In this chapter Job is called upon to give in his answer, Job 40:1, Job 40:2, which he does in the most humble manner, acknowledging his vileness and folly, Job 40:3–5; and then the Lord proceeds to give him further conviction of his superior justice and power, Job 40:6–9; and one thing he proposes…

Moreover the Lord answered Job The Lord having discoursed largely of the works of nature, in order to reconcile the mind of Job to his works of providence, stopped and made a pause for a little space, that Job might answer if he thought fit; but he being entirely silent, the Lord began again: and…

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? &c.] Is he capable of it? He ought to be that takes upon him to dispute with God, to object or reply to him; that brings a charge against him, enters the debate, and litigates a point with him; which Job wanted to do.

Then Job answered the Lord Finding that he was obliged to answer, he did, but with some reluctance: and said; as follows:

Behold, I am vile Or “light” [[0]]; which may have respect either to his words and arguments, which he thought had force in them, but now he saw they had none; or to his works and actions, the integrity of his life, and the uprightness of his ways, which he imagined were weighty and of great…

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer Some think this refers to what he had just now said of his vileness, he had owned that, and that was all he had to say, or would say, he would give no other answer; Jarchi says, some suppose he has respect to his words in ; yea, twice; but I will proceed no…

Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind Some think that the whirlwind ceased while the Lord spake the words in ; which encouraged Job to make the answer he did; but others are of opinion that it continued, and now increased, and was more boisterous than before.

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and, declare thou unto me And prepare to give an answer to what should be demanded of him. The same way of speaking is used in ; (See Gill on Job 38:3).

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? &c.] The decrees and purposes of God concerning his dealings with men, particularly the afflictions of them, which are framed with the highest wisdom and reason, and according to the strictest justice, and can never be frustrated or made void; or the sentence of…

Hast thou an arm like God? &c.] Such power as he has, which is infinite, almighty, and uncontrollable, and therefore there is no contending with him; as he has an arm on which good men may lean on and trust in, and by which they are supported, protected, and saved, so he has an arm to crush like a…

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency With excellent majesty, as I am decked and clothed, ; and array thyself with glory and beauty; appear in the most glorious and splendid manner thou canst, make the best figure thou art able, put on royal robes, and take thy seat and throne, and sit as a…

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath Work thyself up into a passion, at least seemingly; put on all the airs of a wrathful and enraged king on a throne of state, whose wrath is like the roaring of a lion, and as messengers of death; pour out menaces plentifully, threatening what thou wilt do; and try…

Look on everyone that is proud, and bring him low As the Lord often does; see (Isa. 2:11, Isa. 2:12) ; this is the same as before; and tread down the wicked in their place; the same with the proud, for pride makes men wicked; it is a sin, and very odious in the sight of God, and is highly resented…

Hide them in the dust together Either in the dust of death, that they may be seen no more in this world, in the same place and circumstances where they showed their pride and haughtiness; or in the dust of the grave, and let them have an inglorious burial, like that of malefactors thrown into some…

Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. ] From all his enemies temporal and spiritual, and out of all evils and calamities whatsoever; and that he stood in no need of his help and assistance, yea, that he was a match for him, and might be allowed to contend with…

Behold, now behemoth The word is plural, and signifies beasts, and may be used to denote the chiefest and largest of beasts, and therefore is commonly understood of the elephant; and certain it is that a single beast is described in the following account, and so the word is rendered, ; The word is…

Lo now, his strength is in his loins The strength of the elephant is well known, being able to carry a castle on its back, with a number of men therein; but what follows does not seem so well to agree with it; and his force is in the navel of his belly; since the belly of the elephant is very…

He moveth his tail like a cedar To which it is compared, not for the length and largeness of it; for the tail both of the elephant and of the river horse is short; though Vartomannus [[2]] says, the tail of the elephant is like a buffalo’s, and is four hands long, and thin of hair: but because of…

His bones are as strong pieces of brass: his bones are as bars of iron. ] Than which nothing is stronger. The repetition is made for greater illustration and confirmation; but what is said is not applicable to the elephant, whose bones are porous and rimous, light and spongy for the most part, as…

He is the chief of the ways of God Or the beginning of them, that is, of the works of God in creation; which must be restrained to animals, otherwise there were works wrought before any of them were created.

Surely the mountains bring him forth food Grass, which grows on mountains, and is the food of the river horse as well as of the elephant; and therefore is furnished with teeth like a scythe to mow it down; and it is not a small quantity that will suffice it, mountains only can supply it; and…

He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. ] This may be thought to agree very well with the river horse, the inhabitant of the Nile, where reeds in great plenty grew, and adjoining to which were fenny and marshy places, and shady trees; and, as historians relate [[4]],…

The shady trees cover him with their shadow Under which it lies, as in ; which is thought not so well to agree with the elephant, since, according to Aelianus [[7]] and other writers, it lies not down, at least but rarely, but sleeps standing; it being very troublesome to it to lie down and rise up…

Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not The elephant is indeed a very thirsty animal, and drinks largely; the philosopher [[10]] says it drinks nine Macedonian bushels at a feeding, and that it will drink fourteen Macedonian measures of water at once, and eight more at noon; but to drink up…

He taketh it with his eyes Or “can men take him before his eyes?” so Mr. Broughton; and others translate it to the same purpose; no, he is not to be taken openly, but privately, by some insidious crafty methods; whether it be understood of the elephant or river horse; elephants, according to Strabo…