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Job 40

BSB·24 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1And the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → saidוַיַּ֖עַןway·ya·‘an — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → to Jobאִיּ֗וֹב’î·yō·wḇ — He weeps or sorrowsH347 — Full Word Study →: 2Will the faultfinderיִסּ֑וֹרyis·sō·wr — to instruct, discipline, or correctH3250 — Full Word Study → contendהֲ֭רֹבhă·rōḇ — To contend, strive, dispute, or plead a caseH7378 — Full Word Study → withעִם־‘im- — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → the Almightyשַׁדַּ֣יšad·day — The AlmightyH7706 — Full Word Study →? Let him who arguesמוֹכִ֖יחַmō·w·ḵî·aḥ — To rebuke, reprove, or correct with reasoningH3198 — Full Word Study → with Godאֱל֣וֹהַּ’ĕ·lō·w·ah — God; divine being; deityH433 — Full Word Study → give an answerיַעֲנֶֽנָּה׃פya·‘ă·nen·nāh — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study →.” 3Then Jobאִיּ֥וֹב’î·yō·wḇ — He weeps or sorrowsH347 — Full Word Study → answeredוַיַּ֖עַןway·ya·‘an — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →: 4Beholdהֵ֣ןhên — Look! Behold! — an attention-directing particleH2005 — Full Word Study →, I am insignificantקַ֭לֹּתִיqal·lō·ṯî — to make light; to curse; to despiseH7043 — Full Word Study →. Howמָ֣הmāh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → can I reply to Youאֲשִׁיבֶ֑ךָּ’ă·šî·ḇe·kā — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study →? I placeשַׂ֣מְתִּיśam·tî — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → my handיָ֝דִ֗יyā·ḏî — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → overלְמוֹ־lə·mōw- — upon, against, over, towardH3926 — Full Word Study → my mouthפִֽי׃p̄î — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. 5I have spokenדִּ֭בַּרְתִּיdib·bar·tî — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → onceאַחַ֣ת’a·ḥaṯ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study →, but I have noוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → answerאֶֽעֱנֶ֑ה’e·‘ĕ·neh — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study →twiceוּ֝שְׁתַּ֗יִםū·šə·ta·yim — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study →, but I have nothingוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → to addאוֹסִֽיף׃פ’ō·w·sîp̄ — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study →.” 6Then the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → answeredוַיַּֽעַן־way·ya·‘an- — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → Jobאִ֭יּוֹב’î·yō·wḇ — He weeps or sorrowsH347 — Full Word Study → out ofמִנmin — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → the whirlwindסְעָרָהsə·ʿå̄·rå̄h — A violent storm, tempest, or whirlwindH5591 — Full Word Study → and saidוַיֹּאמַֽר׃way·yō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →: 7Nowנָ֣אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study → braceאֱזָר־’ĕ·zār- — to gird, bind about, encircle with a belt or garmentH247 — Full Word Study → yourselfחֲלָצֶ֑יךָḥă·lā·ṣe·ḵā — loins, reins (seat of strength and emotions)H2504 — Full Word Study → like a manכְגֶ֣בֶרḵə·ḡe·ḇer — Man, mighty man, strong manH1397 — Full Word Study →; I will question youאֶ֝שְׁאָלְךָ֗’eš·’ā·lə·ḵā — to ask, request, inquire, or demandH7592 — Full Word Study →, and you shall inform Meוְהוֹדִיעֵֽנִי׃wə·hō·w·ḏî·‘ê·nî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study →. 8Would you reallyהַ֭אַףha·’ap̄ — Also, moreover, even, indeedH637 — Full Word Study → annulתָּפֵ֣רtā·p̄êr — To break, violate, or frustrate; to nullify or make voidH6565 — Full Word Study → My justiceמִשְׁפָּטִ֑יmiš·pā·ṭî — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study →? Would you condemn Meתַּ֝רְשִׁיעֵ֗נִיtar·šî·‘ê·nî — To act wickedly; condemn as guiltyH7561 — Full Word Study → toלְמַ֣עַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → justify yourself?תִּצְדָּֽק׃tiṣ·dāq — To be righteous, justify, vindicateH6663 — Full Word Study → 9Do you have an armזְר֖וֹעַzə·rō·w·a‘ — arm; power, strength, mightH2220 — Full Word Study → like God’sכָּאֵ֥ל׀kā·’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →? Can you thunderתַרְעֵֽם׃ṯar·‘êm — to thunder, roar, make a loud noiseH7481 — Full Word Study → with a voiceוּ֝בְק֗וֹלū·ḇə·qō·wl — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study → like Hisכָּמֹ֥הוּkā·mō·hū — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study →? 10Thenנָ֣אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study → adorn yourselfעֲדֵ֥ה‘ă·ḏêh — to pass on, advance, remove, or adornH5710 — Full Word Study → with majesty and splendorוָגֹ֑בַהּwā·ḡō·ḇah — Height, loftiness, or exaltationH1363 — Full Word Study →, and clotheתִּלְבָּֽשׁ׃til·bāš — To clothe, dress, or wear garmentsH3847 — Full Word Study → yourself with honorוְה֖וֹדwə·hō·wḏ — Splendor, majesty, honor, and gloryH1935 — Full Word Study → and gloryוְהָדָ֣רwə·hā·ḏār — Glory, majesty, splendor, honorH1926 — Full Word Study →. 11Unleashהָ֭פֵץhā·p̄êṣ — to scatter, disperse, or break apartH6327 — Full Word Study → the furyעֶבְר֣וֹת‘eḇ·rō·wṯ — Fury, rage, intense angerH5678 — Full Word Study → of your wrathאַפֶּ֑ךָ’ap·pe·ḵā — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study →; look onוּרְאֵ֥הū·rə·’êh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → everyכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → proud manגֵּ֝אֶ֗הgê·’eh — proud, haughty, arrogantH1343 — Full Word Study → and bring him lowוְהַשְׁפִּילֵֽהוּ׃wə·haš·pî·lê·hū — To make low, humble, or abaseH8213 — Full Word Study →. 12Look onרְאֵ֣הrə·’êh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → everyכָל־ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → proud manגֵּ֭אֶהgê·’eh — proud, haughty, arrogantH1343 — Full Word Study → and humble himהַכְנִיעֵ֑הוּhaḵ·nî·‘ê·hū — To subdue, humble, or bring into subjectionH3665 — Full Word Study →; trampleוַהֲדֹ֖ךְwa·hă·ḏōḵ — to tread down, trample, crush underfootH1915 — Full Word Study → the wickedרְשָׁעִ֣יםrə·šā·‘îm — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → where they standתַּחְתָּֽם׃taḥ·tām — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study →. 13Bury themטָמְנֵ֣םṭā·mə·nêm — To hide, conceal, or bury secretlyH2934 — Full Word Study → togetherיָ֑חַדyā·ḥaḏ — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study → in the dustבֶּעָפָ֣רbe·‘ā·p̄ār — dust; fine particles of earth or ground matterH6083 — Full Word Study →; imprison themחֲבֹ֣שׁḥă·ḇōš — To bind, saddle, or gird; to restrain or governH2280 — Full Word Study → in the graveבַּטָּמֽוּן׃baṭ·ṭā·mūn — To hide, conceal, or bury secretlyH2934 — Full Word Study →. 14Thenוְגַם־wə·ḡam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → Iאֲנִ֥י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → will confess to youאוֹדֶ֑ךָּ’ō·w·ḏe·kā — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → your own right handיְמִינֶֽךָ׃yə·mî·ne·ḵā — right hand, right side, southH3225 — Full Word Study → can saveתוֹשִׁ֖עַṯō·wō·ši·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → you. 15Look atהִנֵּה־hin·nêh- — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study → Behemothבְ֭הֵמוֹתḇə·hê·mō·wṯ — A great beastH930 — Full Word Study →, whichאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → I madeעָשִׂ֣יתִי‘ā·śî·ṯî — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → along with you. He feeds onיֹאכֵֽל׃yō·ḵêl — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → grassחָ֝צִ֗ירḥā·ṣîr — grass; vegetation; hayH2682 — Full Word Study → like an oxכַּבָּקָ֥רkab·bā·qār — cattle, herd, ox, bovine livestockH1241 — Full Word Study →. 16Seeהִנֵּה־hin·nêh- — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study → the strengthכֹח֣וֹḵō·ḥōw — Strength, power, might, or abilityH3581 — Full Word Study → of his loinsבְמָתְנָ֑יוḇə·mā·ṯə·nāw — loins, waist, side of the bodyH4975 — Full Word Study → and the powerוְ֝אֹנ֗וֹwə·’ō·nōw — Strength, power, or productive abilityH202 — Full Word Study → in the musclesבִּשְׁרִירֵ֥יbiš·rî·rê — navel, belly, coreH8306 — Full Word Study → of his bellyבִטְנֽוֹ׃ḇiṭ·nōw — belly; womb; interior of the bodyH990 — Full Word Study →. 17His tailזְנָב֣וֹzə·nā·ḇōw — tail; rear end; the back or end of somethingH2180 — Full Word Study → swaysיַחְפֹּ֣ץyaḥ·pōṣ — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study → likeכְמוֹ־ḵə·mōw- — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study → a cedarאָ֑רֶז’ā·rez — cedar tree; cedar woodH730 — Full Word Study →; the sinewsגִּידֵ֖יgî·ḏê — sinew, tendon, or cord-like tissueH1517 — Full Word Study → of his thighsפַחֲדוֹp̄a·ḥă·ḏō — thigh; loins; sideH6344 — Full Word Study → are tightly knitיְשֹׂרָֽגוּ׃yə·śō·rā·ḡū — To intertwine, weave together, or wrapH8276 — Full Word Study →. 18His bonesעֲ֭צָמָיו‘ă·ṣā·māw — bone; body; substance; strengthH6106 — Full Word Study → are tubesאֲפִיקֵ֣י’ă·p̄î·qê — stream, channel, watercourseH650 — Full Word Study → of bronzeנְחוּשָׁ֑הnə·ḥū·šāh — Bronze; a metal alloy of copper and tinH5154 — Full Word Study →; his limbsגְּ֝רָמָ֗יוgə·rā·māw — bone; strength; substanceH1634 — Full Word Study → are rodsכִּמְטִ֥ילkim·ṭîl — rod, bar, or staffH4300 — Full Word Study → of ironבַּרְזֶֽל׃bar·zel — Iron; a metal used for tools and weaponsH1270 — Full Word Study →. 19Heה֭וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → is the foremostרֵאשִׁ֣יתrê·šîṯ — Beginning, first, principal, chiefH7225 — Full Word Study → of God’sאֵ֑ל’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study → worksדַּרְכֵי־dar·ḵê- — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study →; only his Makerהָ֝עֹשׂוֹhā·‘ō·śōw — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → can draw the swordחַרְבּֽוֹ׃ḥar·bōw — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study → against himיַגֵּ֥שׁyag·gêš — to draw near, approach, come closeH5066 — Full Word Study →. 20The hillsהָרִ֣יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → yieldיִשְׂאוּ־yiś·’ū- — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → him their produceב֭וּלḇūl — produce, food, provisionsH944 — Full Word Study →, while allוְֽכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the beastsחַיַּ֥תḥay·yaṯ — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → of the fieldהַ֝שָּׂדֶ֗הhaś·śā·ḏeh — A field; cultivated or open landH7704 — Full Word Study → playיְשַֽׂחֲקוּ־yə·śa·ḥă·qū- — to laugh, mock, or make sportH7832 — Full Word Study → nearbyשָֽׁם׃šām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study →. 21He liesיִשְׁכָּ֑בyiš·kāḇ — to lie down, recline, sleepH7901 — Full Word Study → underתַּֽחַת־ta·ḥaṯ- — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the lotus plantsצֶאֱלִ֥יםṣe·’ĕ·lîm — lotus tree, shade treeH6628 — Full Word Study →, hiddenבְּסֵ֖תֶרbə·sê·ṯer — hiding place, shelter, concealmentH5643 — Full Word Study → among the reedsקָנֶ֣הqā·neh — reed, stalk, or branch; measuring deviceH7070 — Full Word Study → of the marshוּבִצָּֽה׃ū·ḇiṣ·ṣāh — Swamp or marshy ground; mireH1207 — Full Word Study →. 22The lotus plantsצֶאֱלִ֣יםṣe·’ĕ·lîm — lotus tree, shade treeH6628 — Full Word Study → conceal himיְסֻכֻּ֣הוּyə·suk·ku·hū — to cover, protect, fence in, shieldH5526 — Full Word Study → in their shadeצִֽלֲל֑וֹṣi·lă·lōw — shadow, shade, shelterH6752 — Full Word Study →; the willowsעַרְבֵי־‘ar·ḇê- — Willow tree; weeping willowH6155 — Full Word Study → of the brookנָֽחַל׃nā·ḥal — A stream or winter torrent; a narrow valleyH5158 — Full Word Study → surround himיְ֝סֻבּ֗וּהוּyə·sub·bū·hū — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study →. 23Thoughהֵ֤ןhên — Look! Behold! — an attention-directing particleH2005 — Full Word Study → the riverנָ֭הָרnā·hār — River, StreamH5104 — Full Word Study → ragesיַעֲשֹׁ֣קya·‘ă·šōq — To oppress, defraud, or exploitH6231 — Full Word Study →, Behemoth is unafraidלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study →; he remains secureיִבְטַ֓ח׀yiḇ·ṭaḥ — to trust, rely on, have confidenceH982 — Full Word Study →, thoughכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the Jordanיַרְדֵּ֣ןyar·dên — The flowing riverH3383 — Full Word Study → surgesיָגִ֖יחַyā·ḡî·aḥ — To burst forth, break out, emergeH1518 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → his mouthפִּֽיהוּ׃pî·hū — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. 24Can anyone capture himיִקָּחֶ֑נּוּyiq·qā·ḥen·nū — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → as he looks onבְּעֵינָ֥יוbə·‘ê·nāw — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →, or pierceיִנְקָב־yin·qāḇ- — To pierce, perforate; to designate, name, curseH5344 — Full Word Study → his noseאָֽף׃’āp̄ — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study → with a snareבְּ֝מֽוֹקְשִׁ֗יםbə·mō·wq·šîm — snare, trap, or netH4170 — Full Word Study →?
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Chapter Commentary — Job 40
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Chapter 40 marks a dramatic turning point in the book of Job. After Job's lengthy complaints and demands for God to answer him, the Lord finally speaks directly—not to vindicate Job's arguments, but to humble him with a series of penetrating questions about God's power and wisdom. Job's immediate response is repentance and silence. God then continues His discourse by pointing Job to the great behemoth, a creature of incomparable strength, to illustrate that only God possesses the power and authority to govern creation and judge the proud. This chapter reveals that true faith is not primarily about receiving answers to our questions, but about yielding to God's character and sovereignty.

Verses 1–5: Job's Humbling and Silence

The Lord opens by asking Job a rhetorical question: "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?" (verse 2). This is not a genuine inquiry but a rebuke. Job has been arguing as if he could teach God something about justice, as though he could correct the Almighty's governance of the world. The Hebrew word for "contend" suggests strife and quarreling—Job has been wrestling with God like an opponent in court.

Job's response is immediate and humble (verses 3–5). He acknowledges his vileness and unworthiness, placing his hand upon his mouth—a gesture of silence and submission (verse 4). This is not the proud, argumentative Job we have heard for thirty-seven chapters. He recognizes that he has spoken too much and will speak no more. This is genuine repentance, not mere lip service. Job has moved from demanding answers to accepting his limitations.

Application: When confronted with God's majesty and our own smallness, the appropriate response is humble silence, not endless debate. Pride often disguises itself as seeking truth, but God calls us to childlike trust in His wisdom.

Verses 6–14: God's Challenge to Job's Presumption

God speaks again "out of the whirlwind" (verse 6), commanding Job to "gird up thy loins now like a man" (verse 7)—prepare yourself for serious business. The challenge that follows is pointed: "Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?" (verse 8). Job's suffering has led him implicitly to condemn God's justice to vindicate his own innocence. This is spiritual pride masquerading as wounded innocence.

Verses 9–12 expand the challenge: Can Job thunder with God's voice? Can he exercise judgment over the proud? God is asking whether Job possesses the moral authority and power to govern creation justly. The implication is clear: judging the cosmos requires attributes only God possesses. If Job cannot humble the wicked and govern the proud, by what right does he judge God's governance?

Verse 14 contains God's offer: "Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee." If Job could demonstrate the power to judge the wicked perfectly, then God would acknowledge Job's righteousness. But of course, he cannot, and the sarcasm is gentle yet firm.

Application: We cannot judge God's actions by our limited perspective. Faith means trusting that the Judge of all the earth does right, even when we cannot see His purposes. Repentance begins when we stop trying to defend ourselves and start submitting to God's authority.

Verses 15–24: The Behemoth as God's Testimony

God now directs Job's attention to behemoth, a massive creature of extraordinary strength (likely a hippopotamus or a poetic description of untamable power). Its strength is in its loins; its tail moves like a cedar; its bones are like brass and iron (verses 15–18). This creature represents the untamed, powerful forces in creation—forces that only God can manage.

Verse 19 states: "He is the chief of the ways of God"—behemoth is God's masterpiece of created power. Only the Creator "can make his sword to approach unto him." No human hunter can capture or control this beast; it drinks rivers without haste and fears no snare (verses 23–24). The behemoth becomes a living sermon: if Job cannot master such a creature, how can he presume to correct God's management of the universe?

Application: Creation itself declares God's wisdom and power. When we contemplate the majesty and complexity of nature, we should be driven to wonder and worship, not doubt and complaint.

Application for Today

Chapter 40 challenges us when we are tempted to argue with God about our circumstances. True faith accepts that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Rather than demanding explanations, we are called to trust His character, repent of our pride, and find peace in His sovereignty. God's silence is sometimes His most eloquent answer.

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