King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
If the river overflows, it doesn't worry him; he is confident even if the Yarden rushes by his mouth.
Berean Standard Bible:
Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.
American Standard Version:
Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Behold, he drinketh up{H6231} a river{H5104}, and hasteth{H2648} not: he trusteth{H982} that he can draw up{H1518} Jordan{H3383} into his mouth{H6310}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 13:10
- ¶ And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Psalms 55:8
- I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.
Isaiah 37:25
- I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.
Joshua 3:15
- And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
Isaiah 28:16
- Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
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Commentary for Job 40:23
The verse Job 40:23 is part of a larger speech by God in the Book of Job, which is found in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. This book is a profound exploration of theodicy, the question of why a good God permits evil and suffering. The historical context of Job is somewhat uncertain, but it is traditionally set in the patriarchal period, possibly during the time of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In the verse, God is speaking to Job out of a whirlwind, challenging Job's understanding and emphasizing the limits of human knowledge and power in comparison to the divine. The specific imagery used here describes a mighty creature, often interpreted as a representation of Leviathan, a primordial sea serpent or chaos monster found in ancient Near Eastern mythologies. This creature is so powerful that it can drink up an entire river without hurry and is confident in its ability to take the waters of the Jordan River into its mouth.
The themes presented in this verse include the majesty and mystery of God's creation, the awesomeness of divine power, and the smallness of human beings in comparison to the grandeur of the natural world and the divine. The verse serves to humble Job (and by extension, the reader), illustrating that there are forces and wonders in the world that are beyond human comprehension or control. It is a reminder of the need for humility and trust in God's wisdom, even when human beings cannot understand the reasons behind their experiences of suffering and adversity.
*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: H6231
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשַׁק
Transliteration: ʻâshaq
Pronunciation: aw-shak'
Description: a primitive root (compare עָשַׂק); to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow; get deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, (use) oppress(-ion), -or), do violence (wrong). - Strong's Number: H5104
There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָהָר
Transliteration: nâhâr
Pronunciation: naw-hawr'
Description: from נָהַר; a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity; flood, river. - Strong's Number: H2648
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָפַז
Transliteration: châphaz
Pronunciation: khaw-faz'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to start up suddenly, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, to fear; (make) haste (away), tremble. - Strong's Number: H982
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּטַח
Transliteration: bâṭach
Pronunciation: baw-takh'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to hide for refuge (but not so precipitately as חָסָה); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure; be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust. - Strong's Number: H1518
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גִּיחַ
Transliteration: gîyach
Pronunciation: ghee'-akh
Description: lemma גּיחַ missing vowel, corrected to גִּיחַ; or (shortened) גֹּחַ; a primitive root; to gush forth (as water), generally to issue; break forth, labor to bring forth, come forth, draw up, take out. - Strong's Number: H3383
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַרְדֵּן
Transliteration: Yardên
Pronunciation: yar-dane'
Description: from יָרַד; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine; Jordan. - Strong's Number: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word.