Job40
New International Version
1The Lord said to Job:
2“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”
3Then Job answered the Lord:
4“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
6Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
7“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
8“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?
10Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
11Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
12look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand.
13Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.
14Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly!
17Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
18Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.
19It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
20The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby.
21Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.
23A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
24Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 40.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Job humbles himself to God. (1–5). The Lord reasons with Job to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom. (6–14). God's power shown in Behemoth. (15–24).
vv1-5
Communion with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins. There is need to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare us for remarkable deliverances. After God had shown Job, by his manifest ignorance of the works of nature, how unable he was to judge of the methods and designs of Providence, he puts a convincing question to him; Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? Now Job began to melt into godly sorrow: when his friends reasoned with him, he did not yield; but the voice of the Lord is powerful. When the Spirit of truth is come, he shall convince. Job yields himself to the grace of God. He owns himself an offender, and has nothing to say to justify himself. He is now sensible that he has sinned; and therefore he calls himself vile. Repentance changes men's opinion of themselves. Job is now convinced of his error. Those who are truly sensible of their own sinfulness and vileness, dare not justify themselves before God. He perceived that he was a poor, mean, foolish, and sinful creature, who ought not to have uttered one word against the Divine conduct. One glimpse of God's holy nature would appal the stoutest rebel. How, then will the wicked bear the sight of his glory at the day of judgment? But when we see this glory revealed in Jesus Christ, we shall be humbled without being terrified; self-abasement agrees with filial love. (Job 40:6-14)
vv6-14
Those who profit by what they have heard from God, shall hear more from him. And those who are truly convinced of sin, yet need to be more thoroughly convinced and more humbled. No doubt God, and he only, has power to humble and bring down proud men; he has wisdom to know when and how to do it, and it is not for us to teach him how to govern the world. Our own hands cannot save us by recommending us to God's grace, much less rescuing us from his justice; and therefore into his hand we must commit ourselves. The renewal of a believer proceeds in the same way of conviction, humbling, and watchfulness against remaining sin, as his first conversion. When convinced of many evils in our conduct, we still need convincing of many more.
vv15-24
God, for the further proving of his own power, describes two vast animals, far exceeding man in bulk and strength. Behemoth signifies beasts. Most understand it of an animal well known in Egypt, called the river-horse, or hippopotamus. This vast animal is noticed as an argument to humble ourselves before the great God; for he created this vast animal, which is so fearfully and wonderfully made. Whatever strength this or any other creature has, it is derived from God. He that made the soul of man, knows all the ways to it, and can make the sword of justice, his wrath, to approach and touch it. Every godly man has spiritual weapons, the whole armour of God, to resist, yea, to overcome the tempter, that his never-dying soul may be safe, whatever becomes of his frail flesh and mortal body.
Key Words
אִיּוֹב: Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience
יִסּוֹר: a reprover
רִיב: properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend
עִם: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
שַׁדַּי: the Almighty
יָכַח: to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
אֱלוֹהַּ: a deity or the Deity
עָנָה: properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
הֵן: lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
Cross References
Job 40Verbatim repetition of the challenge to gird up loins and answer, connecting God's addresses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The language of hiding in the dust to escape the terrifying majesty of God's presence.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts human self-salvation with God's sovereign right hand that brings victory and salvation.
Supported by JFB
The quintessential Pauline parallel addressing the clay's presumption to dispute with the Potter.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The physical gesture of putting one's hand over the mouth in silent submission.
Supported by JFB
Job's ultimate, complete self-abased repentance, following up his initial surrender in verse 4.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects God's terrifying voice with actual thunder as an expression of His supreme power.
Supported by JFB
Confirms that God is uniquely able to walk in majesty and abase those who walk in pride.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the practice of binding or covering the faces of those condemned to death.
Supported by JFB
Parallel regarding God causing grass to grow as food for great herbivorous beasts.
Supported by JFB
The proverbial expression 'once, yea twice' indicating repeated actions or warnings.
Supported by JFB
Striking down the wicked in the open place of onlookers.
Supported by JFB
Defines the 'ways of God' as His vast, creative works of power.
Supported by JFB
The initial appearance of God speaking out of the whirlwind to Job.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Highlights Behemoth as a co-creature made on the same day alongside mankind.
Supported by JFB