Job 40:15-24

God's Power Shown in Creatures

15 "Behold now, Behemoth, which ¹I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox.

16 "Behold now, his strength in his loins And his power in the muscles of his belly.

17 "He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

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

19 "He is the ²first of the ways of God; Let his ³maker bring near his sword.

20 "Surely the mountains ⁴bring him food, And all the beasts of the field ⁵play there.

21 "Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.

22 "The lotus plants cover him with shade; The willows of the brook surround him.

23 "If a river rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the ⁶Jordan rushes to his mouth.

24 "Can anyone capture him when he is on watch, With barbs can anyone pierce his nose?

Job 40:15-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 40

In this chapter Job is called upon to give in his answer, Job 40:1,2, which he does in the most humble manner, acknowledging his vileness and folly, Job 40:3-5; and then the Lord proceeds to give him further conviction of his superior justice and power, Job 40:6-9; and one thing he proposes to him, to humble the proud, if he could, and then he would own his own right hand could save him, Job 40:10-15; and observes to him another instance of his power in a creature called behemoth, which he had made, and gives a description of, Job 40:15-24.

Cross References

• 1. Job 40:19
• 2. Job 41:33
• 3. Job 40:15
• 4. Psalms 104:14
• 5. Psalms 104:26
• 6. Genesis 13:10

Footnotes

• [a] Or "the hippopotamus"
• [b] Lit "with"
• [c] Lit "bones"
• [d] Lit "his shade"
• [e] Or "oppresses"
• [f] Lit "in his eyes"
• [g] Lit "snares"