King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron.
Complete Jewish Bible:
his bones are like bronze pipes, his limbs like iron bars.
Berean Standard Bible:
His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.
American Standard Version:
His bones areastubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
His bones{H6106} are as strong{H650} pieces of brass{H5154}; his bones{H1634} are like bars{H4300} of iron{H1270}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 7:12
- [Am] I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
Isaiah 48:4
- Because I knew that thou [art] obstinate, and thy neck [is] an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
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Commentary for Job 40:18
Job 40:18 is a part of the poetic dialogue in the Book of Job, which is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. This verse is situated within one of God's speeches to Job, occurring towards the end of the book. The Book of Job grapples with the profound theological question of why the righteous suffer, and it addresses themes of faith, justice, and the nature of God's relationship with humanity.
In the historical context, the Book of Job is one of the Wisdom books and is believed to have been written during or after the Babylonian exile, possibly between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. It reflects the intellectual and theological currents of that period, including the challenge of maintaining faith in God's goodness and power amidst seemingly unjust suffering.
The verse itself, Job 40:18, is part of a longer description in which God is highlighting His power and majesty through the depiction of a formidable creature referred to as Behemoth. This creature is described with hyperbolic imagery to convey its immense strength and impenetrability. The phrase "His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron" emphasizes the creature's fortitude and impregnability, suggesting that it is beyond human ability to overcome or even fully comprehend. The imagery of brass and iron, metals known for their strength and use in weaponry and construction, serves to illustrate the creature's divine creation and the limits of human power and understanding.
In summary, Job 40:18 is a verse that uses vivid, powerful imagery to underscore the might of God's creation and, by extension, God's own incomparable strength and sovereignty over the world. It serves as a reminder of the limitations of human beings in the face of divine power and contributes to the book's exploration of human suffering and the mysterious ways in which God works.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6106
There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶצֶם
Transliteration: ʻetsem
Pronunciation: eh'tsem
Description: from עָצַם; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame; body, bone, [idiom] life, (self-) same, strength, [idiom] very. - Strong's Number: H650
There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָפִיק
Transliteration: ʼâphîyq
Pronunciation: aw-feek'
Description: from אָסַף; properly, containing, i.e. a tube; also a bed or valley of astream; also a strong thing or a hero; brook, channel, mighty, river, [phrase] scale, stream, strong piece. - Strong's Number: H5154
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְחוּשָׁה
Transliteration: nᵉchûwshâh
Pronunciation: nekh-oo-shaw'
Description: or נְחֻשָׁה; feminine of נָחוּשׁ; copper; brass, steel. Compare נָחָשׁ. - Strong's Number: H1634
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֶּרֶם
Transliteration: gerem
Pronunciation: gheh'-rem
Description: from גָּרַם; a bone (as the skeleton of the body); hence, self, i.e. (figuratively) very; bone, strong, top. - Strong's Number: H4300
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְטִיל
Transliteration: mᵉṭîyl
Pronunciation: met-eel'
Description: from טוּל in the sense of hammering out; an iron bar (as forged); bar. - Strong's Number: H1270
There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּרְזֶל
Transliteration: barzel
Pronunciation: bar-zel'
Description: perhaps from the root of בִּרְזוֹת; iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement; (ax) head, iron.