By his power he stilled the sea: as suggested by the note in Good News Translation, the background of verse 12 is the ancient Mesopotamian and Ugaritic stories of the conflict between the creator and the sea. Both lines allude to the way in which God created by conquering his enemies. The word translated stilled is disputed by scholars. In Isaiah 51.15 and Jeremiah 31.35, the same Hebrew verb is used in the sense of “stir up.” But a separate root with the same spelling is translated by Revised Standard Version and others as stilled. This is the sense most appropriate here, and since God uses his power to still the sea, Good News Translation correctly translates “conquered the sea.” This line may be translated, for example, “The power (or, strength) of God conquered (or, defeated) the ocean (or, sea)” or “God who is powerful conquered the sea.”

By his understanding he smote Rahab: according to Jeremiah 10.12 “The LORD made the earth by his power; by his wisdom he created the world and stretched out the heavens” (Good News Translation). The same Hebrew word meaning “wisdom” is used here and translated understanding. According to Pope understanding would no doubt be taken as “cunning” in terms of the Mesopotamian story, but Job belongs to the Hebrew wisdom literature, and this term is probably best translated “wisdom, intelligence, understanding.” Smote translates a verb meaning “to strike,” but in the context it refers to striking for the purpose of conquering or destroying, and so Good News Translation is correct in saying “destroyed.” For Rahab see comments on 7.12 and 9.13. This line may also be rendered “because he is intelligent he destroyed the sea animal called Rahab” or “he is wise, and because of this he was able to kill the sea monster Rahab.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .