Job 40 Study Notes

40:1-2 God questioned Job with a renewed challenge to either answer or make a rebuttal. Otherwise Job must admit that his criticism was groundless. Job had criticized the Lord often in the earlier dialogues (9:14-20; 16:11-12; 21:17-26) and had longed to present his case before God to see how he would answer him (23:2-5; 31:35-37). Job now had that opportunity.

40:3-5 Job’s answer was a non-answer. The Hebrew for the phrase I am so insignificant is literally “I am light/little.” Job did not disclaim his innocence. He had said all he could about his situation. Placing his hand over his mouth showed Job’s reluctance to add anything further.

40:6-7 Job had called on God to answer him (30:20). Now it is the other way around.

40:8 God now came to the heart of the matter. Was Job ready to condemn God who had demonstrated his loving care for all creatures? Was Job so willing to defend his uprightness and innocence that he would declare God unjust? (see 27:2). Would Job justify himself (27:6) rather than see his suffering in the light of God’s greater purposes? Job had an attitude problem that must be resolved if his fellowship with God was to be restored (14:15; 19:26-27; 29:2-6).

40:9 The arm is used figuratively for strength. God asked Job whether he had sufficient strength to enforce his decision if he were in charge of meting out justice. God’s arm was stretched out against the Egyptians to redeem his people out of Egyptian slavery (Ex 6:6; Dt 4:34; 26:8). God brings justice to the world by his arm (Is 51:5; 63:5-6; Jr 21:3-5).

40:10 If Job was to be in charge, where were his royal garments and evidence of his authority? Such matters are characteristic of God’s person (Ps 29:1-2; 112:9; 113:4; Rv 4:11).

40:11-14 Job had complained that God failed to bring the wicked to justice in this life (21:30-33; 24:1-17), while depriving Job of justice (27:2). Should Job be able to demonstrate his ability to bring the wicked to justice, God would admit Job’s sufficiency to care for his own situation. The right hand often symbolizes honor, authority, or power (Ps 110:1-2; 118:15-16). By it God lays hold of his enemies and the wicked and brings them to judgment (Ps 21:8-13). If Job was unable to deal similarly with the wicked, he must not accuse God of injustice.

40:15 Some have identified Behemoth as a type of mythological beast, such as the bull of heaven in the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh or the ferocious bullock, the Ugaritic goddess that Anat defeated. Allusions to mythological creatures had been made previously (3:8; 7:12; 9:13-14; 26:12-13), but the description here favors a living animal known to Job. The buffalo, a dinosaur, the rhinoceros, and (most often) the hippopotamus have been suggested. The term behemoth occurs elsewhere only in Ps 73:22 where the psalmist compared his formerly embittered soul to a brute beast.

40:16-18 The Hebrew verb chaphats, translated in v. 17 as stiffens, occurs only here with this meaning. The point of comparison between the short tail of the hippopotamus and the cedar tree may simply be the fact of their respective hardness. Elsewhere the same Hebrew word carries emphases such as “take pleasure in” or “delight.” Tail could be a euphemism, hence speaking to Behemoth’s virility. Readings found in manuscripts of ancient versions (LXX, Vg, Syr) support this possibility.

40:19 Only God would dare to face this creature alone (v. 24). Cattle (Hb behemah) were the first of God’s created land animals. Behemoth (pl) would represent the foremost of all. Since Job could not face Behemoth, would he have the power to enforce justice against the wicked (vv. 10-14)? Job should entrust justice to the Lord, Behemoth’s Creator (v. 15).

40:20-22 Behemoth found food on the hills (see v. 15), but it sought refuge in marshes where the lotus plants grew. Alternatively, this plant may refer to a thorny tree that grew in deep moist valleys.

40:23 The Jordan may represent any river with a strong current (see John E. Hartley, The Book of Job, NICOT).

40:24 Hunting parties attempted to pierce the nose of Behemoth to impair his breathing, making him vulnerable to snares or hooks. Such was no easy task while Behemoth was watching.