Job40

The LORD challenges Job, asking if he intends to instruct the Almighty or condemn Him to be righteous. Humbled, Job confesses his vileness and resolves to speak no more, laying his hand upon his mouth. God then describes Behemoth, a creature of immense strength and size, as a testament to His unparalleled creative power.

Listen to this chapter

God Challenges Job's Self-Justification

And the LORD said to Job:

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”

Then Job answered the LORD:

“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.

I have spoken once, but I have no answer— twice, but I have nothing to add.”

The LORD Demands Job’s Answer

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

“Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?

Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.

Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.

Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.

Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave.

Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can save you.

The Power of Behemoth

Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox.

See the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly.

His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.

He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.

The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby.

He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.

Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.

Can anyone capture him as he looks on, or pierce his nose with a snare?

Study Notes for Job 40

Verse 2

This rhetorical question summarizes God's charge: Job, in defending his innocence, has implicitly accused God of injustice or incompetence. God demands that Job, if he claims such knowledge, now provide a comprehensive solution.

Verse 4

Job’s confession, 'I am vile' (or 'insignificant/light'), marks a turning point. He recognizes the infinite distance between his finite understanding and God's comprehensive wisdom, leading to humility rather than insistent complaint.

Verse 5

Job limits his previous complaints ('Once... twice') and promises absolute silence, acknowledging the futility of questioning the Almighty from a position of limited knowledge.

Verse 6

The second divine speech begins immediately, indicating that while Job submitted, he still needed to grasp the full implications of God’s sovereignty.

Verse 7

“Gird up thy loins now like a man” is an idiom meaning 'prepare for action' or 'prepare for a serious debate.' God challenges Job to stand up and face the theological argument with the strength and resolve of a warrior.

Verse 8

God clarifies the theological stakes: by demanding justice and questioning God's governance, Job attempts to 'disannul' (invalidate) God's moral order merely to establish his own righteousness.

Verse 9

This verse underscores the premise of God's speech: If Job truly understands justice and governance, he must possess the physical and cosmic power (symbolized by God's 'arm' and 'thunder') necessary to enforce it.

Verse 12

God challenges Job to take on the role of divine Judge, successfully subduing all cosmic evil and pride. This task is impossible for a mortal, demonstrating that only God is qualified to govern the world.

Verse 14

This ironic conclusion states that only if Job can successfully fulfill the divine role (Vv. 9-13) will God concede that Job possesses the power to save himself—a power Job clearly lacks.

Verse 15

God now shifts from the challenge of cosmic governance to concrete evidence of creation's complexity. Behemoth (Heb. *bəhēmōth*, possibly an intensive plural meaning 'great beast') is widely identified with the hippopotamus, known for its immense size and strength.

Verse 16

The emphasis is on the creature's massive, concentrated physical power, particularly in the core (loins/belly), highlighting its immense stability and strength.

Verse 17

The description of the tail 'like a cedar' emphasizes its size, rigidity, and immense power, suggesting a creature of truly colossal proportions.

Verse 19

To be the 'chief of the ways of God' means this creature is the greatest example or masterpiece of God's terrestrial creation. The second clause suggests that only its Creator can truly control or defeat it.

Verse 23

This hyperbole emphasizes the creature's capacity and indifference to large bodies of water, reinforcing its untroubled dominance even in flood conditions.

Verse 24

This verse likely describes the difficulty of capturing such a powerful beast, emphasizing that it relies on no human device and cannot be easily tricked or snared.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Job40

God Challenges Job's Self-Justification

The LORD Demands Job’s Answer

The Power of Behemoth

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options