איוב, פרק ט׳, פסוק ח׳

The creation of the universe and the absolute mastery over the forces of nature, from the highest heavens to the ocean depths, rest entirely in the hands of God. The primary approach among commentators is that God spread out the skies, which wrap around the entire world, entirely on His own without any partner from among the created beings [מצודת דוד, תקות אנוש]. Because He formed them, He maintains total control over the solar and stellar systems, moving them exactly as He desires [רמב״ן, תקות אנוש].

It is crucial to emphasize that God acted completely alone, dispelling any notion that angels assisted in the work of creation. In fact, angels were purposely created after the first day so that no one could ever claim that one angel stretched out the northern edge of the sky while another pulled the southern edge [רש״י, אלשיך]. This exclusive act proves God's direct, ongoing supervision over the physical world. It prevents the mistaken belief that He simply created the universe and then abandoned its management to the stars and constellations [אלשיך].

The vast scope of creation extends downward to the very heights of the sea [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A vivid picture is drawn of God, as it were, standing with His feet upon the ocean waves while His hands stretch out the heavens above. This illustrates how the entire universe was formed as one complete, unified body, with all its parts working together and complementing each other [מלבי״ם].

Stepping upon the ocean waves carries deep significance. The common approach links this directly to the dawn of creation. When the primeval ocean waters surged upward, God stepped upon them, conquering the waves and stopping their spread. By preventing the waters from washing over and covering the earth, He allowed dry land to finally appear [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. At the same time, this action highlights God's constant, ongoing power to quiet the roaring waves whenever the sea becomes stormy and swells [רמב״ן]. Including the sea in this context completes the picture of God's absolute dominance over all the different elements of nature, particularly the powerful element of water [תקות אנוש].

In contrast to the interpretations that focus on physical bodies of water, a unique perspective suggests that these ocean heights do not refer to a literal sea at all. Instead, the imagery serves as a direct continuation of the heavenly theme, acting as a poetic description of the sky itself and the stars moving along their celestial orbits [רלב״ג].