2 Shall he that contendeth H7378 with the Almighty H7706 instruct H3250 him? he that reproveth H3198 God, H433 let him answer H6030 it.
Woe H1945 unto him that striveth H7378 with his Maker! H3335 Let the potsherd H2789 strive with the potsherds H2789 of the earth. H127 Shall the clay H2563 say H559 to him that fashioneth H3335 it, What makest H6213 thou? or thy work, H6467 He hath no hands? H3027 Woe H1945 unto him that saith H559 unto his father, H1 What begettest H3205 thou? or to the woman, H802 What hast thou brought forth? H2342 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 the Holy One H6918 of Israel, H3478 and his Maker, H3335 Ask H7592 me of things to come H857 concerning my sons, H1121 and concerning the work H6467 of my hands H3027 command H6680 ye me.
For G1063 who G5101 hath known G1097 the mind G3563 of the Lord? G2962 or G2228 who G5101 hath been G1096 his G846 counsellor? G4825 Or G2228 who G5101 hath first given G4272 to him, G846 and G2532 it shall be recompensed G467 unto him G846 again? G467 For G3754 of G1537 him, G846 and G2532 through G1223 him, G846 and G2532 to G1519 him, G846 are all things: G3956 to whom G846 be glory G1391 for G1519 ever. G165 Amen. G281
Thou wilt say G2046 then G3767 unto me, G3427 Why G5101 doth he yet G2089 find fault? G3201 For G1063 who G5101 hath resisted G436 his G846 will? G1013 Nay but, G3304 O G5599 man, G444 who G5101 art G1488 thou G4771 that repliest against G470 God? G2316 G3361 Shall G2046 the thing formed G4110 say G2046 to him that formed G4111 it, Why G5101 hast thou made G4160 me G3165 thus? G3779 G2228 Hath G2192 not G3756 the potter G2763 power G1849 over the clay, G4081 of G1537 the same G846 lump G5445 to G3739 G3303 make G4160 one vessel G4632 unto G1519 honour, G5092 and G1161 another G3739 unto G1519 dishonour? G819 What if G1487 G1161 God, G2316 willing G2309 to shew G1731 his wrath, G3709 and G2532 to make G1107 his G846 power G1415 known, G1107 endured G5342 with G1722 much G4183 longsuffering G3115 the vessels G4632 of wrath G3709 fitted G2675 to G1519 destruction: G684 And G2532 that G2443 he might make known G1107 the riches G4149 of his G846 glory G1391 on G1909 the vessels G4632 of mercy, G1656 which G3739 he had afore prepared G4282 unto G1519 glory, G1391
Why died H4191 I not from the womb? H7358 why did I not give up the ghost H1478 when I came out H3318 of the belly? H990 Why did the knees H1290 prevent H6923 me? or why the breasts H7699 that I should suck? H3243
Know H3045 now H645 that God H433 hath overthrown H5791 me, and hath compassed H5362 me with his net. H4686 Behold, I cry out H6817 of wrong, H2555 but I am not heard: H6030 I cry aloud, H7768 but there is no judgment. H4941 He hath fenced up H1443 my way H734 that I cannot pass, H5674 and he hath set H7760 darkness H2822 in my paths. H5410 He hath stripped H6584 me of my glory, H3519 and taken H5493 the crown H5850 from my head. H7218 He hath destroyed H5422 me on every side, H5439 and I am gone: H3212 and mine hope H8615 hath he removed H5265 like a tree. H6086 He hath also kindled H2734 his wrath H639 against me, and he counteth H2803 me unto him as one of his enemies. H6862
God H410 hath delivered H5462 me to the ungodly, H5760 and turned me over H3399 into the hands H3027 of the wicked. H7563 I was at ease, H7961 but he hath broken me asunder: H6565 he hath also taken H270 me by my neck, H6203 and shaken me to pieces, H6327 and set me up H6965 for his mark. H4307 His archers H7228 compass me round about, H5437 he cleaveth H6398 my reins H3629 asunder, H6398 and doth not spare; H2550 he poureth out H8210 my gall H4845 upon the ground. H776 He breaketh H6555 me with breach H6556 upon H6440 breach, H6556 he runneth H7323 upon me like a giant. H1368 I have sewed H8609 sackcloth H8242 upon my skin, H1539 and defiled H5953 my horn H7161 in the dust. H6083 My face H6440 is foul H2560 with weeping, H1065 and on my eyelids H6079 is the shadow of death; H6757 Not for any injustice H2555 in mine hands: H3709 also my prayer H8605 is pure. H2134 O earth, H776 cover H3680 not thou my blood, H1818 and let my cry H2201 have no place. H4725 Also now, behold, my witness H5707 is in heaven, H8064 and my record H7717 is on high. H4791 My friends H7453 scorn H3887 me: but mine eye H5869 poureth out H1811 tears unto God. H433 O that one might plead H3198 for a man H1397 with God, H433 as a man H120 pleadeth for his neighbour! H1121 H7453
For now thou numberest H5608 my steps: H6806 dost thou not watch H8104 over my sin? H2403 My transgression H6588 is sealed up H2856 in a bag, H6872 and thou sewest up H2950 mine iniquity. H5771
Withdraw H7368 thine hand H3709 far H7368 from me: and let not thy dread H367 make me afraid. H1204 Then call H7121 thou, and I will answer: H6030 or let me speak, H1696 and answer H7725 thou me. How many are mine iniquities H5771 and sins? H2403 make me to know H3045 my transgression H6588 and my sin. H2403 Wherefore hidest H5641 thou thy face, H6440 and holdest H2803 me for thine enemy? H341 Wilt thou break H6206 a leaf H5929 driven to and fro? H5086 and wilt thou pursue H7291 the dry H3002 stubble? H7179 For thou writest H3789 bitter things H4846 against me, and makest me to possess H3423 the iniquities H5771 of my youth. H5271 Thou puttest H7760 my feet H7272 also in the stocks, H5465 and lookest narrowly H8104 unto all my paths; H734 thou settest a print H2707 upon the heels H8328 of my feet. H7272
If I sin, H2398 then thou markest H8104 me, and thou wilt not acquit H5352 me from mine iniquity. H5771 If I be wicked, H7561 woe H480 unto me; and if I be righteous, H6663 yet will I not lift up H5375 my head. H7218 I am full H7649 of confusion; H7036 therefore see H7202 H7200 thou mine affliction; H6040 For it increaseth. H1342 Thou huntest H6679 me as a fierce lion: H7826 and again H7725 thou shewest thyself marvellous H6381 upon me. Thou renewest H2318 thy witnesses H5707 against me, and increasest H7235 thine indignation H3708 upon me; H5978 changes H2487 and war H6635 are against me.
Is it good H2895 unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, H6231 that thou shouldest despise H3988 the work H3018 of thine hands, H3709 and shine H3313 upon the counsel H6098 of the wicked? H7563 Hast thou eyes H5869 of flesh? H1320 or seest H7200 thou as man H582 seeth? H7200 Are thy days H3117 as the days H3117 of man? H582 are thy years H8141 as man's H1397 days, H3117 That thou enquirest H1245 after mine iniquity, H5771 and searchest H1875 after my sin? H2403 Thou knowest H1847 that I am not wicked; H7561 and there is none that can deliver H5337 out of thine hand. H3027
For he is not a man, H376 as I am, that I should answer H6030 him, and we should come H935 together H3162 in judgment. H4941 Neither is H3426 there any daysman H3198 betwixt us, that might lay H7896 his hand H3027 upon us both. H8147 Let him take H5493 his rod H7626 away H5493 from me, and let not his fear H367 terrify H1204 me: Then would I speak, H1696 and not fear H3372 him; but it is not so with me.
How long H4100 wilt thou not depart H8159 from me, nor let me alone H7503 till I swallow down H1104 my spittle? H7536 I have sinned; H2398 what shall I do H6466 unto thee, O thou preserver H5341 of men? H120 why hast thou set H7760 me as a mark H4645 against thee, so that I am a burden H4853 to myself? And why dost thou not pardon H5375 my transgression, H6588 and take away H5674 mine iniquity? H5771 for now shall I sleep H7901 in the dust; H6083 and thou shalt seek me in the morning, H7836 but I shall not be.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 40
Commentary on Job 40 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 40
Job 40:1-24. God's Second Address.
He had paused for a reply, but Job was silent.
1. the Lord—Hebrew, "Jehovah."
2. he that contendeth—as Job had so often expressed a wish to do. Or, rebuketh. Does Job now still (after seeing and hearing of God's majesty and wisdom) wish to set God right?
answer it—namely, the questions I have asked.
3. Lord—Jehovah.
4. 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; Jud 18:19).
5. Once … twice—oftentimes, more than once (Job 33:14, compare with Job 33:29; Ps 62:11):
I have spoken—namely, against God.
not answer—not plead against Thee.
6. the Lord—Jehovah.
7. (See on Job 38:3). 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).
8. 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).
9. arm—God's omnipotence (Isa 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?
11. rage—rather, pour out the redundant floods of, &c.
behold—Try, canst thou, as God, by a mere glance abase the proud (Isa 2:12, &c.)?
12. proud—high (Da 4:37).
in their place—on the spot; suddenly, before they can move from their place. (See on Job 34:26; Job 36:20).
13. (Isa 2:10). Abase and remove them out of the sight of men.
bind … faces—that is, 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; Es 7:8).
in secret—consign them to darkness.
14. confess—rather, "extol"; "I also," who now censure thee. But since thou canst not do these works, thou must, instead of censuring, extol My government.
thine own … hand … save—(Ps 44:3). So as to eternal salvation by Jesus Christ (Isa 59:16; 63:5).
15-24. 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), much less is he capable of governing the world.
behemoth—The description in part agrees with the hippopotamus, in part with the elephant, but exactly in all details with neither. It is rather a poetical personification of the great Pachydermata, or Herbivora (so "he eateth grass"), the idea of the hippopotamus being predominant. In Job 40:17, "the tail like a cedar," hardly applies to the latter (so also Job 40:20, 23, "Jordan," a river which elephants alone could reach, but see on Job 40:23). On the other hand, Job 40:21, 22 are characteristic of the amphibious river horse. So leviathan (the twisting animal), Job 41:1, is a generalized term for cetacea, pythons, saurians of the neighboring seas and rivers, including the crocodile, which is the most prominent, and is often associated with the river horse by old writers. "Behemoth" seems to be the Egyptian Pehemout, "water-ox," Hebraized, so-called as being like an ox, whence the Italian bombarino.
with thee—as I made thyself. Yet how great the difference! The manifold wisdom and power of God!
he eateth grass—marvellous in an animal living so much in the water; also strange, that such a monster should not be carnivorous.
16. navel—rather, "muscles" of his belly; the weakest point of the elephant, therefore it is not meant.
17. like a cedar—As the tempest bends the cedar, so it can move its smooth thick tail [Umbreit]. But the cedar implies straightness and length, such as do not apply to the river horse's short tail, but perhaps to an extinct species of animal (see on Job 40:15).
stones—rather, "thighs."
wrapped—firmly twisted together, like a thick rope.
18. strong—rather, "tubes" of copper [Umbreit].
19. Chief of the works of God; so "ways" (Job 26:14; Pr 8:22).
can make his sword to approach—rather, "has furnished him with his sword" (harpe), namely, the sickle-like teeth with which he cuts down grain. English Version, however, is literally right.
20. The mountain is not his usual haunt. Bochart says it is sometimes found there (?).
beasts … play—a graphic trait: though armed with such teeth, he lets the beasts play near him unhurt, for his food is grass.
21. lieth—He leads an inactive life.
shady trees—rather, "lotus bushes"; as Job 40:22 requires.
22. shady trees—Translate: "lotus bushes."
23. Rather, "(Though) a river be violent (overflow), he trembleth not"; (for though living on land, he can live in the water, too); he is secure, though a Jordan swell up to his mouth. "Jordan" is used for any great river (consonant with the "behemoth"), being a poetical generalization (see on Job 40:15). The author cannot have been a Hebrew as Umbreit asserts, or he would not adduce the Jordan, where there were no river horses. He alludes to it as a name for any river, but not as one known to him, except by hearsay.
24. Rather, "Will any take him by open force" (literally, "before his eyes"), "or pierce his nose with cords?" No; he can only be taken by guile, and in a pitfall (Job 41:1, 2).