Bible Commentaries

Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

Job 40:1-24. He had paused for a reply, but Job was silent.

The Lord - Hebrew, Yahweh .

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

He that contendeth - as Job had so often expressed a wish to do (cf. Isaiah 45:9). Or, rebuketh [ rob , the same as riyb , to hold a law controversy with]. Does Job now still (after seeing and hearing of God's majesty and wisdom) wish to set God right! [ yicowr - literally, chastise, so teach, or instruct, with, however, the idea of reproof and rebuke added].

Answer it - namely, the questions I have asked.

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

Lord - Yahweh .

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

I am (too) vile - to reply. It is a very different thing to vindicate ourselves before God from what it is before men. Job could do the latter, not the former.

Lay ... hand upon ... mouth - I have no plea to offer (Job 21:5; Judges 18:19).

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Once ... twice - oftentimes, more than once (Job 33:14, cf. with 29, margin; Psalms 62:11), "I have spoken''-namely, against God.

Not answer - not plead against thee.

Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

The Lord - Yahweh .

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

(Note, .) Since Job has not only spoken against God, but accused Him of injustice, God challenges him to try could he govern the world as God by His power doth, and punish the proud and wicked (Job 40:7-14).

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Wilt thou not only contend with, but set aside my judgment, or justice in the government of the world.

Condemn - declare me unrighteous, in order that thou mayest be accounted righteous (innocent); undeservingly afflicted.

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Arm - God's omnipotence (Isaiah 53:1).

Thunder - God's voice (Job 37:4). 10. See, hast thou power and majesty like God's, to enable thee to judge and govern the world.

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

Rage - rather, 'pour out the redundant floods of,' etc. [ `ebrowt , the unrestrained overflowings].

Behold - try, canst thou, as God, by a mere glance, abase the proud, (Isaiah 2:12, etc.)

Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

Proud - high (Daniel 4:37, "Those that walk in pride He is able to abase").

In their place - on the spot: suddenly, before they can move from their place (note, Job 34:36; Job 36:20).

Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.

(Isaiah 2:10.) Abase and remove them out of the sight of men.

Bind ... faces - i:e., shut up their persons (Maurer). But it refers rather to the custom of binding a cloth over the faces of persons about to be executed (Job 9:24; Esther 7:8).

In secret - consign them to darkness. Umbreit translates, 'Veil their face in concealment' or 'darkness.

Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

Confess - rather extol: 'I also,' who now censure thee, 'will extol thee, because thine own hand saves thee,' without requiring my help. But since thou canst not do these works, thou must, instead of censuring, extol my government (contrast Psalms 44:3). So as to eternal salvation by Jesus Christ (Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5 ).

Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

God shows that if Job cannot bring under control the lower animals, of which he selects the two most striking (Behemoth on land, Leviathan in the water), how much less is he capable of governing the world!

Verse 15. Behemoth , [ b***