Job 40:10-20

10 All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty.

11 Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud.

12 Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand.

13 Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead.

14 Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.

15 “Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox.

16 See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly.

17 Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.

18 Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron.

19 It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it.

20 The mountains offer it their best food, where all the wild animals play.

Job 40:10-20 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. The identification of Behemoth is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literature.