Job 40:14-24

14 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own ¹right hand can save you.

15 "Behold, Behemoth,^[a] which I made as I made you; he eats ²grass like an ox.

16 Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.

17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.

18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.

19 "He is ³the first of ⁴the works^[b] of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!

20 For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.

21 Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of ⁵the reeds and in the marsh.

22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.

23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.

24 Can one take him by his eyes,^[c] or pierce his nose with a snare?

Job 40:14-24 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. Psalms 98:1; Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5
• 2. Numbers 22:4
• 3. [Proverbs 8:22]
• 4. Job 26:14
• 5. Psalms 68:30

Footnotes

• [a]. A large animal, exact identity unknown
• [b]. Hebrew ways
• [c]. Or in his sight