Job 40

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 40

1¶ Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

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

3Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

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

5Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

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

7Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

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

10Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

11Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him.

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

13Hide them in the dust together; [and] bind their faces in secret.

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

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

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

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

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

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

20Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

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

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

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

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD challenges Job, asking if he intends to instruct the Almighty or condemn Him to be righteous. Humbled, Job confesses his vileness and resolves to speak no more, laying his hand upon his mouth. God then describes Behemoth, a creature of immense strength and size, as a testament to His unparalleled creative power.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with the LORD questioning Job's contention with the Almighty, challenging him to answer for his reproofs. Job, recognizing his unworthiness, declares himself vile and commits to silence, refusing to speak further. The LORD then commands Job to gird himself like a man and answer, challenging him to demonstrate divine power, such as an arm like God's or a thundering voice. God dares Job to array himself with majesty, abase the proud, and tread down the wicked, stating that only then would He confess Job's own hand could save him. Subsequently, the LORD introduces Behemoth, a creature made by Him, detailing its immense strength in its loins and belly, and its tail like a cedar. This description serves to illustrate God's creative might and sovereignty.

Long Summary

The LORD initiates the chapter by directly confronting Job, questioning whether one who contends with the Almighty seeks to instruct Him or condemn Him to establish his own righteousness. Job, profoundly humbled by God's presence and words, responds by acknowledging his own vileness and unworthiness to speak further. He declares his intention to lay his hand upon his mouth, having spoken twice but resolving to proceed no further in his arguments. Despite Job's silence, the LORD speaks again from the whirlwind, commanding Job to prepare himself like a man and answer the divine inquiries. God then challenges Job's presumption, asking if he possesses an arm like God's or can thunder with a voice like Him. He dares Job to deck himself with majesty and glory, to cast abroad the rage of his wrath, and to abase every proud individual. The LORD further challenges Job to bring low the proud, tread down the wicked in their place, and hide them in the dust. If Job could accomplish these feats, the LORD states He would then confess that Job's own right hand could save him. The narrative then shifts as the LORD introduces Behemoth, a creature He made alongside Job, emphasizing its immense physical attributes. God describes its strength in its loins and belly, its tail like a cedar, and its bones like strong brass and iron bars. He identifies Behemoth as the chief of His creations, implying that only its maker can approach it with a sword. The description continues with its habitat, feeding on mountains and resting under shady trees and fens. Behemoth's capacity to drink up a river without haste, trusting its ability to draw up the Jordan, further highlights its colossal nature and God's unparalleled power in creation.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Challenge to JobThe LORD directly questions Job's right to contend with the Almighty, challenging him to demonstrate divine power or justify his reproofs against God's judgment.
  • Job's Humility and SilenceOverwhelmed by God's presence, Job confesses his vileness and unworthiness, resolving to cease his arguments and lay his hand upon his mouth in submission.
  • God's Test of Job's PowerGod challenges Job to exhibit divine attributes such as an arm like God's, a thundering voice, and the ability to humble the proud and tread down the wicked, implying Job's inability to do so.
  • The Majesty of God's JudgmentThe LORD asserts His supreme authority and righteousness, implying that Job's attempts to justify himself would necessitate condemning God's perfect judgment.
  • Behemoth as a Creation of God's PowerGod introduces Behemoth, a creature of immense strength and unique characteristics, as a prime example of His unparalleled creative power and sovereignty over all living things.
  • Unfathomable Strength of CreationBehemoth's physical description, from its cedar-like tail and brass-like bones to its ability to drink rivers, illustrates the incomprehensible strength and might God bestows upon His creatures.