What is the meaning of Job 40?

Introduction to Job 40

Job 40 stands as one of the most profound dialogues between God and humanity recorded in Scripture. In this remarkable chapter, we witness the continuation of יהוה (Yahweh)’s response to Job from the whirlwind, where divine majesty confronts human limitations. The chapter opens with a direct challenge to Job’s previous complaints about divine justice, then transitions into a masterful portrayal of two mysterious creatures – Behemoth and Leviathan – as demonstrations of God’s incomparable creative power and sovereign rule over all creation.

This chapter is particularly significant because it represents a crucial turning point in Job’s spiritual journey, where divine wisdom meets human understanding, and the true nature of righteousness and humility before God is explored in unprecedented depth.

Context of Job 40

Job 40 continues directly from chapter 39, forming the second part of God’s extended response to Job’s challenges. This chapter falls within the final section of the book (chapters 38-42), where God at last breaks His silence and addresses Job directly. The placement is strategic, coming after Job’s repeated demands for an audience with God (Job 31:35) and the failure of his three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar – to properly explain his suffering.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter serves as a pivotal text on the nature of divine-human relationships. It connects thematically with other Scripture passages dealing with human attempts to question God’s justice, such as Romans 9:20 where Paul asks, “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” The chapter’s emphasis on God’s power over creation also echoes Genesis 1-2 and Psalms 104, establishing God’s absolute sovereignty over all created things.

This chapter must also be understood within the larger wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible, where it stands unique in presenting divine wisdom not through proverbs or poetry, but through a direct divine discourse that challenges human wisdom at its core. The descriptions of Behemoth and Leviathan serve not just as zoological catalogs but as profound theological statements about God’s power and humanity’s place in creation.

Ancient Key Word Study

• יסר (yasar) – “Contend” (v. 2): This Hebrew word carries the legal connotation of bringing a charge or entering into judgment. Its usage here is particularly potent as it presents God as both judge and prosecutor, challenging Job’s previous attempts to “contend” with Him. The word appears in other contexts where God enters into legal disputes with His people (Hosea 4:1), highlighting the serious nature of Job’s complaints.
• שדי (Shaddai) – “Almighty” (v. 2): One of the most significant divine names in Scripture, El Shaddai conveys God’s absolute power and self-sufficiency. Its use here is particularly relevant as it emphasizes God’s unlimited strength in contrast to Job’s limitations. The name carries connotations of both power and provision, suggesting that God’s might is not arbitrary but purposeful.
• צדק (tzedek) – “Righteousness” (v. 8): This fundamental Hebrew concept goes beyond mere legal correctness to encompass the idea of proper relationship and order in creation. When Job is questioned about “disannulling” God’s righteousness, the issue at stake is not just divine justice but the very ordering of creation itself.
• זרוע (zeroa) – “Arm” (v. 9): This word frequently appears as a metaphor for divine power in the Hebrew Bible. Its use here creates a striking contrast between human and divine capability. The arm of God is associated with both creation and redemption throughout Scripture, making its appearance here particularly significant.
• גאון (gaon) – “Excellence/Pride” (v. 10): This term carries a dual meaning in Hebrew, referring to both legitimate majesty and inappropriate pride. Its usage here creates a subtle wordplay as God challenges Job to clothe himself in divine attributes, knowing this is impossible for any creature.
• בהמות (behemoth) – “Behemoth” (v. 15): This unique term, appearing in the plural form but referring to a singular creature, has sparked centuries of debate. The word likely derives from the standard Hebrew word for “beast” (behemah) but is intensified to describe something beyond ordinary animal life.
• כח (koach) – “Strength” (v. 16): This word appears repeatedly in descriptions of both Behemoth and Leviathan, emphasizing physical power. Its repeated use builds a picture of creatures whose might serves as a testament to their Creator’s even greater power.
• גיד (gid) – “Sinews” (v. 17): This specialized anatomical term reflects the detailed nature of God’s knowledge of His creation. Its use in describing Behemoth’s physical structure emphasizes both the creature’s power and God’s intimate knowledge of its design.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 2’s challenge “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him?” could have been phrased as a simple rebuke, but instead uses legal terminology (יסר – yasar) to mirror Job’s own previous attempts to bring God to court. This creates a powerful reversal where the would-be prosecutor becomes the defendant.
• In verse 8, the phrase “Wilt thou also disannul my judgment?” employs the specific term תפר (tafer), which literally means “to break” or “dissolve.” This choice is significant as it suggests not just disagreement with God’s justice but an attempt to invalidate or destroy it – a much more serious charge.
• The description of Behemoth in verse 15 uses the phrase “made with thee,” employing the preposition עם (im) rather than a simple direct object marker. This emphasizes not just chronological creation but creation in relationship to humanity, highlighting themes of divine purpose in creation.
• Verse 10’s command to “deck thyself with majesty” uses specific Hebrew terms for royal regalia (גאון and הדר), deliberately echoing descriptions of God’s own majesty elsewhere in Scripture. This creates an ironic challenge that highlights the absurdity of human attempts to rival divine authority.
• The anatomical description of Behemoth in verses 16-18 uses precise technical terms rather than general descriptions, demonstrating God’s intimate knowledge of His creation and establishing His authority through expertise rather than mere power.

Job 40 Unique Insights

The chapter presents a fascinating theological perspective on the nature of divine justice and human limitations. The opening challenge to Job (verses 1-2) employs a specific type of legal discourse known in ancient Near Eastern texts as a rîb pattern – a covenant lawsuit. This format would have been familiar to ancient audiences from international treaties and legal proceedings, lending additional weight to God’s words.

The description of Behemoth has generated centuries of scholarly discussion. While some modern commentators attempt to identify it with known animals like the hippopotamus, ancient Jewish interpretations often saw it as a unique creature made specifically to demonstrate God’s creative power. The Talmud (Baba Bathra 74b) suggests that Behemoth was created on the fifth day and is being preserved for the righteous in the messianic age – a view that emphasizes its symbolic significance beyond mere natural history.

The chapter’s structure reveals a sophisticated rhetorical strategy. God first challenges Job’s ability to exercise divine justice (verses 6-14), then demonstrates His own authority through the creation of magnificent creatures (verses 15-24). This movement from abstract principle to concrete example reflects a pedagogical approach found in other wisdom literature, but here it’s given unique force by coming directly from God Himself.

Some early rabbinical sources connect this chapter’s emphasis on divine power with the concept of צמצום (tzimtzum) – God’s self-limitation in creation. The fact that God chooses to answer Job at all, and does so through examples from nature rather than simply overwhelming him with raw power, suggests a divine pedagogy that respects human dignity while maintaining divine authority.

Job 40 Connections to Yeshua

The chapter’s themes of divine authority and human humility find their ultimate expression in the Messiah Yeshua, who demonstrated true righteousness not by asserting His rights but by submitting to the Father’s will. The contrast between Job’s desire to justify himself and Yeshua’s perfect submission offers a powerful lesson in true righteousness (Philippians 2:5-8).

The description of divine power over creation in this chapter also points forward to Yeshua’s authority over nature, demonstrated in His miracles and particularly in His command over the sea (Mark 4:35-41). The Behemoth and Leviathan, as symbols of God’s sovereign power over the mightiest of creatures, foreshadow Messiah’s ultimate victory over all opposing forces, both natural and spiritual (Colossians 2:15).

Job 40 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates deeply with other biblical passages that explore the theme of divine power and human limitation. The challenge to Job to clothe himself with majesty echoes Psalm 93:1, where יהוה (Yahweh) alone is clothed with majesty and strength. The description of Behemoth’s power finds parallel in Psalm 104, where God’s mastery over all creatures is celebrated.

The legal language used in the chapter’s opening recalls similar divine lawsuits in the prophets, particularly Micah 6 and Isaiah 1. The theme of human inability to rival God’s justice appears again in Isaiah 40:12-31, where similar questions about human capacity to challenge God are raised.

Job 40 Devotional

In a world that often encourages self-assertion and demands for justice, Job 40 calls us to a deeper understanding of our place before God. The chapter challenges us to examine our own tendency to question God’s wisdom when facing difficulties. Are we, like Job, sometimes guilty of trying to “instruct” God about how He should run His universe?

The descriptions of Behemoth remind us that God’s creation far exceeds our understanding. This should inspire both humility and wonder – humility in recognizing our limitations, and wonder at being able to know and worship such a magnificent Creator. When facing life’s mysteries and challenges, we can find peace in submitting to God’s wisdom rather than demanding explanations.

Did You Know

• The word “Behemoth” (בהמות) is actually a plural form in Hebrew, but it’s used to describe a singular creature – a grammatical intensification suggesting something beyond ordinary animal life.
• The legal terminology used in verses 1-2 mirrors exactly the format of ancient Near Eastern covenant lawsuits, suggesting this divine response follows a recognized pattern of judicial proceedings.
• Some ancient Jewish commentators saw the Behemoth as a mythological creature created specifically to demonstrate God’s power, with some traditions holding it would be served at the messianic banquet.
• The anatomical terms used to describe Behemoth are surprisingly technical and precise in Hebrew, suggesting a level of scientific observation unusual for ancient literature.
• The phrase “made with thee” in verse 15 uses a preposition (עם) that implies companionship or relationship, not just chronological creation.
• The description of Behemoth’s tail “like a cedar” uses imagery that would have been particularly striking in the ancient Near East, where cedars were symbols of strength and permanence.
• The chapter forms part of the longest divine speech in the Bible, spanning four chapters – the most extended direct discourse from God in Scripture.
• The challenge to “deck thyself with majesty” uses terms specifically associated with royal regalia in other biblical texts, creating a sophisticated ironic challenge to human pretensions.
• The word for “sinews” (גידים) in verse 17 is the same term used in Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, creating an interesting connection between these texts about God’s power over physical creation.