Catholic Commentary on Job 40

"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!" (Job 40:2)

Job Humbles Himself

The LORD challenges Job: will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him! Job answers: I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once but I have no answer - twice, but I will say no more. The LORD speaks again from the storm: would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his? Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you; he feeds on grass like an ox. His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit. Can you haul in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope? Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering.

The Catechism identifies Job's silence before God as the fruit of the encounter with the Holy - not the silence of despair but the silence of the creature before the Creator who has revealed himself (CCC 2100).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, I put my hand over my mouth. Job's silence after God's speech is the right response. There are moments when the correct posture before God is not more words but a hand over the mouth - the recognition that you have been speaking about realities you have not understood, before the One who understands them completely. Receive the silence as gift.

Prayer

Lord God, we put our hands over our mouths. We have spoken about what we do not understand. You understand all things. We listen. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

40
Job Humbles Himself before the LORD
1 And the LORD said to Job:
 
2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
 
3 Then Job answered the LORD:
 
4 “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You?
I place my hand over my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, but I have no answer-
twice, but I have nothing to add.”
The LORD Challenges Job Again
 
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
 
7 “Now brace yourself * 40:7 Hebrew gird up your loins like a man;
I will question you, and you shall inform Me.† 40:7 Cited in Job 42:4
 
8 Would you really annul My justice?
Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
9 Do you have an arm like God’s?
Can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath;
look on every proud man and bring him low.
12 Look on every proud man and humble him;
trample the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them together in the dust;
imprison them in the grave.‡ 40:13 Or in the hidden place
14 Then I will confess to you
that your own right hand can save you.
 
15 Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you.
He feeds on grass like an ox.
16 See the strength of his loins
and the power in the muscles of his belly.
17 His tail sways like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze;
his limbs are rods of iron.
19 He is the foremost of God’s works;§ 40:19 Hebrew ways
only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
20 The hills yield him their produce,
while all the beasts of the field play nearby.
21 He lies under the lotus plants,* 40:21 Or bramble bushes; also in verse 22
hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
22 The lotus plants conceal him in their shade;
the willows † 40:22 Or poplars of the brook surround him.
23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid;
he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him as he looks on,
or pierce his nose with a snare?

*40:7 40:7 Hebrew gird up your loins

†40:7 40:7 Cited in Job 42:4

‡40:13 40:13 Or in the hidden place

§40:19 40:19 Hebrew ways

*40:21 40:21 Or bramble bushes; also in verse 22

†40:22 40:22 Or poplars

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