The Bible Says Commentary on Job 40

Job 40:1-5: God invites Job to speak, to show Him what knowledge or action He lacks. Job answers appropriately, “I can’t talk back to you. I’m nothing. I’ll be quiet.”

Job 40:6-14 contains God’s continued chastisement of Job. The LORD tells Job to prepare himself for more instruction. He makes Job an offer; if Job can teach God, or justify himself, then God will praise him. If Job can give himself majesty, if he can humble the proud and stop all evildoing on earth, then God will acknowledge Job’s equality with God. But, of course, Job is a mere man. He cannot do any of this.

Job 40:15-24 details the Behemoth, an animal that lives by the river. God uses the Behemoth to illustrate to Job that even a fellow creature is more powerful than Job. Behemoth eats grass like a cow, and yet he is so strong his tail is like a cedar tree and his bones are like metal. He is the mightiest of creatures. He lays about in the swamps and does not mind if the river floods near him. Nothing frightens him. No man can capture him or put a leash on him.