19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
19 He is the chief H7225 of the ways H1870 of God: H410 he that made H6213 him can make H5066 his sword H2719 to approach H5066 unto him.
20 Surely the mountains H2022 bring him forth H5375 food, H944 where all the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 play. H7832
21 He lieth H7901 under the shady trees, H6628 in the covert H5643 of the reed, H7070 and fens. H1207
22 The shady trees H6628 cover H5526 him with their shadow; H6752 the willows H6155 of the brook H5158 compass him about. H5437
23 Behold, he drinketh up H6231 a river, H5104 and hasteth H2648 not: he trusteth H982 that he can draw up H1518 Jordan H3383 into his mouth. H6310
24 He taketh H3947 it with his eyes: H5869 his nose H639 pierceth through H5344 snares. H4170
19 He is the chief of the ways of God: He `only' that made him giveth him his sword.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play.
21 He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen.
22 The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth.
24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?
19 He `is' a beginning of the ways of God, His Maker bringeth nigh his sword;
20 For food do mountains bear for him, And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 Under shades he lieth down, In a secret place of reed and mire.
22 Cover him do shades, `with' their shadow, Cover him do willows of the brook.
23 Lo, a flood oppresseth -- he doth not haste, He is confident though Jordan Doth come forth unto his mouth.
24 Before his eyes doth `one' take him, With snares doth `one' pierce the nose?
19 He is the chief of ùGod's ways: he that made him gave him his sword.
20 For the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under lotus-bushes, in the covert of the reed and fen:
22 Lotus-bushes cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
23 Lo, the river overfloweth -- he startleth not: he is confident though a Jordan break forth against his mouth.
24 Shall he be taken in front? will they pierce through [his] nose in the trap?
19 He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the animals of the field do play.
21 He lies under the lotus trees, In the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
22 The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
23 Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn't tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?
19 Will anyone take him when he is on the watch, or put metal teeth through his nose?
20 Is it possible for Leviathan to be pulled out with a fish-hook, or for a hook to be put through the bone of his mouth?
21 Will you put a cord into his nose, or take him away with a cord round his tongue?
22 Will he make prayers to you, or say soft words to you?
23 Will he make an agreement with you, so that you may take him as a servant for ever?
24 Will you make sport with him, as with a bird? or put him in chains for your young women?
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).