Job 25:2 — Word Study
WLCהַמְשֵׁ֣ל וָפַ֣חַד עִמּ֑וֹ עֹשֶׂ֥ה שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם בִּמְרוֹמָֽיו׃
BSADominionmâshal [rule, power] and awepachad [dread, fear] belong to [God]ʻim [the Supreme Ruler] He establishesʻâsâh [makes, brings about] harmonyshâlôwm [peace, completeness] in the heights of heavenmârôwm [high places, lofty realms, the sky, the spiritual realm]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַמְשֵׁ֣ל | dominion | Verb, Hiphil, infinitive absolute |
| וָפַ֣חַד | and dread | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| עִמּ֑וֹ | [are] with him | Preposition, suffix |
| עֹשֶׂ֥ה | [he] makes | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם | peace | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בִּמְרוֹמָֽיו׃ | in heights his | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven. |
| KJV | Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. |
| ASV | Dominion and fear are with him; He maketh peace in his high places. |
| YLT | The rule and fear [are] with Him, Making peace in His high places. |
| WEB | “Dominion and fear are with him. He makes peace in his high places. |
| BBE | Rule and power are his; he makes peace in his high places. |
Where they part company is וָפַ֣חַד — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is straightforward, with a clear subject and predicate, followed by a prepositional phrase that specifies the location of God's peace.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָשַׁל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 25:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Bildad's Response to Jobgenerated
Job 25:2 presents Bildad asserting that dominion and dread belong to God, emphasizing His authority over creation. This statement comes in the context of a debate about divine justice and human righteousness, as Bildad tries to explain Job's suffering by highlighting God's power and the order He establishes in the universe.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 9:2–10 | “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God? |
| 2 | Job 26:5–14 | The dead tremble— those beneath the waters and those who dwell in them. |
| 3 | Job 40:9–14 | Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His? |
| 4 | 1 Chronicles 29:11–12 | Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. |
| 5 | Psalm 99:1–3 | The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 17 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַמְשֵׁ֣ל, ham.Shelgenerated
The word הַמְשֵׁ֣ל (ham.Shel) is derived from the root מָשַׁל (mashal), meaning to rule or have dominion. It indicates a sense of authority and governance, particularly in a divine context. The Hiphil form used here suggests that God actively establishes His rule.
In this verse, it underscores God's supreme authority and control over all creation, contrasting human limitations. The infinitive absolute form emphasizes the certainty and permanence of God's dominion.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the word dominance, aligning with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb עֹשֶׂ֥ה ('o.Seh), meaning 'makes', governs the sentence, linking the subject and the predicate. The structure emphasizes God's active role in establishing peace.
The sentence is constructed with a noun phrase as the subject and a prepositional phrase as the predicate, followed by a clause that elaborates on God's actions. This highlights the relationship between God's dominion and the peace He creates.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word for dominion is rendered as φόβος (phobos), which translates to 'fear' or 'terror'. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of God's authority, emphasizing the reverence and fear that His power inspires.
The translation indicates a nuanced understanding of God's relationship with creation, where His dominion is associated with both awe and peace.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 25:2 states that dominion and dread belong to God, who brings about peace in the heights of heaven. Bildad emphasizes God's supreme authority and the harmony He establishes in the spiritual realm.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that God has ultimate authority and power over all creation, instilling both reverence and fear in His presence.
God creates harmony and order in the spiritual realm, ensuring that everything functions according to His divine will.
Dread reflects the fear and awe that God's power inspires, highlighting the seriousness of His authority and the respect He commands.
This verse contributes to the theme of divine sovereignty and justice, as Bildad tries to explain the nature of God in light of Job's suffering.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I recognize God's authority in my life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper sense of awe and reverence for God?
- What does peace in my life look like, and how can I seek it?
- How do I respond to the challenges and fears I face, knowing that God is sovereign?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, emphasizing God's dominion and the peace He creates in the heavens.
Dominion and fear are with Him; Who maketh peace in His high places. [LITERAL INTERPRETATION] As though he expressed himself in plain words;Early Church Fathers on Job 25 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 25:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDominion and fear [are] with him,.... Not with man, as Sephorno interprets it, as that with him is power to rule over the imagination (the evil figment of his heart) to choose the good, and refuse
Read John Gill on Job 25 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, He tries to show Job's rashness (Job 23:3), by arguments borrowed from Eliphaz (Job 15:15), with which cf. Job 11:17. Verse 2. Power and terror - i:e., terror-inspiring power.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 25 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDominion, i.e. absolute and sovereign power over all persons and things, with whom to contend is both rebellion and madness. Fear, actively understood, or terror, i.e. that which justly makes him dreadful to all men, and especially to all that shall undertake to dispute with him; awful majesty, infinite knowledge, whereby he knows men’ s hearts and ways far better than they know themselves, and sees much sin in them which themselves do not discover, and exact purity and justice, which renders him formidable to sinners. Are with him; emphatically spoken; with him whom thou challengest; with him who is not lightly and irreverently to be named, much less to be contended with. And therefore it…
Read Matthew Poole on Job 25 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 25:2 Dominion and fear [are] with him, he maketh peace in his high places.Ver. 2. Dominion and fear are with him] God is therefore to be feared, because Lord over all. If an earthly king be so dread a sovereign, if an apparition of angels hath so amazed the best men, who would net fear that King of nations, since to him doth it appertain? Jeremiah 10:7. "God is greatly to be feared in the assemblies of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him," Psalms 89:7. Power and terror are with him, so the Vulgate hath it here. He that is able to destroy both body and soul in hell, is surely to be feared; yea, therefore to be feared, Matthew 10:28. If servants…
Read John Trapp on Job 25 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Dominion and fear are with him.—He is absolute in sovereignty and terrible in power, so that even in His high places, and among His celestial hosts, He maintaineth peace and harmony.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 25 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. Dominion and fear are with him] God is an absolute sovereign; his fear is on all the hosts of heaven; and by his sovereignty he establishes and preserves order in the heavens, and among all the inhabitants of the eternal world: how canst thou, therefore, dare to appeal to him, or desire to appear before him?
Read AdamClarke on Job 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. dominion and fear] To God belongs rule, and His majesty inspires terror; He is the Omnipotent ruler over all. his high places] i. e. the heavens where He dwells. There He “maketh peace” through the dominion and fear belonging to Him. The idea of “making peace in his high places” is suggested first perhaps by the atmospheric phenomenon, the stilling of the warring elements in the tempest on high. When God intervenes the storm becomes a calm. But probably the idea was extended, and the words may include a reference to traditional discords among the heavenly hosts, comp. ch. Job 21:22, Job 40:10 seq.; Isaiah 24:21; Revelation 12:7.
Read Cambridge on Job 25 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDominion and fear are with him - That is, God has a right to rule, and he ought to be regarded with reverence.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 25 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
“Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven.
“Dominion and fear are with him. He makes peace in his high places.
“Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven.
“Dominion and awesome might belong to God; he establishes peace in his heights.
Tyndale line
Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.
Dominion and fear are with him; He maketh peace in his high places.
Dominion and fear are with him; he maketh peace in his high places.
Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.
Power and feare is with him, that maketh peace in his hie places.
Strictly literal
Dominion and fear are with him; he maketh peace in his high places.
The rule and fear [are] with Him, Making peace in His high places.
“The rule and fear [are] with Him, || Making peace in His high places.
Dominion and dread are with him: he maketh peace in high places.
“Dominion and fear are with him; he makes order in his high places of heaven.
From the Latin
Power and terror are with him, who maketh peace in his high places.
Simplified
“Dominion and awe belong to God. He brings peace to his heavens.
Rule and power are his; he makes peace in his high places.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in this verse, with four out of six words matched. The Septuagint's rendering reflects its own grammatical structure but conveys similar themes of God's authority and peace.
הַמְשֵׁ֣ל וָפַ֣חַד עִמּ֑וֹ עֹשֶׂ֥ה שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם בִּמְרוֹמָֽיו׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 25:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מָשַׁל (mashal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rule or have dominion. It can refer to human authority, the dominion of heavenly bodies, or God's sovereignty. The word has a Qal form indicating direct rule and a Hiphil form that implies causing someone to rule or exercising dominion.
מָשַׁל vb. rule, have dominion, reign
Qal
human subj., rule, have dominion over
of heavenly bodies
of God
Hiph. cause to rule; exercise dominion
base
H4910 מָשַׁל rule, have dominion, reign .. human subj., rule, have dominion over
. of heavenly bodies
. of God
. cause to rule; exercise dominion
4910 mashal maw-shal'
a primitive root; to rule:--(have, make to have) dominion,
governor, X indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have)
rule(-ing, -r), have power.
מָשַׁל (ma.shal) — to rule.
1) to rule, have dominion, reign
1a) (Qal) to rule, have dominion
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to rule
1b2) to exercise dominion
V-Hiphil-Ptc — Verb · Hiphil · infinitive absoluteHVhaa
do-min'-yun: In Eph 1:21; Col 1:16 the word so translated (kuriotes) appears to denote a rank or order of angels. The same word is probably to be so interpreted in Jude 1:8 (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "dominion"), and in 2Pe 2:10 (the King James Version "government," the Revised Version (British and American) "dominion"). See ANGEL.
→ OF MAN
See MAN, DOMINION OF
פַּ֫חַד (pachad) refers to the concept of dread or terror, often indicating both the feeling of fear and the object that inspires it. The word is derived from a root meaning to be alarmed, and it encompasses a range of meanings related to fear and terror.
פַּ֫חַד 49 n.m. dread
dread
= object of dread
as design. dei
base
H6343 פַּ֫חַד dread . dread
. = object of dread
. as design. dei
6343 pachad pakh'-ad
from 6342; a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by
implication, the feeling):--dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great
(fear, -ly feared), terror.
see HEBREW for 06342
פַּ֫חַד (pa.chad) — dread.
1) terror, dread
1a) dread
1b) object of dread
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
שָׁלוֹם (shalom) conveys a range of meanings including completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace. It can refer to physical safety and health, as well as emotional states like tranquility and friendship, particularly in human relationships and with God. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be complete' and is used in various contexts, including greetings.
שָׁלוֹם 237 n.m. completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
completeness in no.
safety, soundness, in body
welfare, health, prosperity
peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment
peace, friendship
peace from war
as adj. those at peace with him
base
H7965 שָׁלוֹם completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
7965 shalowm shaw-lome'
or shalom {shaw-lome'}; from 7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively)
well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,
prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend,
X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at)
peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty),
salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.
see HEBREW for 07999
שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace.
: peace
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
1a) completeness (in number)
1b) safety, soundness (in body)
1c) welfare, health, prosperity
1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
1e) peace, friendship
1e1) of human relationships
1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship
1f) peace (from war)
1g) peace (as adjective)
שָׁלוֹם (ye.ho.vah sha.lom) — Peace.
This name means completeness, peace
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace: well-being.
: well-being
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
1a) completeness (in number)
1b) safety, soundness (in body)
1c) welfare, health, prosperity
1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
1e) peace, friendship
1e1) of human relationships
1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship
1f) peace (from war)
1g) peace (as adjective)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
pes (shalom; eirene):
1. In the Old Testament:
Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. In Ps 122:7, we have "peace" and "prosperity," and in 35:27; 73:3, shalom is translated "prosperity." In 2Sa 11:7 the King James Version, David asked of Uriah "how Joab did" (margin "of the peace of Joab"), "and how the people did (the Revised Version (British and American) "fared," literally, "of the peace of the people"), and…
מָרוֹם (marowm) means 'height' and encompasses both concrete and abstract uses, referring to elevated places, elevation, and even pride. It can describe physical heights or be used figuratively for dignity and nobility. The word is poetically used in the Old Testament, with its root linked to the concept of altitude.
מָרוֹם n.m. height (poet.)
height, elevation (concr.), elevated place
alone = height of heaven
adv. fig., = proudly
fig. of nobles
base
H4791 מָרוֹם height (poet.)
4791 marowm maw-rome'
from 7311; altitude, i.e. concretely (an elevated place),
abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially
(aloft):--(far) above, dignity, haughty, height, (most, on)
high (one, place), loftily, upward.
see HEBREW for 07311
מָרוֹם (ma.rom) — height.
1) height
1a) height, elevation, elevated place
1a1) in a high place (adv)
1b) height
1c) proudly (adv)
1d) of nobles (fig.)
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
