Job 40:6

¶ Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Then answered {H6030} the LORD {H3068} unto Job {H347} out of the whirlwind {H5591}, and said {H559},

ADONAI answered Iyov out of the storm:

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

Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Commentary

Job 40:6 marks a profound moment in the biblical narrative of Job, as the Almighty God once again speaks directly to Job.

Context of Job 40:6

This verse signals the beginning of God's second discourse to Job. Earlier, in Job 38:1, the LORD first addressed Job "out of the whirlwind," challenging Job's limited understanding of the vastness and complexity of creation. Following this initial divine revelation, Job responded with profound humility and repentance, admitting his unworthiness and silence before God's majesty (as seen in Job 40:3-5). Job 40:6 indicates that God is not finished with His instruction, but is preparing to further illuminate His divine wisdom and sovereignty, pressing Job to fully grasp his own limitations in comparison to the Creator.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Theophany and Revelation: The verse emphasizes God's direct and powerful communication with humanity. His speaking "out of the whirlwind" signifies a powerful, awe-inspiring, and often overwhelming manifestation of His presence and authority.
  • God's Unquestionable Sovereignty: By resuming His discourse, God reinforces His absolute control over creation and all circumstances, including Job's suffering. This serves to humble Job and all readers, reminding us that God's ways are higher than our ways.
  • Human Humility and Ignorance: The setting of God's majestic appearance underscores the vast chasm between finite human understanding and infinite divine wisdom. It calls for profound humility in the face of God's unsearchable judgments.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "out of the whirlwind" (Hebrew: mi-sufah or mi-se'arah) is highly significant. In the Old Testament, a whirlwind or storm often accompanies divine appearances (theophanies), symbolizing God's immense power, majesty, and transcendence. It is not merely a natural phenomenon but a vehicle for God's powerful presence, indicating that His coming is both overwhelming and beyond human control or comprehension. This imagery reinforces the authoritative and unchallengeable nature of the LORD's words to Job.

Practical Application

Job 40:6 reminds us that even when we feel overwhelmed by life's "whirlwinds" or question God's purposes in suffering, He is still sovereign and capable of speaking to us. It encourages us to:

  • Cultivate Humility: Recognize our limited perspective compared to God's infinite wisdom.
  • Trust God's Sovereignty: Believe that God is in control, even when circumstances are chaotic or unclear.
  • Listen for God's Voice: Be open to divine revelation, understanding that God's answers may come in powerful, unexpected, and often humbling ways. Just as Job learned to submit to God's wisdom, we are called to trust in His perfect plan, even when we don't fully comprehend it.
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Cross-References

  • Job 38:1

    ¶ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

  • Psalms 50:3

    Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

  • Psalms 50:4

    He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

  • 2 Peter 3:10

    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

  • 2 Peter 3:12

    Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

  • Hebrews 12:18

    ¶ For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

  • Hebrews 12:20

    (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: