Read & explore together
The LORD Challenges Job Again
In Job 40:6–24, Yahweh answers Job with questions and a challenge. The passage does not explain suffering directly. It points instead to God’s judgment, God’s power, and a mighty creature God made.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
Yahweh speaks to Job out of the whirlwind and tells him to be ready to answer. Yahweh questions whether Job can set aside God’s judgment or take God’s place. Then Yahweh describes behemoth to show striking strength within God’s creation.
Job 40:6–24Main takeaway
This passage shows that Job cannot take God’s place, because God’s judgment and power are beyond human ability.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Yahweh speaks and Job must answerYahweh answers Job out of the whirlwind and tells him to brace himself. Yahweh will do the questioning, and Job must answer.
02Questions about God’s judgment and strengthYahweh asks whether Job would annul God’s judgment or condemn God in order to be justified.
03Can Job bring down the proud?Yahweh tells Job to put on honour and majesty, then to look at the proud, humble them, crush the wicked, and hide them in the dust.
04Behemoth belongs to God’s creationYahweh points to behemoth, which he made as well as Job. It eats grass, yet has great bodily strength, strong bones, and powerful limbs.
Explanation
Yahweh points to behemoth, which he made as well as Job. It eats grass, yet has great bodily strength, strong bones, and powerful limbs. It lies among lotus trees and reeds, and it does not tremble when a river overflows. People cannot easily capture it.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What is Yahweh asking when he says, “Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?”
Stay close to the wording of the question and consider what it would mean to set yourself right by condemning God.
02Why does Yahweh list actions against the proud and the wicked?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Job 40:6–24
6Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind:
7“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
8Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
9Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
10“Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
11Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
12Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
13Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
14Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
16Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
17He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
19He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
20Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
21He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
22The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
23Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
24Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?