Like a swarm of dazzling fireflies tangled in a silver braid."
And the chambers of the south. The Chaldeans called the zodiacal constellations "mansions of the sun" and "of the moon" ('Ancient Monarchies,' vol. it. p. 575); but these do not seem to be here intended. Rather Job has in his mind those immense spaces of the sky which lie behind his southern horizon; how far extending, he knows not. Though the circumnavigation of Africa was not effected until about r c. 600, yet it is not improbable that he may have derived from travellers or merchants some knowledge of the Southern hemisphere.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
He is the Makerעֹֽשֶׂה־(‘ō·śeh-)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makeof the Bearעָ֭שׁ(‘āš)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5906:(a constellation) perhaps Great Bear[and] Orion,כְּסִ֥יל(kə·sîl)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3685:Any notable constellation, Orionof the Pleiadesוְכִימָ֗ה(wə·ḵî·māh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3598:A cluster of stars, the Pleiadesand the constellationsוְחַדְרֵ֥י(wə·ḥaḏ·rê)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2315:A chamber, roomof the south.תֵמָֽן׃(ṯê·mān)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8486:South, south wind
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OT Poetry: Job 9:9 He makes the Bear Orion and (Jb) 
