Job 40:8

8 "Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?

Job 40:8 Meaning and Commentary

Job 40:8

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment?
&c.] The decrees and purposes of God concerning his dealings with men, particularly the afflictions of them, which are framed with the highest wisdom and reason, and according to the strictest justice, and can never be frustrated or made void; or the sentence of God concerning them, that is gone out of his mouth and cannot be altered; or the execution of it, which cannot be hindered: it respects the wisdom of God in the government of the world, as Aben Ezra observes, and the particular dealings of his providence with men, which ought to be submitted to; to do otherwise is for a man to set up his own judgment against the Lord's, which is as much as in him lies to disannul it; whereas God is a God of judgment, and his judgment is according to truth, and in righteousness, and will take place, let men do or say what they please;

wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Is there no other way of vindicating thine own innocence and integrity, without charging me with unrighteousness; at least saying such things as are judged by others to be an arraignment of my justice, wisdom, and goodness, in the government of the world? Now though Job did not expressly and directly condemn the Lord, and arraign his justice, yet when he talked of his own righteousness and integrity, he was not upon his guard as he should have been with respect to the justice of God in his afflictions; for though a man may justify his own character when abused, he should take care to speak well of God; and be it as it will between man and man, God is not to be brought into the question; and though some of his providences are not so easily reconciled to his promises, yet let God be true and every man a liar.

Job 40:8 In-Context

6 God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said:
7 "I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers.
8 "Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?
9 Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?
10 Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.