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Job Chapter 40

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry 24 Verses

What is Job 40 about?

The suffering of a righteous man and the profound questions it raises about God's justice, sovereignty, and human understanding. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said,
2Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.
3Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,
4Behold, I am of small account; What shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.
5Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.
6Then Jehovah answered 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 even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?
9Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty.
11Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him.
12Look on every one that is proud, [and] bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand.
13Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden [place].
14Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee.
15Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox.
16Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the muscles of his belly.
17He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18His bones are [as] tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron.
19He is the chief of the ways of God: He [only] that made him giveth him his sword.
20Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play.
21He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen.
22The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about.
23Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth.
24Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Moreover the Lord answered Job, etc.] The Lord having discoursed largely of the works of nature, in order to reconcile the mind of Job to his works of providence, stopped and made a pause for a little space, that Job might answer if he thought fit; but he being entirely silent, the Lord began again: and said; as follows:”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“GOD'S SECOND ADDRESS. (Job 40:1-24) the Lord--Hebrew, "JEHOVAH."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Moreover, the Lord answered Job - The word “answered” is used here as it is often in the Scriptures, not to denote a reply to what had been immediately said, but to take up or continue an argument. What God said here was designed as a reply to the spirit which Job had so frequently manifested. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Answered - Having made a little pause to try what Job could answer. This is not said to be spoken out of the whirlwind, and therefore some think God said it in a still, small voice, which wrought more upon Job, (as upon Elijah) than the whirlwind did. Tho' Job had not spoken any thing, yet God is said to answer him. For he knows mens thoughts, and can return a fit answer to their silence. Job 40:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“40:1-2 The Greek Old Testament omits this conclusion to God’s first speech.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Job 40:6, Job 38:1 Job 40:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“1 Then Jehovah answered Job, and said: 2 Will now the censurer contend with the Almighty? Let the instructor of Eloah answer it! 3 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said: With Job 40:1; Job 38:1 is again taken up, because the speech of Jehovah has now in some measure attained the end which was assigned to it as an answer to Job's outburst of censure. רב is inf. abs., as Jdg 11:25; it is left to the hearer to give to the simple verbal notion its syntactic relation in accordance with the connection; here it stands in the sense of the fut. (comp. Kg2 4:43): num litigabit, Ges. 131, 4, b. The inf. abs. is followed by…”
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