Albert Barnes Commentary Job 26:12

"He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab." — Job 26:12 (ASV)

He divides the sea with His power – Herder renders this:

By his power he scourges the sea,
By his wisdom he binds its pride.

Jerome (Vulgate) states, “By his power the seas are suddenly congregated together.” The Septuagint, “By his power – κατέπαυσε την θάλασσαν – katepause tēn thalassan – he makes the sea calm.” Luther, Vor seiner Kraft wird das Meer plötzlich ungestüm – “By his power the sea becomes suddenly tempestuous.” Noyes renders it, “By his power he stills the sea.”

This is undoubtedly the true meaning. There is no allusion here to the dividing of the sea when the Israelites left Egypt; but the idea is that God has power to calm the tempest and hush the waves into peace.

The word used here (רגע râga‛) means to make afraid, to terrify, especially to restrain by threats (see the notes at Isaiah 51:15).

The reference here is to the exertion of the power of God, by which he is able to calm the tumultuous ocean, and to restore it to repose after a storm – one of the most striking exhibitions of omnipotence that can be conceived.

By his understanding – By his wisdom.

He smites through – He scourges, or strikes – as if to punish.

The proud – The pride of the sea. The ocean is represented as enraged, and as lifted up with pride and rebellion. God scourges it, rebukes it, and makes it calm.