Job 40

Job · Chapter 40

Job 40:4

1Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,2Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.3Then Job answered the LORD, and said,4Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.5Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.6Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,7Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?9Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?10Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.11Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.12Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.13Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.14Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.15Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.16Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.17He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.18His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.19He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.20Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.21He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.22The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.23Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.24He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
4Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
here!הֵ֣ןhenH2005
look!

הֵן (hen) interj 1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part 2) if Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)

I am insignificantקַ֭לֹּתִיKA-lo-tiH7043
to lighten

קָלַל (qa.lal) 1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water) 1a2) to be swift 1a3) to be trifling, be of little account 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift 1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant 1b3) to be lightly esteemed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to make despicable 1c2) to curse 1d) (Pual) to be cursed 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to make light, lighten 1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour 1f) (Pilpel) 1f1) to shake 1f2) to whet 1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

what?מָ֣הmahH4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

will I respond to youאֲשִׁיבֶ֑ךָּ'a-shi-VE-kaH7725M
to return: return

שׁוּב (shuv) : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) …

hand myיָ֝דִ֗יya-DIH3027G
hand

יָד (yad) : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists

I putשַׂ֣מְתִּיSAM-tiH7760HNo entry
toלְמוֹ־le-mov-H3926
upon

לְמוֹ (le.mo) 1) at, to, for, in, of, by, in reference to 1a) poetic form of inseparable preposition

mouth myפִֽי׃FiH6310G
lip

פֶּה (peh) : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.