Who alone stretched out the heavens: the Hebrew of this line differs from Isaiah 44.24 only by “I … alone.” Both passages emphasize that God created the heavens by his own power, with nobody to help him. For similar references see Psalm 18.9-15; 144.5-7. In Isaiah 40.22 and Psalm 104.2 God stretches out the heavens like a tent or curtain. In many languages the sky is not thought of as something that can be stretched across space, and in such cases we must often say “God alone put the sky in its place” or “without anyone’s help God put the sky above.”

Trampled the waves of the sea: the Revised Standard Version footnote reads “trampled the back of the sea dragon.” This reading derives from the assumption that the Hebrew yam “sea” is to be identified here with Ugaritic yammu “sea dragon,” and the word waves, literally “heights,” is to be taken as meaning “back.” Another interpretation understands the expression to mean “the back of the sea.” Trampled the waves does not refer to merely walking on the waves, but rather to subduing the sea, or controlling it. The same notion applies where “the sea dragon” replaces “the sea.” Translators may be able to use a figurative expression for this thought; for example, “he puts down his foot on the waves of the sea,” “he stops the waves of the sea with his hand.” If a figurative expression is not possible, we may sometimes translate “he subdues the waves of the sea,” or if the animal is used, “he destroys the sea monster.” For suggestions regarding “sea monster,” see 7.12.

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 .