Job 40:10

KJV

Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

KJV (with Strong's)

Deck {H5710} thyself now with majesty {H1347} and excellency {H1363}; and array {H3847} thyself with glory {H1935} and beauty {H1926}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Come on, deck yourself with majesty and dignity, robe yourself in glory and splendor.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 40:10 is a pivotal moment in God's direct address to Job from the whirlwind, serving as a rhetorical challenge that underscores the infinite chasm between the Creator and His creation. God invites Job, in a deeply ironic and humbling manner, to "deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty," thereby exposing humanity's utter inability to possess or emulate divine attributes. This verse powerfully asserts God's unique, inherent, and unchallengeable sovereignty, omnipotence, and splendor, reinforcing the core message that only He is worthy of ultimate trust and awe.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the climactic section of the Book of Job, specifically during God's second speech to Job (Job 40:6-41:34). Following Job's initial responses to God's first discourse (Job 38:1-39:30), where God overwhelmed Job with questions about the natural world, Job admits his inadequacy (Job 40:3-5). However, God presses further, not to condemn Job, but to expand his understanding of divine governance beyond his personal suffering. God's challenge in Job 40:10 is immediately preceded by His demand for Job to "gird up your loins like a man" and answer Him (Job 40:7), setting the stage for a direct confrontation of Job's perception of justice and power. The verse also serves as a prelude to God's detailed descriptions of Behemoth and Leviathan (Job 40:15-41:34), two creatures whose immense power further demonstrates God's unparalleled might, making Job's inability to "deck himself" with divine attributes even more stark.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job, a masterpiece of wisdom literature, grapples with the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine justice, suffering, and the nature of God. Divine speeches from a storm or whirlwind were a common motif in ancient cosmologies, signifying a powerful, often terrifying, manifestation of deity. In this context, God's challenge to Job to "deck himself" with divine attributes would have resonated deeply with the concept of a king or deity being adorned with symbols of power and authority. Ancient kings often wore elaborate robes and crowns to signify their majesty and glory, but God's rhetorical question highlights that His attributes are inherent, not merely external adornments that can be put on or taken off. The cultural understanding of a sovereign's absolute power and unchallengeable authority provides a backdrop for appreciating the immense gap God illustrates between His own inherent majesty and any human claim to power or understanding.
* **Key Themes:** Job 40:10 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and biblical theology. Firstly, it emphatically asserts **Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotence**. God alone possesses inherent majesty, excellency, glory, and beauty, demonstrating that His power is absolute and beyond human comprehension or replication, a theme echoed throughout the book, particularly in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job"). Secondly, the verse highlights **Human Limitation and Humility**. By challenging Job to "deck thyself now" with these divine qualities, God exposes the profound limitations of humanity. No human, regardless of their wisdom or power, can command or possess such inherent divine splendor, fostering a proper understanding of humanity's place before an infinite God (cf. [Psalm 8:3-4](/psalm/8-3 "Psalm 8:3-4 - What is Man?")). Finally, it subtly reinforces **God's Unquestionable Justice and Wisdom**. The rhetorical question implies that only one who possesses such intrinsic power and glory can truly govern the universe and administer perfect justice. Job's earlier accusations stemmed from his limited perspective, and God's display of His unparalleled attributes aims to instill trust in His wise and just rule, even when His ways are mysterious to human understanding, as seen in [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Majesty (Hebrew, _ga'on'_):** This term, often translated as "pride" or "arrogance" when referring to humans, takes on a profoundly positive and reverential meaning when applied to God. Here, it signifies God's inherent exaltedness, dignity, and splendid glory. It speaks to God's unapproachable greatness and the awe-inspiring nature of His being, demonstrating His supreme elevation above all creation.
* **Excellency (Hebrew, _govah'_):** Literally meaning "height" or "loftiness," this word emphasizes God's supreme and elevated position. It conveys the idea of God being utterly transcendent, dwelling in an unassailable and superior realm, far above any earthly power or human comprehension. It underscores His preeminence and unchallengeable authority.
* **Beauty (Hebrew, _tif'eret'_):** This word denotes splendor, glory, or adornment, often associated with a crown, a magnificent display, or inherent perfection. When attributed to God, it speaks to the intrinsic, perfect beauty and magnificence of His character, His works, and His very being. It is not merely an external decoration but an emanation of His glorious essence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellency;":** This opening clause is a direct, rhetorical command from God to Job. The verb "deck thyself" (עֲדֵה, _‘adeh_) implies adorning oneself, putting on clothes or ornaments. By challenging Job to "put on" God's inherent attributes of "majesty" (_ga'on_) and "excellency" (_govah_), God highlights the absurdity and impossibility of the task. These are not qualities that can be acquired or worn; they are intrinsic to God's very nature. The challenge serves to humble Job by contrasting his finite, creaturely existence with God's infinite, divine essence.
* **"and array thyself with glory and beauty.":** This second clause functions in perfect parallelism with the first, reinforcing the same profound point. "Array thyself" (וְהוֹד וְתִפְאָרָה, _v'hod v'tif'arah_) uses another verb related to clothing or adorning, emphasizing the act of donning. The attributes of "glory" (_hod_) and "beauty" (_tif'eret_) further describe the divine splendor. Just as Job cannot put on God's majesty and excellency, he cannot clothe himself in God's inherent glory and beauty. The cumulative effect of these two parallel clauses is to unequivocally establish God's unique and exclusive possession of these ultimate attributes, thereby dismantling any human pretension to divine understanding or control.

#### Literary Devices
Job 40:10 is rich in literary artistry, primarily employing a powerful **Rhetorical Question**. Although phrased as a command ("Deck thyself now..."), it functions as an unanswerable question, designed not to elicit a verbal response from Job but to provoke profound introspection and realization of his own limitations. This device effectively highlights the infinite qualitative difference between God and humanity. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Anthropomorphism** by inviting Job to "deck" and "array" himself, using human actions of dressing to describe the impossible act of acquiring divine attributes. This vivid imagery makes the abstract concept of divine transcendence more tangible and impactful. The verse also demonstrates clear **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("and array thyself with glory and beauty") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first clause ("Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency"). This repetition serves to emphasize the comprehensive and inherent nature of God's divine splendor, reinforcing the central message of His unparalleled sovereignty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 40:10 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God, asserting His absolute distinctiveness and supremacy over all creation. It reveals that majesty, excellency, glory, and beauty are not merely external characteristics God possesses, but intrinsic aspects of His very being, His divine essence. This inherent splendor is what qualifies Him to govern the universe with perfect justice and wisdom, even when His ways are inscrutable to human understanding. The verse calls humanity to a posture of deep humility and awe before such a God, recognizing that true wisdom begins with acknowledging His unparalleled greatness and our own creaturely limitations. It challenges any human attempt to usurp divine prerogatives or to question God's ultimate authority based on a finite perspective.

* [Psalm 104:1](/psalm/104-1 "Psalm 104:1 - God Clothed with Honor and Majesty")
* [Isaiah 6:3](/isaiah/6-3 "Isaiah 6:3 - The Lord's Glory Fills the Whole Earth")
* [Revelation 4:11](/revelation/4-11 "Revelation 4:11 - Worthy Are You, Our Lord and God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 40:10 offers a vital corrective to our often-inflated view of ourselves and a powerful invitation to worship. In a world that constantly encourages self-exaltation, the divine challenge to "deck thyself" with God's attributes serves as a humbling reminder of our true place. We are creatures, not the Creator. This recognition is not meant to diminish our worth as image-bearers, but to properly orient us in relation to the One who is truly sovereign. When we grasp the incomprehensible majesty, excellency, glory, and beauty that inherently belong to God alone, our hearts are stirred to genuine worship and profound trust. It teaches us that even in the midst of suffering or unanswered questions, God's character remains unblemished, His power unrivaled, and His wisdom unfathomable. Our response should be one of humble submission, joyful adoration, and confident reliance on His perfect governance, knowing that He, who is clothed in such splendor, works all things for His glory and our ultimate good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing God's inherent "majesty and excellency" impact your understanding of your own limitations and dependence on Him?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be subtly trying to "deck yourself" with attributes that belong only to God (e.g., control, wisdom, self-sufficiency)?**
* **How does the concept of God's inherent "glory and beauty" inspire your worship and deepen your trust in His character, especially when circumstances are difficult?**

### FAQ
**Why does God challenge Job in this rhetorical way instead of directly answering his complaints?**

Answer: God's purpose in challenging Job with rhetorical questions in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job"), including Job 40:10, is not to provide a direct, propositional answer to Job's "why" questions about his suffering. Instead, God aims to shift Job's perspective from his limited, human-centered view of justice to an awe-filled, God-centered understanding of the universe. By highlighting Job's utter inability to replicate or even comprehend divine attributes like "majesty, excellency, glory, and beauty," God demonstrates that His governance of the world, including the allowance of suffering, operates on a scale of wisdom and power far beyond human grasp. The challenge is designed to humble Job, not to condemn him, but to expand his vision of God's sovereignty and to cultivate a deeper trust in God's inherent goodness and justice, even when His ways are mysterious. It's an invitation to worship rather than an explanation of pain.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 40:10 speaks directly of God the Father's inherent majesty and glory, it finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is not merely a reflection of God's glory, but the very "radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Supremacy of Christ")). The divine attributes of "majesty, excellency, glory, and beauty" that God challenges Job to possess are inherently and perfectly embodied in Christ. He is the "image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of God")), through whom all things were created and in whom "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" ([Colossians 1:19](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19 - All the Fullness of God in Christ")). The glory that Job could not comprehend, the disciples beheld in Jesus, as John testified, "We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Thus, the challenge of Job 40:10, which reveals humanity's inability to "deck itself" with divine splendor, points forward to the one true God-Man, Jesus, who intrinsically possesses and perfectly displays all the majesty, excellency, glory, and beauty of the Godhead, making Him worthy of all worship and the ultimate answer to humanity's deepest longings.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 93:1

¶ The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Psalms 149:4

For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Isaiah 59:17

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Psalms 21:5

His glory [is] great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.

Psalms 45:3

Gird thy sword upon [thy] thigh, O [most] mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

Psalms 45:4

And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness [and] righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Jude 1:24

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,