Job 26:13

Modern

By His breath the skies were cleared; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

Traditional

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Literal

By His breath the heavens were made clear; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

Latin

Spiritus ejus ornavit cælos, et obstetricante manu ejus, eductus est coluber tortuosus.

Hebrew

English

By His breath the skies were cleared; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

His breath (or wind): God's authority clears the skies after a storm (26:12).
The fleeing serpent relates to "Yam" and "Rahab" (see study note on 7:12). It provides background for the image of Satan as a "dragon" (Isaiah 27:1; also Psalm 74:13–14; see Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20; Revelation 12:9; 20:2).

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
Psalm 104:30
When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.
Psalm 74:13–14
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
Psalm 33:6–7
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
Genesis 1:2
Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.