Job40
New Living Translation
1Then the Lord said to Job,
2“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
3Then Job replied to the Lord,
4“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”
6Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
7“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
8“Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right?
9Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty.
11Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud.
12Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand.
13Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead.
14Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.
15“Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox.
16See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly.
17Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.
18Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron.
19It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it.
20The mountains offer it their best food, where all the wild animals play.
21It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh.
22The lotus plants give it shade among the willows beside the stream.
23It is not disturbed by the raging river, not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it.
24No one can catch it off guard or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.
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