Job 40:9-19

9 Are you as strong as I am? Can your voice thunder as loud as mine?

10 If so, stand up in your honor and pride; clothe yourself with majesty and glory.

11 Look at those who are proud; pour out your anger and humble them.

12 Yes, look at them and bring them down; crush the wicked where they stand.

13 Bury them all in the ground; bind them in the world of the dead.

14 Then I will be the first to praise you and admit that you won the victory yourself.

15 Look at the monster Behemoth; I created him and I created you. He eats grass like a cow,

16 but what strength there is in his body, and what power there is in his muscles!

17 His tail stands up like a cedar, and the muscles in his legs are strong.

18 His bones are as strong as bronze, and his legs are like iron bars.

19 The most amazing of all my creatures! Only his Creator can defeat him.

Job 40:9-19 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]. behemoth: [Some identify this with the hippopotamus, others with a legendary creature.]