Who shakes the earth out of its place: Job continues to describe God as one who creates chaos in the universe, just as he has brought fear and chaos into Job’s own life. In connection with God’s judgment, out of its place refers to the foundation upon which the earth rests, and this is spelled out in the next line.

And its pillars tremble: the supports on which the earth is thought to rest are mentioned in Psalm 75.3, “when the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars” (Revised Standard Version). In 26.11 the heavens are said to be supported on pillars. In this verse the shaking of the pillars causes the earthquake. In some translations it may be necessary to provide a note as well as cross references to explain the ancient biblical picture of the world resting on pillars over the water. In some languages it may be necessary to translate, for example, “God shakes the earth on its foundations, and makes the stones it rests on to tremble.”

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 .