Job 40:2

KJV

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

KJV (with Strong's)

Shall he that contendeth {H7378} with the Almighty {H7706} instruct {H3250} him? he that reproveth {H3198} God {H433}, let him answer {H6030} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Does the critic still want to dispute Shaddai? Let him who wants to correct God give an answer!"

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 40:2 marks a pivotal moment in the divine confrontation with Job, where God, speaking from the whirlwind, directly challenges Job's presumptuous desire to contend with and correct his Creator. This verse encapsulates the absurdity of a finite human attempting to instruct or reprove the infinite, omnipotent Almighty, laying bare the vast chasm between divine wisdom and human understanding. It serves as a powerful rhetorical question designed to humble Job and underscore the unchallengeable sovereignty of God over all creation and justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the very beginning of Job's response to God's first direct address, which commenced in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Speaks from the Whirlwind"). Chapters [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's Challenge to Job") and [Job 39](/job/39 "Job 39 - God's Display of Power in Creation") are filled with God's awe-inspiring display of His power, wisdom, and meticulous care in the natural world, posed as a series of rhetorical questions to Job. These questions expose Job's profound ignorance and limited understanding of the cosmos, effectively dismantling his earlier claims of being able to argue his case before God. Job 40:2 specifically targets Job's previous statements where he expressed a desire to plead his case, even to cross-examine God, believing he could justify himself or find fault with divine justice (e.g., [Job 13:3](/job/13-3 "Job 13:3 - Job's Desire to Reason with God") and [Job 23:4](/job/23-4 "Job 23:4 - Job's Wish to Order His Cause Before God")). God is, in essence, directly asking Job if he truly possesses the wisdom and authority to correct the very Being who created and sustains all things.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in a patriarchal, pre-Mosaic era, likely in the land of Uz (possibly Edom or northern Arabia). The cultural backdrop includes the ancient Near Eastern (ANE) concept of legal disputes, or "rib" cases, which involved formal arguments and accusations. Job's desire to "contend" or "plead his case" against God would have been understood within this legal framework, but with a profound and audacious twist: a human attempting to put a deity on trial. In ANE cultures, deities were typically seen as powerful, often capricious, but rarely subject to human questioning or correction, let alone a legal challenge. The idea of a human reproving the divine was highly presumptuous and would have been considered an act of supreme hubris. God's appearance "out of the whirlwind" is a common theophanic motif in the Old Testament, signifying a powerful, mysterious, and awe-inspiring divine presence, further emphasizing the vast power differential between God and Job.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Human Presumption**. God asserts His [unchallengeable sovereignty](/psalm/115-3 "Psalm 115:3 - God's Absolute Sovereignty") over all creation and justice, highlighting the vast, unbridgeable chasm between His infinite wisdom and power and humanity's finite, limited understanding. Job, despite his righteousness, had overstepped his bounds by attempting to put God on trial. Secondly, the rhetorical questions "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]?" and "he that reproveth God, let him answer it" highlight **The Folly of Reproving God**. Such an act implies superior knowledge, authority, or moral standing, which is utterly impossible when dealing with the Creator of the universe. Finally, this verse serves as a powerful **Call to Humility and Submission**. It demands that Job, and by extension all people, embrace [humility before the Lord](/james/4-10 "James 4:10 - Humility Before the Lord"), recognizing that true wisdom begins with acknowledging God's ultimate authority and our own finite nature, especially in the face of suffering or inexplicable circumstances. It calls for [trusting in God's perfect wisdom](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5 - Trusting in the Lord"), even when His ways remain mysterious to us.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Contendeth (Hebrew, _rîḇ_):** This verb, רִיב, frequently appears in legal contexts, referring to a lawsuit, a quarrel, or a formal dispute. It vividly captures Job's posture throughout the preceding chapters, where he desired to bring his case before God, confident in his own righteousness and convinced that God had acted unjustly towards him. The word implies a challenge to authority, a demand for justice, and an attempt to win a legal argument.
* **Reproveth (Hebrew, _yāḵaḥ_):** The Hebrew verb יָכַח carries the meaning of to argue, rebuke, correct, or decide a case. It suggests a position of superior knowledge or authority, where one is qualified to point out faults or errors in another's judgment or actions. God's use of this word here is highly ironic and rhetorical, asking if Job, a mere creature, possesses the moral or intellectual standing to correct the divine administration of the universe.
* **Almighty (Hebrew, _Šadday_):** This profound name for God, שַׁדַּי, emphasizes His omnipotence, self-sufficiency, and absolute power. It often appears in contexts highlighting God's power to fulfill His promises, but also His power to judge or destroy. By referring to Himself as "the Almighty," God starkly contrasts His boundless power and authority with Job's finite, vulnerable state, rendering any human attempt to contend or reprove utterly futile and presumptuous.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]?"**: This is a powerful rhetorical question. "He that contendeth with the Almighty" refers directly to Job, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to dispute God's justice and actions. The verb "contendeth" (רִיב, _rîḇ_) evokes the imagery of a legal dispute, where Job wishes to present his case against God. The phrase "with the Almighty" underscores the immense and impossible power differential between the human litigant and the divine Judge. The question "instruct [him]?" (יָסַר, _yāsar_, to teach, discipline, correct) highlights the absurdity of a creature attempting to impart wisdom or correction to its Creator. The implied answer is a resounding no, emphasizing the profound arrogance of such an endeavor.
* **"he that reproveth God, let him answer it."**: This second clause intensifies the challenge. "He that reproveth God" (יָכַח, _yāḵaḥ_, to rebuke, correct, or argue a case) reiterates the idea of a human presuming to find fault with or correct God's actions or judgments. The imperative "let him answer it" is a direct dare or challenge from God to Job. It demands that if Job truly believes he is capable of correcting God, then he should be able to provide a coherent, comprehensive, and justifiable explanation for his accusations, or indeed, for the entire cosmic order. God knows Job cannot, thereby forcing Job to confront his own intellectual and moral limitations.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Job 40:2 is the **Rhetorical Question**. God poses questions not to elicit information, but to make a forceful assertion and to expose the inherent absurdity of Job's position. The questions serve to highlight the vast chasm between divine wisdom and human understanding, compelling Job to recognize his own limitations and God's unchallengeable sovereignty. There is also a strong element of **Irony**, as the all-wise and all-powerful Creator asks if a mere creature can "instruct" or "reprove" Him, underscoring the folly of such a thought. The verse also utilizes **Juxtaposition** and **Contrast** to emphasize the stark difference between Job's finite, suffering humanity and God's infinite, omnipotent divinity, making Job's desire to contend appear utterly preposterous.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 40:2 serves as a theological anchor, firmly establishing the unassailable sovereignty and infinite wisdom of God in contrast to the finite and often presumptuous nature of humanity. It is a profound statement on the proper posture of humanity before the divine, emphasizing humility, trust, and submission rather than accusation or contention. The verse challenges any notion that human reason or experience can fully comprehend or judge God's ways, particularly in the face of suffering or perceived injustice. It teaches that God's justice operates on a plane far beyond human capacity to grasp, and that true wisdom lies in acknowledging His absolute authority and trusting His perfect, though often mysterious, plan. This divine challenge forces Job, and by extension all believers, to relinquish the desire for self-justification and to embrace a posture of awe and reverence before the incomprehensible majesty of the Creator.

* [Isaiah 45:9](/isaiah/45-9 "Isaiah 45:9 - Woe to Him Who Strives with His Maker")
* [Romans 9:20](/romans/9-20 "Romans 9:20 - Who Are You, O Man, to Answer Back to God?")
* [Psalm 8:3-4](/psalm/8-3 "Psalm 8:3-4 - What is Man that You are Mindful of Him?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 40:2 offers profound and enduring lessons for believers navigating the complexities of faith, suffering, and doubt. In a world that often encourages self-assertion and questioning of authority, this verse serves as a potent reminder of our proper place before the Almighty. When faced with circumstances that defy our understanding, or when God's ways seem inscrutable or even unjust, the temptation to "contend" or "reprove" Him can be strong. However, this verse calls us to a radical humility, urging us to trust in God's perfect wisdom and unfailing love, even when His purposes are veiled. It reminds us that our limited perspective cannot possibly encompass the infinite scope of God's plan, and that true peace comes not from demanding answers, but from surrendering to His sovereign will. This does not preclude honest lament or wrestling with God in prayer, but it does caution against an accusatory spirit that presumes to know better than the One who created all things. Our faith matures when we move from questioning God's character to trusting His character, even amidst the deepest mysteries of life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job 40:2 challenge my assumptions about God's justice and my place in His creation?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be subtly attempting to "instruct" or "reprove" God, rather than trusting His sovereignty?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper sense of humility and awe before God, especially during times of suffering or confusion when His ways seem unclear?**

### FAQ
**Did God truly expect Job to answer this question?**

Answer: No, God did not expect Job to provide a substantive answer. The questions posed in [Job 40:2](/job/40-2 "Job 40:2 - God Challenges Job") are rhetorical, designed not to elicit information but to make an undeniable point. God's purpose was to expose the absurdity of Job's presumption and to humble him, forcing him to recognize the vast chasm between his finite understanding and God's infinite wisdom and power. By challenging Job to "answer it," God was inviting him to justify his earlier complaints and accusations, knowing full well that Job, as a mere creature, possessed neither the knowledge nor the authority to do so. The silence that follows, and Job's eventual confession in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and Submission"), demonstrates the profound impact of God's unanswerable challenge.

**Does this verse discourage questioning or lament in faith?**

Answer: Job 40:2 does not discourage honest questioning, lament, or wrestling with God in prayer, which are often vital components of a healthy faith journey (as seen throughout the Psalms, e.g., [Psalm 13](/psalm/13 "Psalm 13 - A Psalm of Lament and Trust")). Rather, it cautions against a spirit of accusation, self-righteousness, or an attempt to "reprove" God from a position of perceived moral or intellectual superiority. The distinction lies between genuine, humble cries for understanding or relief, and a presumptuous challenge to God's character, justice, or sovereignty. Job's error was not his suffering or his desire for an audience with God, but his eventual posture of demanding an explanation and accusing God of injustice, effectively putting God on trial. This verse calls for humility in our doubts, recognizing our limitations before the infinite majesty of God, and trusting His wisdom even when His ways are beyond our comprehension.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound truth of Job 40:2, highlighting the infinite chasm between the Creator and His creation, finds its ultimate and paradoxical fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While humanity, in its fallen state, often seeks to contend with or reprove God, Jesus perfectly embodied the opposite: absolute humility and submission to the Father's will. The wisdom of God, which Job could not comprehend, is fully revealed in Christ, who is Himself "the power of God and the wisdom of God" ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Wisdom of God")). In Christ, the incomprehensible God becomes comprehensible, not through human instruction, but through divine incarnation. Furthermore, humanity's inability to "answer" God's challenge to justify itself, as implied in Job 40:2, is overcome by Christ's perfect obedience. He did not contend with God but fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf ([Matthew 3:15](/matthew/3-15 "Matthew 3:15 - Jesus Fulfills All Righteousness")), becoming the ultimate "answer" to human sin and presumption. Through His atoning sacrifice, we are granted access to God, not by our merit or ability to instruct Him, but by grace through faith in the One who perfectly submitted to the Father's will, even to death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Thus, Job 40:2 points to the necessity of humility before God, a humility perfectly exemplified and made possible for us through Christ.

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

1 Corinthians 2:16

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Isaiah 40:14

With whom took he counsel, and [who] instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Romans 11:34

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Romans 11:36

For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.

Job 33:13

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

Isaiah 45:9

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Isaiah 45:11

¶ Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.