8:27
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
27a I was there when He established the heavens,
27b
when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
8:27a–b
The first line describes the LORD’s creation of the sky in general terms. The second line more specifically describes the way that he made the horizon, the border between the sky and the earth. Wisdom says that she was present when these things happened.
8:27a
I was there when He established the heavens: In this context, the verb established means “to fix firmly in position.” It is a different Hebrew verb from the one used in 8:25a, though the English translations are similar. The phrase the heavens refers here to “the sky” (as in the Good News Translation). It does not refer to the heavenly bodies, such as the moon, planets, and stars.
8:27b
when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep: In figurative language, this verse says that the LORD inscribed (“marked out” or “engraved” or “drew”) a circle or “horizon” (New International Version) on the surface of the ocean. Some English versions use a different figure of speech. For example:
when he stretched the horizon across the ocean (Good News Translation)
In languages where a figure of speech is not clear or natural, you may use a nonfigurative expression. For example:
when He made the boundary between the sky and the ocean
General Comment on 8:27a–b
In languages where it would be awkward to express the idea of the horizon, it may be possible to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:
I was there when He set the sky in its proper position above the ocean.
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