Job 40:11-21

11 Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.
12 Target the arrogant and bring them to their knees. Stop the wicked in their tracks - make mincemeat of them!
13 Dig a mass grave and dump them in it - faceless corpses in an unmarked grave.
14 I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you - you can surely save yourself with no help from me!
15 "Look at the land beast, Behemoth. I created him as well as you. Grazing on grass, docile as a cow -
16 Just look at the strength of his back, the powerful muscles of his belly.
17 His tail sways like a cedar in the wind; his huge legs are like beech trees.
18 His skeleton is made of steel, every bone in his body hard as steel.
19 Most magnificent of all my creatures, but I still lead him around like a lamb!
20 The grass-covered hills serve him meals, while field mice frolic in his shadow.
21 He takes afternoon naps under shade trees, cools himself in the reedy swamps,

Job 40:11-21 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.

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.