THE BOOK OF
JOB

Job 40

1God challengeth an answer. 3Job humbleth himself. 6God calleth upon Job to shew by instances of power that he is able to save himself. 15God's great power is seen in the behemoth.


1MOREOVER 1the LORD answered Job, and said,

1 Namely, after He had been silent for a while and had given Job in the meantime an opportunity to speak and say what he could for his own defense, but seeing Job was silent, God went on. As such the word answer is taken here for a renewing of the speech, or the proceeding in the former discourse. See Judges 18 on verse 14.

2Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty 2instruct him? he that 3reproveth God, let him answer it.

2 That is, teaching wisdom, and convincing that He is in the wrong.

3 That is, he who will speak against and blame His judgments.

3¶Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

4Behold, 4I am vile; what shall I answer thee? Ia will 5lay mine hand upon my mouth.

4 Compare Gen. 32:10 and the annotation.

a Psalm 39:10.

5 That is, I am silent. See Job 21 on verse 5.

56Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, 7twice; but I will proceed no further.

6 Hebr. one, namely, time. See 2 Chron. 9 on verse 21.

7 A certain number for an uncertain. Other thus: Once have I spoken, and shall not answer, yet the second time shall I not go on.

6¶Then answered the LORD unto Job out 8of the whirlwind, and said,

8 See Job 38 on verse 1.

79Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and 10declare thou unto me.

9 See Job 38 on verse 3.

10 See the aforementioned place, Job 38:3.

8Wilt thou 11also disannul myb12judgment? wilt thou 13condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

11 That is, not only to maintain thy own uprightness, but likewise speak to the prejudice of My righteousness?

b Psalm 51:6; Rom. 3:4.

12 Understand the right God had in punishing Job.

13 See of this word Deut. 25 on verse 1.

9Hast thou an 14arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

14 That is, might and strength, as God. Also Exod. 15:16; Deut. 33:27; Psalm 79:11; 89:13; 136:12.

1015Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

15 Namely, as I am therewith adorned and clothed. See Psalm 93:1; 96:6; 104:1; Isa. 51:9. God is said to be adorned and clothed with them, forasmuch as they do appear and show forth themselves in all His works and judgments, which Job is here exhorted to imitate, if he had a mind to enter into debate with God. Compare Job 29:14 and the annotation.

11Cast abroad the 16rage of thy wrath: and 17behold every one that is proud, and abasec him.

16 Understand a most fierce and extreme anger which is ascribed unto God here according to the manner of men, as also Job 21:30; Psalm 78:49. The meaning is, that Job had not the power to quell and to bring into subjection his enemies and adversaries which God truly had, and that therefore he ought not to have set himself against God, with the intent and purpose to maintain his cause against Him, against His adverse party. See Job 13:22; 16:21; 23:3, 4, 5, etc.

17 That is, look scornfully and with contempt upon him with a grim and threatening countenance; also in the following verse and Job 41:34.

c humble, humiliate, cast down*

12Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked 18in their place.

18 Namely, where they are exalted and magnificent, having there all their state and wealth and power.

13Hide them in the 19dust 20together; and 21bind their faces in secret.

19 That is, into the grave, where they are turned into dust; that is, put them to death. Compare the manner of speaking with Psalm 22:15.

20 Namely, the wicked.

21 That is, make or cause them to be seen no more in this world, for they used to cover and bind up the faces of the dead with certain clothes and kerchiefs. Compare Prov. 10:6 and the annotation; likewise John 11:44; 20:7.

14Then will I also confess unto thee 22that thine own 23right hand can save thee.

22 That is, that thou art self-sufficient, as I am, to compare thyself with Me in judgment.

23 That is, thy power and strength; also Psalm 89:42; Isa. 41:13.

15¶Behold now 24behemoth,d which I made 25with thee; 26he eateth grass as an ox.

24 This word is translated by many as elephant. Others take it to be a common name, including all terrestrial animals, both tame and wild, being very large of body, among which the elephant is the main one. The word is in the plural number to express the greatness of this animal. Thus wisdoms for the most excellent and highest Wisdom, Prov. 1:20.

d large animal

25 That is, as well as thee; or, together with thee, that is, on the same sixth day of the creation, when I made originally the first man and woman, and thyself at the same time. Other, that he would dwell with thee upon the earth.

26 Which is a token and testimony of God’s Providence and power, whereby the greatest and strongest animals are tamed and subjected to man.

16Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the 27navel of his belly.

27 The meaning is, that he is very strong, not only in his loins or upper parts of his body, but also in the lower parts (which are apt to be but weak) as in the navel and belly, etc.

17He moveth 28his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are 29wrapped together.

28 Other, he stirreth or erecteth his tail as, etc., namely, so bold upright and so immovable as a cedar.

29 That is, wrapped up and permeated through each other.

18His bones are as 30strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

30 Hebr. strengths of copper or of steel.

19He is 31the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make 32his sword to approach unto him.

31 That is, the chief and principal piece of God’s works among the four-footed animals, in regard of his greatness and strength.

32 Those, who take behemoth here to be the elephant, do understand by his sword his snout or tusks protruding out of his mouth, whereby he makes shift to help himself as with hands, and is able to perform mighty feats. Other, can join his sword unto him, namely, to put him to death, that is, is able to kill and destroy him.

2033Surely the mountains bring him forth food, 34where all the beasts of the field play.

33 That is, for the reason that he does not live on prey, but feeds on grass and herbs, that grows upon the hills, from this it is that other animals are not afraid of him, but freely feed themselves in his presence, without any care or trouble. Other, When the hills, etc. then play, etc.

34 That is, in the same place where he feeds.

21He lieth under the 35shady trees, 36in the covert of the reed, and fens.e

35 That is, yield shadows from themselves. Also in the next verse.

36 Namely, where he seeks to cool and refresh himself against the great and fierce heat of the sun.

e swamps, marshes

22The shady trees cover him 37with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

37 Or, unto their shadow, that is, to make shadow for him.

23Behold, he 38drinketh up a river, and 39hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up 40Jordan into his mouth.

38 Namely, when he enters the river to drink, he hinders the course of the river. Or, he swilleth the river with force; whereof the meaning is, that he guzzles so much of the water, one would think he might go near to swallow the entire river. These are poetical and hyperbolical expressions.

39 Namely, in drinking, being not afraid of the water stream, or that any man or beast would disturb or hinder him; as they write that other beasts drink out of the river Nile with a great deal of fear and anxiousness, lest the crocodile would snatch and swallow them up. Other, that she, namely, the river, cannot hasten herself; namely, to run on freely in her course.

40 Of this river see Gen. 13 on verse 10.

24He taketh it 41with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

41 That is, that he is aware of it, by mere force and not by cleverness.