Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
הַמַּעְתִּ֣יק הָ֭רִים וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֑עוּ אֲשֶׁ֖ר הֲפָכָ֣ם בְּאַפּֽוֹ׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He diminishes the mountains, yet they remain unaware. He, as it is said, erodes the mountains imperceptibly. David proclaimed, "He touches the mountains, and they smoke" (Psalm 103:32). In this context, Job reflects on God's might, emphasizing that He is capable of all things and possesses punitive power. He bears witness to God's justice and affirms His strength.
Who commands the mountains, yet they fail to recognize the One He has cast down in His indignation, as noted in Job 9:5. Within scripture, the term "mountains" frequently symbolizes the elevation of preachers. The Psalmist has affirmed, "The mountains shall receive peace for thy people" (Psalm 71:3). It is fitting to refer to the chosen messengers of eternity as "mountains," for through the height of their spiritual existence, they transcend the low valleys of earthly life and approach the divine. The Truth indeed shifts mountains when He withdraws the holy preachers from the obstinate community of Judah. Thus, the Psalmist rightly expresses, "The mountains have been moved into the heart of the sea" (Psalm 45:3).
This imagery refers to the apostles, who, despite the frigid disbelief of the Jews, broadened their understanding towards the Gentiles in their preaching. As they themselves declared in their accounts, "You were the first to be preached the word of God, but since you reject it and make yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46). Ironically, they were unaware of the significance of this 'shifting of mountains'; when the Jewish people expelled the apostles from their lands, they mistakenly believed they had gained something, losing the illuminating truth of the Gospel due to their own deeds. They were so deluded by this false perception that they equated their loss of spiritual illumination with joy. However, following the rejection of the apostles, Judea would swiftly fall to ruin under the authority of the Roman emperor Titus, leading to her dispersal among the nations. Therefore, it is fitting that he concludes with the theme of the movement of mountains.
Job acknowledges alongside his companions that he cannot defend himself before God, who demonstrates His wisdom and might through natural phenomena like earthquakes, storms, and a magnificent sky adorned with glorious constellations. Furthermore, God is not obligated to explain His actions to anyone. Thus, it is wiser to concede our faults before Him rather than engage in a dispute with the Almighty. This is precisely what Job desires to do, even as he recognizes his own innocence; he observes the unjust treatment of the righteous by the wicked, and he himself endures suffering without cause.
In this dire situation, he feels compelled to confess his guilt before God, despite knowing that such a declaration would not be necessary if there were a mediator who could equitably judge both humanity and God, and if God had withdrawn His punishing hand from him.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS