Job Chapter 40

Of the power of God in the behemoth and the leviathan.

40:1. And the Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:

40:2. Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and do thou tell me.

40:3. Wilt thou make void my judgment: and condemn me, that thou mayst be justified?

40:4. And hast thou an arm like God, and canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

40:5. Clothe thyself with beauty, and set thyself up on high, and be glorious, and put on goodly garments.

40:6. Scatter the proud in thy indignation, and behold every arrogant man, and humble him.

40:7. Look on all that are proud, and confound them, and crush the wicked in their place,

40:8. Hide them in the dust together, and plunge their faces into the pit.

40:9. Then I will confess that thy right hand is able to save thee.

40:10. Behold behemoth whom I made with thee, he eateth grass like an ox.

Behemoth. . .In Hebrew, behema, which signifies in general an animal; but many authors explain, that here it is put for the elephant.

40:11. His strength is in his loins, and his force in the navel of his belly.

40:12. He setteth up his tail like a cedar, the sinews of his testicles are wrapped together.

40:13. His bones are like pipes of brass, his gristle like plates of iron.

40:14. He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him, he will apply his sword.

He will apply his sword. . .This text is variously explained: some explain the sword, the horn given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God hath given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God hath given to man to slay him, notwithstanding his great size and strength.

40:15. To him the mountains bring forth grass: there all the beasts of the field shall play.

40:16. He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.

40:17. The shades cover his shadow, the willows of the brook shall compass him about.

40:18. Behold, he will drink up a river, and not wonder: and he trusteth that the Jordan may run into his mouth.

40:19. In his eyes as with a hook he shall take him, and bore through his nostrils with stakes.

40:20. Canst thou draw out the leviathan with a hook, or canst thou tie his tongue with a cord?

Leviathan. . .The whale or some sea monster.

40:21. Canst thou put a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with a buckle?

40:22. Will he make many supplications to thee, or speak soft words to thee?

40:23. Will he make a covenant with thee, and wilt thou take him to be a servant for ever,

40:24. Shalt thou play with him as with a bird, or tie him up for thy handmaids?

40:25. Shall friends cut him in pieces, shall merchants divide him?

40:26. Wilt thou fill nets with his skin, and the cabins of fishes with his head?

40:27. Lay thy hand upon him: remember the battle, and speak no more.

40:28. Behold his hope shall fail him, and in the sight of all he shall be cast down.