Job 38:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet declared, "Thou hast turned the depths of the sea into a way, in order that the redeemed may pass through" (Isaiah 51:10). Prior to the Redeemer's arrival, this depth was not a passage but a prison, where even the righteous souls were confined, though they experienced no punishment. Yet, the Lord transformed this depth into a path, for upon His arrival, He made it possible for His elect to journey from the depths to the heavenly realms. Thus, it was rightly stated: so that the redeemed may pass through. What He referred to as the depths of the sea is understood as the lowest regions of the abyss; just as the vastness of the waters is beyond human understanding, so too are the mysteries of the underworld, not beyond our grasp. We, taken from that realm, cannot perceive the judgments that await others for their actions.

It is crucial to note that He declared He passed through the lowest depths of the abyss. It is evident that only one who is free can ‘pass through’, as chains impede the steps of the bound. The Lord was not a captive of sin while He traversed the abyss. He approached those in bondage without restriction. As it is written, “I became as a man without help, free among the dead” (Psalm 87:5-6). For the Lord's descent into the lower parts of the abyss signifies that nothing could hold Him in that cursed place; Peter affirms this, stating, “having loosed the bonds of death, because it was impossible for it to hold Him” (Acts 2:24). Additionally, it can be understood that as we move from one location to another, Christ is said to have traversed the abyss to demonstrate His presence among the souls of the elect in various places, empowered by His Divine nature. Hence the spirit of wisdom is described as being full of movement (Prem. 7:24), allowing it to be perceived as present everywhere, despite its absence in any specific location. Our Lord regards this descent as so extraordinary that He continually emphasizes it to those who are redeemed. Reiterating this, He adds:

God addresses Job, who had dared to ponder these complex questions, and engages him with inquiries drawn from nature. Through the challenge of comprehending even the simplest aspects of the physical world, God intends to reveal the far greater challenge of addressing moral inquiries (38: 1-3). The Lord begins by asking Job about the origin and foundational state of the earth, as if to underscore the limitations of human understanding and the vast unknown surrounding him, considering Job's inability to answer this solitary question (4-6). In stark contrast, God effortlessly created the earth, akin to an individual constructing a commonplace structure, and this divine act was so magnificent that the heavenly hosts proclaimed His glory with resounding voices (7).

God's might and wisdom are equally evident in the constraints placed upon the depths of the sea (8 - 11) and in the distinction made between light and darkness (12 - 15). However, these vast depths and the boundaries of illumination are not beyond human perception (16-20). Common natural phenomena—such as snow, hail, rain, and frost—lie beyond human dominion (21-30), and even less so do the movements of celestial bodies and various weather patterns fall under human command (31-38). Transitioning to the extraordinary marvels of creation, which are almost invisibly close to humanity, the Lord highlights the intricate instincts found in animals. He reminds Job that it is through His nurturing providence that predatory creatures and birds are provided for (39-41).

Given the vastness of the original water, sufficient to cover the entire earth and its highest mountains, it is reasonable to assume that this water resided not only in seas and rivers but also in hidden chambers, inner cavities, and caves. Thus, the Psalmist declares regarding the Earth: "The Lord founded it on the seas" (Psalm 24:1). Further, it is remarked: "Confess ye unto the Lord, who hath established the earth upon the waters" (Psalm 136:5-6). During the Flood, waters emerged from these underground reservoirs, as noted by the writer: "On that day all the springs of the abyss were opened" (Genesis 7:11). The waters from these depths found numerous outlets to the surface, and together with the oceanic waters and rain from the heavens, they were enough to revert the Earth to its state before the third day of creation. Although modern science has made significant strides in exploring the oceanic depths and springs, this knowledge remains trivial when placed alongside the understanding of God, who not only comprehends all that exists in and below the sea but also is its Creator.