Job 40:23

KJV

Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 40:23 forms a pivotal part of God's majestic discourse to Job from the whirlwind, showcasing the formidable power of Behemoth, a creature whose immense capacity for water serves as a profound illustration of divine creative might. This verse, depicting Behemoth's unhurried confidence as it consumes vast quantities of water, including the very Jordan River, is designed not merely to describe a beast but to humble Job by revealing the incomprehensible scale of God's dominion over creation, far exceeding human comprehension or challenge.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within God's climactic address to Job, beginning in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Discourse to Job"). After chapters of Job's lamentations and his friends' theological debates, God finally speaks, not to explain Job's suffering, but to assert His sovereign power and wisdom as Creator. The discourse progresses through a series of rhetorical questions highlighting the wonders of the cosmos, culminating in the detailed descriptions of two magnificent, untamable creatures: Behemoth (in [Job 40:15-24](/job/40-15 "Job 40:15-24 - Description of Behemoth")) and Leviathan (in [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - Description of Leviathan")). Job 40:23 specifically contributes to the portrayal of Behemoth's overwhelming strength and capacity, serving as a powerful example of God's unparalleled might and intricate design, which Job, in his finite understanding, cannot begin to grasp or control.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East, where the book of Job is set, was deeply aware of the raw power of nature and the untamed wilderness. Large, powerful animals like hippopotamuses or elephants, often associated with Behemoth by commentators, would have been recognized as forces beyond human control. The Jordan River, a vital and significant water source in the region, would have been a familiar and impressive body of water, making its mention in the context of Behemoth's thirst a powerful hyperbole. The use of such grand, even mythical, imagery was common in ancient wisdom literature to convey profound theological truths about divine power, order, and humanity's place within the cosmos. This context underscores the intended impact on Job and the audience: to evoke awe and humility before a God who commands such forces.

* **Key Themes:** Job 40:23 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Omnipotence and Wisdom**, demonstrating God's absolute power and sovereign control over His creation. If God can create and manage a creature as formidable as Behemoth, His power far surpasses human comprehension or ability to challenge, as highlighted in God's challenge to Job in [Job 38:2-3](/job/38-2 "Job 38:2-3 - God Challenges Job"). Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Behemoth's Unrivaled Strength and Appetite**, using hyperbolic imagery of "drinking up a river" and "drawing up Jordan into his mouth" to stress the creature's immense size and insatiable thirst, making it a vivid illustration of divine creative power. Finally, this powerful depiction serves to highlight **Human Limitations and Humility**. God uses Behemoth to humble Job, showing him that he cannot even contend with one of God's creatures, let alone God Himself, echoing the sentiment in [Job 42:3](/job/42-3 "Job 42:3 - Job's Confession of Ignorance"). This underscores the vast chasm between human weakness and divine strength, calling Job to a posture of humility and trust in the Creator.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Behold (Hebrew, _hēn_):** This interjection serves as an emphatic call to attention, drawing Job's focus to the extraordinary nature of what is about to be described. It signals a revelation of something truly remarkable and awe-inspiring, preparing the listener for the grand scale of Behemoth's power.
* **Jordan (Hebrew, יַרְדֵּן, _Yardēn_):** Referring to the well-known Jordan River, a significant and substantial body of water in the ancient Near East. Its inclusion here is not to suggest Behemoth literally consumes the entire river, but rather to serve as a powerful hyperbole. The Jordan represents a vast, seemingly inexhaustible source, and the creature's ability to "draw it up into his mouth" amplifies the sense of its immense capacity and, by extension, the limitless power of its Creator.
* **Hasteth not (Hebrew, יַחְפּוֹז, _yaḥpōz_):** This phrase implies an unhurried confidence and an absence of fear or urgency. Behemoth does not rush its consumption, suggesting that its power is so absolute that it feels no threat of scarcity or challenge. This calm, unperturbed demeanor further magnifies the creature's formidable nature, contrasting sharply with human anxiety and weakness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, he drinketh up a river":** This opening clause immediately establishes Behemoth's extraordinary capacity. The imagery is not of a mere sip, but of consuming an entire river, emphasizing an immense, almost insatiable thirst and a physical ability far beyond any ordinary creature. This act is presented as a demonstration of effortless power, a creature so mighty that it can command and consume vast natural resources without strain.
* **"[and] hasteth not":** This parenthetical yet crucial phrase underscores the creature's supreme confidence and unperturbed nature. Behemoth does not need to rush or fear depletion; its power is so inherent and absolute that it can take its time, secure in its ability to consume whatever it desires. This conveys a sense of unchallenged authority and overwhelming might.
* **"he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth":** This climactic statement employs powerful hyperbole. The "Jordan" represents a major, iconic river, symbolizing an immense volume of water. Behemoth's "trust" in its ability to "draw it up into his mouth" highlights its self-assurance and the sheer scale of its perceived power. This is not a literal claim but a vivid, exaggerated description designed to impress upon Job the creature's formidable nature and, ultimately, the boundless power of the God who created and controls it.

#### Literary Devices
Job 40:23 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, seen in the descriptions of Behemoth "drinking up a river" and trusting it can "draw up Jordan into his mouth." These are deliberate exaggerations, not meant to be taken literally, but to emphasize the creature's immense size, strength, and insatiable appetite, thereby magnifying the power of its Creator. **Symbolism** is also at play, as Behemoth itself functions as a symbolic representation of untamed, immense power in creation, a creature beyond human control or understanding, serving as a testament to God's own unchallengeable might. Furthermore, the passage evokes a strong sense of **Awe and Wonder**, intended to humble Job and the reader by confronting them with a creature so powerful that it defies human comprehension, thus redirecting their focus from human suffering to the overwhelming majesty and sovereignty of God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 40:23 is a profound theological statement, not merely a zoological description. It serves as a powerful testament to the absolute sovereignty of God over all creation. In a book grappling with the problem of suffering and divine justice, God's response is not a logical explanation but an overwhelming display of His unchallengeable power and wisdom, asserting His right to rule and act without human counsel. Behemoth's untamed strength and insatiable capacity illustrate that God's power extends even to the most formidable and seemingly uncontrollable elements of His creation, implying that His dominion over human affairs, even in suffering, is equally absolute and beyond human questioning. This passage thus calls humanity to a posture of humility and trust in the incomprehensible wisdom of the Almighty.

* [Job 41:1](/job/41-1 "Job 41:1 - Introduction to Leviathan") - The depiction of Behemoth's power sets the stage for the even more fearsome description of Leviathan, both serving to illustrate God's majesty and the limits of human power.
* [Psalm 104:24](/psalms/104-24 "Psalm 104:24 - God's Wisdom in Creation") - This psalm praises God for the multitude of His works, declaring, "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures," echoing the awe-inspiring creative power seen in Behemoth.
* [Isaiah 40:13-14](/isaiah/40-13 "Isaiah 40:13-14 - Who Can Instruct the Spirit of the Lord?") - The emphasis on human inability to contend with God's power and wisdom resonates with Isaiah's rhetorical questions: "Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man of his counsel has instructed him? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand?"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 40:23 serves as a profound reminder of God's incomprehensible greatness and the vastness of His power, extending even to the most formidable creatures of His design. For us today, this verse invites a deep spiritual reflection, urging us to recognize our own finite understanding and limited control in the face of an infinitely powerful Creator. It challenges any human tendency toward self-sufficiency or questioning of divine sovereignty, calling us instead to a posture of radical humility. If God can create and effortlessly sustain a creature as immense and powerful as Behemoth, then He is surely capable of managing the complexities of our lives, the most daunting challenges we face, and the mysteries of suffering. This realization should cultivate a profound sense of awe and wonder, leading us to trust implicitly in His sovereign plan and His ability to sustain us through all circumstances, fostering a spirit of worship for the God who is mighty to save and powerful to uphold all things by His word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the description of Behemoth's power in Job 40:23 challenge my understanding of God's limitless might and sovereignty?**
* **In what specific areas of my life do I tend to rely on my own strength or understanding rather than trusting in God's incomprehensible power and wisdom?**
* **How can reflecting on the vastness of God's creation, as exemplified by Behemoth, deepen my sense of humility and lead me to greater worship?**

### FAQ
**What exactly is Behemoth, and is it a real animal?**

Answer: While commentators have often associated Behemoth with large, powerful animals like the hippopotamus or elephant due to some shared characteristics (such as its immense size, strength, and preference for watery habitats as described in [Job 40:15-24](/job/40-15 "Job 40:15-24 - Description of Behemoth")), it is most accurately understood as a "super-beast" or a symbolic representation of God's untamed creative power. The Hebrew word _bəhēmōṯ_ is a plural of intensity, suggesting something beyond a typical animal. The description in Job goes beyond any known creature, particularly in its hyperbolic strength and capacity (as seen in [Job 40:23](/job/40-23 "Job 40:23 - Behemoth's Capacity")). Therefore, Behemoth is likely not a literal, identifiable creature but a literary device, a creature of immense, almost mythical proportions, designed to illustrate God's unchallengeable dominion over creation.

**Why does God use creatures like Behemoth and Leviathan to respond to Job's questions about suffering?**

Answer: God's response to Job, beginning in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Speaks to Job from the Whirlwind"), is not a direct explanation for Job's suffering but a profound demonstration of His own unchallengeable power, wisdom, and sovereignty. By describing creatures like Behemoth and Leviathan, which are beyond human control or comprehension, God humbles Job and exposes the limits of human understanding. The message is clear: if Job cannot even contend with or comprehend one of God's creatures, how can he possibly question the Creator Himself? This approach redirects Job's focus from his personal suffering to the majestic and mysterious nature of God, ultimately leading Job to a place of repentance and renewed trust, as seen in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and Confession"). The creatures serve as tangible, albeit hyperbolic, examples of God's dominion over chaos and His absolute authority.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The awe-inspiring power of Behemoth in Job 40:23, a creature so immense it can "drink up a river" and "draw up Jordan into his mouth," serves as a profound Old Testament foreshadowing of the ultimate display of God's power and wisdom revealed in Jesus Christ. While Behemoth demonstrates God's dominion over creation, Christ is the very agent and embodiment of that creative power. As the Gospel of [John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Christ") declares, "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made." The cosmic power that fashioned Behemoth is fully present in Christ, who is described in [Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator") as the one through whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible." Furthermore, the unhurried confidence and untamed strength of Behemoth pale in comparison to Christ's absolute authority over all creation, as He demonstrated by calming raging storms with a word ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) and by His ultimate victory over sin, sickness, and death through His resurrection ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Jesus Declared Son of God by Resurrection")). The humility Job learns before God's power finds its ultimate and necessary expression in bowing before Christ, the incarnate God, for "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow" ([Philippians 2:10](/philippians/2-10 "Philippians 2:10 - Every Knee Shall Bow")). Thus, the formidable Behemoth points beyond itself to the infinitely greater power and majesty of the Lamb of God, who not only created all things but also sustains them by the word of His power ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things")).

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

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.