Job 40:15-42:6 NIV

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 40:15-24

Two beasts (40:15-41:34)Before Job accepts the challenge to govern the moral order, God warns him that it is far more difficult than governing the natural and physical order. Therefore, Job must first consider what power he has over, for instance, the beasts. Two examples are sufficient to impress upon Job that he faces an impossibility. The first of these is the monster Behemoth, generally thought to be the hippopotamus. It is among the strongest creatures of God’s creation (15-18),... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 40:15

BEHOLD NOW; BEHEMOTH!"Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee;He eateth grass as an ox.Lo now, his strength is in his loins,And his force is in the muscles of his belly.He moveth his tail like a cedar:The sinews of his thighs are knit together.His bones are as tubes of brass;His limbs are like bars of iron.He is the chief of the ways of God:He only that made him giveth him his sword.Surely the mountains bring him forth food,Where all the beasts of the field do play.He lieth under the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 40:15

Job 40:15. Behemoth— The Hebrew word בהמות behemoth expresses that animal which eminently partakes of the bestial or brutish nature. Bochart seems to have proved to a demonstration, that the behemoth is the hippopotamus, the sea-horse, or, more properly, the river-horse. The Sieur Thevenot, saw one of these animals at Cairo. "This animal," says he, "was of a tan colour; its hind parts resemble those of an ox or buffaloe, excepting that its feet were shorter and thicker; in size it is equal to a... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 40:15

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 :-,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 40:6-34

3. God’s second speech 40:6-41:34This second divine discourse is similar to, yet different from, the first. It began as the first one did with a challenge to Job (Job 40:6-14; cf. Job 38:1-3), but it did not end with one (cf. Job 40:1-2). In the first speech Yahweh spoke of His inanimate creation and of His animate creation, specifically 10 animals. In the second speech He concentrated on only two creatures: Behemoth and Leviathan."The second speech is not a mere afterthought about two... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 40:15-34

God’s questions 40:15-41:34Yahweh’s purpose in directing Job’s attention to such inexplicable animals on land (Behemoth) and in the water (Leviathan) seems to have been almost the same as His purpose in His first speech. He intended to humble Job by reminding him of his very limited power and wisdom, compared with God’s, so Job would submit to His Lordship.Scholars disagree on the question of whether the Behemoth and Leviathan that the writer described here were real or mythological creatures.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:1-24

The Speeches of the AlmightyWhen the human debate was over, and Job had proudly asserted his readiness to confront God, conscious of his innocence (Job 31:35-37), there was nothing left, if the contest was to be decided, except a direct intervention of God. This Job had himself again and again demanded. He had challenged God to meet him and justify the treatment He accorded to him. He complains bitterly that God evades him, and lets him suffer, though He knows that he is innocent. Now at last... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:6-24

The Second Speech of the AlmightyJob, we know, in his anxiety to prove his integrity had been led into casting doubts on the justice of God's government of the world. He is here ironically invited to take God's place as ruler of the universe, and to display a wisdom as great as that of God. If he proved himself competent to do this, then, and not till then, he may consider himself independent of God and criticise His actions.8. Disannul my judgment] deny my righteousness. 13. In secret] RV 'in... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:6-34

The Second Speech of the AlmightyJob, we know, in his anxiety to prove his integrity had been led into casting doubts on the justice of God’s government of the world. He is here ironically invited to take God’s place as ruler of the universe, and to display a wisdom as great as that of God. If he proved himself competent to do this, then, and not till then, he may consider himself independent of God and criticise His actions.8. Disannul my judgment] deny my righteousness. 13. In secret] RV ’in... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 40:15

(15) Behemoth.—The identification of behemoth has always been a great difficulty with commentators. The word in Hebrew is really the natural plural of behçmâh, which means domestic cattle; and this fact would suggest the idea that more than one animal may be meant in the description (Job 40:15-24), which scarcely seems to answer to one and the same. In this way the Job 40:15-20 would describe very well the elephant, and Job 40:21-24 the hippopotamus. The objection to this is, that behçmâh is... read more

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 40:15-24

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 40:15

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 40:15

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 40:15

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 40:6-34

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 40:15-34

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:1-24

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:6-24

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:6-34

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 40:15

Group of Brands