Job 40:10-20

10 Adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.^[a]

11 Unleash your raging anger; look on every proud person and humiliate him.^[b]

12 Look on every proud person and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.^[c][d]

13 Hide them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave.^[e]

14 Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can deliver you.^[f]

15 Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He eats grass like an ox.

16 Look at the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly.

17 He stiffens his tail like a cedar tree; the tendons of his thighs are woven firmly together.

18 His bones are bronze tubes; his limbs are like iron rods.

19 He is the foremost of God's works;^[g] [only] his Maker can draw the sword against him.

20 The hills yield food for him, while all [sorts of] wild animals play there.

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]. Jb 29:14; 1 Ch 16:27; Ps 8:5
• [b]. 1 Sm 2:7; Isa 13:11; Ezk 21:26
• [c]. Lit wicked in their place
• [d]. Ps 72:4; 89:10
• [e]. Lit together; bind their faces in the hidden place
• [f]. Ps 17:7; 20:6; 108:6
• [g]. Jb 26:14; Gn 1:24