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Job 40 Bible study: An arm like God

When the LORD tells Job, "Array yourself with honor and majesty" (40:10), he uses the three Hebrew words of a psalm's "You are clothed with honor and majesty" (Psalm 104:1), said to the LORD. And Job's "I will proceed no further" (40:5) uses the verb of "Job again took up his parable" (27:1, 29:1).

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“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.”
Job 40:4 · World English Bible

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“In his last answer, Job repeats the LORD's words, "I will question you, and you will answer me".”

Is that in Job 40, or not? Make your call.

What's really going on

"I will proceed no further"

In the text

"Moreover the LORD answered Job" (40:1). This heading opens only one more verse of the LORD's first speech, which began at 38:1: "Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it" (40:2) (tap argues). Then "Job answered the LORD" (40:3): "Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth" (40:4) (tap small account), and "I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further" (40:5) (tap proceed). In Hebrew I am of small account is one verb, qalal, which the WEB gives elsewhere in Job as swifter (7:6, 9:25) and cursed (3:1, 24:18). Here is what almost everyone misses: proceed further is the verb of "Job again took up his parable, and said" (27:1, 29:1). Twice the book says Job took up his words again, and here he says he will not. That is all Job says in this chapter. The next heading is the LORD's (40:6).

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Job 40

That was a taste

The rest of Job 40 is waiting in Favor

  • "Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?"
  • "Do you have an arm like God?"
  • "See now behemoth"
  • Honor and majesty, and a right hand that saves
  • "No further"
  • Not able to do even the least things
  • 7 questions as you read
  • 13 more Hebrew words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
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The Hebrew word behind it

זְרוֹעַzeroasay ze-RO-a

Brown-Driver-Briggs: "arm, shoulder, strength", including "arm, as symbol of strength". Strong's: "the arm (as stretched out)". "Or do you have an arm like God?" (40:9). It stands beside 40:14's verb save once before in Job, in Job's answer to Bildad (26:1): "How have you saved the arm that has no strength!" (26:2). The LORD had said, "The high arm is broken" (38:15). A psalm puts it beside 40:14's right hand and save: "His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him" (Psalm 98:1). It comes six times in the Hebrew of Job.

For your group

Job 40 Bible study questions

  1. 1"I lay my hand on my mouth" (40:4). When has being quiet been the most honest answer you could give?
  2. 2"Or do you have an arm like God?" (40:9). What are you trying to carry or fix that only God can?
  3. 3"See now behemoth, which I made as well as you" (40:15). How does it change the way you see yourself to remember that the same God made you and the strongest creatures?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Job 40 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

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Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

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Can I read Job 40 straight away?

Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Job 40 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.

Do I need a group?

No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.

I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?

Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.

Which Bible does Favor use?

The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.

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No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home