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

¹ But the Lord, answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:

² Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.

³ Will you make my judgment null and void; and will you condemn me so that you may be justified?

⁴ And do you have an arm like God, or a voice like thunder?

⁵ Envelop yourself with splendor, and raise yourself up on high, and be glorious, and put on splendid garments.

⁶ Scatter the arrogant with your wrath, and, when you see all the arrogant, humble them.

⁷ Look down upon each of the arrogant and confound them, and crush the impious in their place.

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

⁹ Then I will confess that your right hand is able to save you.

¹⁰ Behold, the behemoth, whom I created along with you, eats hay like an ox.¹²

1. 40:10This passage about the behemoth is a poetic and prophetic description of the beast described in the book of Revelation.(Conte)
2. 40:10Behemoth: In Hebrew, behema, which signifies in general an animal; but many authors explain, that here it is put for the elephant.(Challoner)

¹¹ His strength is in his lower back, and his power is in the center of his abdomen.

¹² He draws up his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs have been drawn together.

¹³ His bones are like pipes of brass; his cartilage is like plates of iron.

¹⁴ He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him; he will use him as his sword.¹

1. 40:14He 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 has given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God has given to man to slay him, notwithstanding his great size and strength.(Challoner)

¹⁵ The mountains bring forth grass for him; all the beasts of the field will play there.

¹⁶ He sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.

¹⁷ The shadows cover his shadow; the willows of the brook will encircle him.

¹⁸ Behold, he will drink a river and not be amazed, and he has confidence that the Jordan could flow into his mouth.

¹⁹ He will seize him through his eyes, as if with a hook, and he will bore through his nostrils, as if with stakes.

²⁰ Can you draw out the leviathan with a hook, and can you bind his tongue with a cord?¹

1. 40:20Leviathan: The whale or some sea monster.(Challoner)

²¹ Can you place a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with an arm band?

²² Will he offer many prayers to you, or speak to you quietly?

²³ Will he form a covenant with you, and will you accept him as a servant forever?

²⁴ Will you play with him as with a bird, or tether him for your handmaids?

²⁵ Will your friends cut him into pieces, will dealers distribute him?

²⁶ Will you fill up bags with his hide, and let his head be used as a home for fishes?

²⁷ Place your hand upon him; remember the battle and speak no more.

²⁸ Behold, his hope will fail him, and in the sight of all, he will be thrown down.