Job 40

Job's First Response to the Lord

¹Moreover the LORD answered Job,

²“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

³Then Job answered the LORD,

⁴“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

⁵I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

The Lord's Second Speech

⁶Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:

⁷“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

⁸Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?

⁹Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

¹⁰“Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.

¹¹Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.

¹²Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.

¹³Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.

¹⁴Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.

¹⁵“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.

¹⁶Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.

¹⁷He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

¹⁸His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.

¹⁹He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.

²⁰Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.

²¹He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.

²²The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.

²³Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.

²⁴Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?

Previous Job 39

Next Job 41

After God's first speech from the whirlwind, Job responds with profound humility, acknowledging his insignificance and choosing silence rather than continued argument. God then delivers a second, more intense speech, challenging Job's presumption to question divine justice and asking whether Job possesses the power to govern the world as God does. The Lord begins describing Behemoth, a mighty creature that demonstrates God's unparalleled creative power and serves as the first of two examples of divine sovereignty over creation.

Context

This chapter follows God's first speech about creation's wonders and precedes the description of Leviathan, building toward Job's final repentance.

Key Themes

Outline

1-2
God's Challenge to Job The Lord questions whether Job, as a mere mortal, should contend with the Almighty.
3-5
Job's Humble Response Job acknowledges his insignificance and chooses silence, placing his hand over his mouth.
6-9
God's Second Speech Begins The Lord speaks again from the whirlwind, challenging Job's right to question divine judgment.
10-14
The Challenge of Divine Authority God asks if Job can exercise divine power to humble the proud and govern creation.
15-24
The Description of Behemoth God describes the mighty Behemoth as an example of His supreme creative power and authority.

Job's First Response to the Lord

40:1–40:5

wisdom dialogue contemplative

Job responds to God's first speech with humility, acknowledging his insignificance and choosing silence rather than continuing to argue with the Almighty. This marks the beginning of Job's transformation from questioning to submission.

person_contrast

Job's declaration "I am of small account" uses the Hebrew word *qaloti*, which appears only here and in Genesis 32:10 where Jacob similarly diminishes himself before divine encounter.

The Lord's Second Speech

40:6–41:34

wisdom speech solemn

God's second speech challenges Job's right to question divine justice and showcases God's power through descriptions of Behemoth and Leviathan, mighty creatures that demonstrate divine authority over creation. The speech emphasizes that only God has the power to execute perfect justice.

person_contrast

God's rhetorical questions in verses 8-9 uniquely reverse the courtroom dynamic, making Job the defendant rather than plaintiff in his own case against divine justice.

Insight Character Study

Job's declaration "I am of small account" uses the Hebrew word *qaloti*, which appears only here and in Genesis 32:10 where Jacob similarly diminishes himself before divine encounter.

Insight Character Study

God's rhetorical questions in verses 8-9 uniquely reverse the courtroom dynamic, making Job the defendant rather than plaintiff in his own case against divine justice.