---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Job 40:1. Moreover the Lord answered — That is, the Lord continued his discourse with Job. Answered does not refer to any thing said by Job, or any"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/job/40"
---

Verse [Job 40:1](../../../kjv/job/40/1). ***Moreover the Lord answered*** — That is, the Lord continued his discourse with Job. *Answered* does not refer to any thing *said* by Job, or any *question* asked.
I think it very likely that this whole piece, from the beginning of this *first* verse to the end of the *fourteenth*, was originally the *ending* of the poem. Mr. *Heath* has noticed this, and I shall lay his words before the reader: "The former part of this chapter is evidently the conclusion of the poem; the latter part whereof seems to be in great disorder; whether it has happened from the carelessness of the transcriber, or, which appears most probable, from the skins of parchment composing the roll having by some accident changed their places. It is plain from the *seventh* verse of the *forty-second* chapter [Job 42:7](../../../kjv/job/42/7) that Jehovah is the *last* speaker in the poem. If, then, immediately after the end of the *thirty-ninth* chapter, we subjoin the *fifteenth* verse of the *forty-second* chapter, and place the *fourteen* first verses of the *fortieth* chapter immediately after the *sixth* verse of the *forty-second* chapter, and by that means make them the conclusion of the poem, all will be right; and this *seventh* verse of the *forty-second* chapter will be in its natural order. The action will be complete by the judgment of the Almighty; and the catastrophe of the poem will be grand and solemn." To these reasons of Mr. *Heath*, Dr. *Kennicott* has added others, which the reader may find at the end of the chapter. [Job 40:24](../../../kjv/job/40/24) Without taking any farther notice of the transposition in this place, I will continue the notes in the present order of the verses.

Verse [Job 40:2](../../../kjv/job/40/2). ***He that reproveth God, let him answer it.*** — Let the man who has made so free with God and his government, answer to what he has now heard.

Verse [Job 40:4](../../../kjv/job/40/4). ***Behold, I am vile*** — I acknowledge my inward defilement. I cannot answer thee.
***I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.*** — I cannot excuse myself, and I must be dumb before thee.

Verse [Job 40:5](../../../kjv/job/40/5). ***Once have I spoken*** — See on [Job 42:3](../../../kjv/job/42/3), c.
***I will proceed no farther.*** — I shall attempt to justify myself no longer I have spoken repeatedly; and am confounded at my want of respect for my Maker, and at the high thoughts which I have entertained of my own righteousness. All is impurity in the presence of thy Majesty.

Verse [Job 40:7](../../../kjv/job/40/7). ***Gird up thy loins*** — See [Job 38:1-3](../../../kjv/job/38/1-3). Some think that this and the preceding verse have been repeated here from [Job 38:1-3](../../../kjv/job/38/1-3), and that several of the words *there, here*, and [Job 42:3](../../../kjv/job/42/3), have been repeated, in after times, to connect some false gatherings of the sheets of parchment, on which the end of this poem was originally written. See on [Job 40:1](../../../kjv/job/40/1), and at the end of the chapter. [Job 40:24](../../../kjv/job/40/24).

Verse [Job 40:8](../../../kjv/job/40/8). ***Wilt thou condemn me*** — Rather than submit to be thought in the wrong, wilt thou condemn MY conduct, in order to justify *thyself*? Some men will never acknowledge themselves in the wrong. "God may err, but we cannot," seems to be their impious maxim. Unwillingness to acknowledge a fault frequently leads men, directly or indirectly, to this sort of blasphemy. There are *three* words most difficult to be pronounced in all languages,-I AM WRONG.

Verse [Job 40:9](../../../kjv/job/40/9). ***Hast thou an arm like God?*** — Every word, from this to the end of [Job 40:14](../../../kjv/job/40/14), has a wonderful tendency to humble the soul; and it is no wonder that at the conclusion of these sayings Job fell in the dust confounded, and ascribed righteousness to his Maker.

Verse [Job 40:10](../../../kjv/job/40/10). ***Deck thyself now*****with*****majesty*** — *Act* like God, seeing thou hast been assuming to thyself perfections that belong to him alone.

Verse [Job 40:13](../../../kjv/job/40/13). ***Hide them in the dust together*** — Blend the high and the low, the rich and the poor, in one common ruin. Show them that thou art supreme, and canst do whatsoever thou pleasest.
***Bind their faces in secret.*** — This seems to refer to the custom of preserving *mummies*: the whole body is wrapped round with strong swathings of linen or cotton cloth. Not only the limbs, but the very *head, face*, and all, are rolled round with strong filleting, so that not *one feature* can be seen, not even the protuberance of the nose. On the outside of these involutions a human face is ordinarily *painted*; but as to the *real face* itself, it is emphatically *bound in secret*, for those rollers are never intended to be removed.

Verse [Job 40:14](../../../kjv/job/40/14). ***Thine own right hand can save thee.*** — It is the prerogative of God alone to save the human soul. Nothing less than unlimited power, exerted under the direction and impulse of unbounded mercy, can save a sinner. This is most clearly asserted in this speech of Jehovah: When thou canst extend an arm like God, i.e., an uncontrollable power - when thou canst arm thyself with the lightning of heaven, and thunder with a voice like God - when thou canst deck thyself with the ineffable glory, beauty, and splendour of the supreme majesty of Jehovah - when thou canst dispense thy judgments over all the earth, to abase the proud, and tread down the wicked - when thou canst as having the keys of hell and death, blend the high and the low in the dust together; then I will acknowledge to thee that thy own right hand can save thee. In other words: Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; no man can save his own soul by works of righteousness which he *has* done, *is* doing, or *can* possibly do, to all eternity. Without Jesus every human spirit must have perished everlastingly. Glory be to God for his unspeakable gift!

Verse [Job 40:15](../../../kjv/job/40/15). ***Behold now behemoth*** — The word בהמות *behemoth* is the plural of בהמה *behemah*, which signifies *cattle* in general, or *graminivorous* animals, as distinguished from חיתו *chayetho*, all *wild* or *carnivorous* animals. See [Genesis 1:24](../../../kjv/genesis/1/24). The former seems to mean kine, horses, asses, sheep, c., and all employed in domestic or agricultural matters the latter, all wild and savage beasts, such as lions, bears, tigers, c.: but the words are not always taken in these senses.
In this place it has been supposed to mean some animal of the *beeve* kind. The *Vulgate* retains the *Hebrew* name so do the *Syriac* and *Arabic*. The *Chaldee* is indefinite, translating *creature* or *animal*. And the *Septuagint* is not more explicit, translating by θηρια, *beasts* or *wild beasts*; and old *Coverdale,* *the cruell beaste*, perhaps as near to the truth as any of them. From the *name*, therefore, or the understanding had of it by the ancient *versions*, we can derive no assistance relative to the individuality of the animal in question; and can only hope to find what it is by the characteristics it bears in the description here given of it.
These, having been carefully considered and deeply investigated both by critics and naturalists, have led to the conclusion that either the *elephant*, or the *hippopotamus* or *river-horse*, is the animal in question; and on comparing the characteristics between these two, the balance is considerably in favour of the *hippopotamus*. But even here there are still some difficulties, as there are some parts of the description which do not well suit even the *hippopotamus*; and therefore I have my doubts whether *either* of the animals above is that in question, or whether any animal now in existence be that described by the Almighty.
Mr. *Good* supposes, and I am of the same opinion, that the animal here described is now *extinct*. The *skeletons* of three lost genera have actually been found out: these have been termed *palaeotherium, anoplotherium*, and *mastodon* or *mammoth*. From an actual examination of a part of the skeleton of what is termed the *mammoth*, I have described it in my note, [Genesis 1:24](../../../kjv/genesis/1/24).
As I do not believe that either the *elephant* or the *river-horse* is intended here, I shall not take up the reader's time with any detailed description. The elephant is well known; and, though not an inhabitant of these countries, has been so often imported in a tame state, and so frequently occurs in exhibitions of wild beasts, that multitudes, even of the common people, have seen this tremendous, docile, and sagacious animal. Of the *hippopotamus* or *river-horse*, little is generally known but by description, as the habits of this animal will not permit him to be tamed. His amphibious nature prevents his becoming a constant resident on dry land.
The *hippopotamus* inhabits the rivers of *Africa* and the lakes of *Ethiopia*: feeds generally by night; wanders only a few miles from water; feeds on vegetables and roots of trees, but never on *fish*; lays waste whole plantations of the sugar-cane, rice, and other grain. When irritated or wounded, it will attack boats and men with much fury. It moves slowly and heavily: swims dexterously; walks deliberately and leisurely over head into the water; and pursues his way, even on all fours, on the bottom; but cannot remain long under the water without rising to take in air. It sleeps in reedy places; has a tremendous voice, between the *lowing* of an *ox* and the *roaring* of the *elephant*. Its head is large; its mouth, very wide; its skin, thick and almost devoid of hair; and its tail, naked and about a foot long. It is nearly as large as the elephant, and some have been found *seventeen feet* long. Mr. *Good* observes: "Both the *elephant* and *hippopotamus* are naturally quiet animals; and never interfere with the grazing of others of different kinds unless they be irritated. The *behemoth*, on the contrary, is represented as a quadruped of a ferocious nature, and formed for tyranny, if not rapacity; equally lord of the floods and of the mountains; rushing with rapidity of foot, instead of slowness or stateliness; and possessing a rigid and enormous tail, like a cedar tree, instead of a short naked tail of about a *foot long*, as the hippopotamus; or a weak, slender, hog-shaped tail, as the elephant."
The *mammoth*, for size, will answer the description in this place, especially [Job 40:19](../../../kjv/job/40/19): *He is the chief of the ways of God*. That to which the part of a skeleton belonged which I examined, must have been, by computation, not less than *twenty-five* feet high, and *sixty* feet in length! The bones of *one toe* I measured, and found them *three* *feet* in length! One of the very smallest grinders of an animal of this extinct species, full of processes on the surface more than an inch in depth, which shows that the animal had lived on *flesh*, I have just now weighed, and found it, in its very dry state, *four* *pounds eight ounces*, avoirdupois: the same grinder of an *elephant* I have weighed also, and found it just *two pounds*. The mammoth, therefore, from this proportion, must have been as large as two *elephants* and a quarter. We may judge by this of its size: *elephants* are frequently *ten* and *eleven* feet high; this will make the mammoth at least *twenty-five* or *twenty-six* feet high; and as it appears to have been a *many-toed* animal, the *springs* which such a creature could make must have been almost incredible: nothing by *swiftness* could have escaped its pursuit. God seems to have made it as the proof of his power; and had it been prolific, and not become extinct, it would have depopulated the earth. Creatures of this kind must have been living in the days of Job; the behemoth is referred to here, as if perfectly and commonly known.
***He eateth grass as an ox.*** — This seems to be mentioned as something *remarkable* in this animal: that though from the form of his *teeth* he must have been *carnivorous*, yet he *ate grass as an* *ox*; he lived both on animal and vegetable food.

Verse [Job 40:16](../../../kjv/job/40/16). ***His strength*****is*****in his loins*** — This refers to his great *agility*, notwithstanding his *bulk*; by the *strength of his loins* he was able to take vast *springs*, and make astonishing bounds.

Verse [Job 40:17](../../../kjv/job/40/17). ***He moveth his tail like a cedar*** — Therefore it was neither the *elephant*, who has a *tail* like that of the *hog*, nor the *hippopotamus*, whose tail is only about a *foot* long.
***The sinews of his stones*** — I translate with Mr. *Good*, and for the same reasons, *the sinews of his haunches*, which is still more characteristic; as the animal must have excelled in *leaping*.

Verse [Job 40:18](../../../kjv/job/40/18). ***His bones*****are as*****strong pieces of brass-bars of iron.*** — The tusk I have mentioned above is uncommonly *hard, solid*, and *weighty* for its size.

Verse [Job 40:19](../../../kjv/job/40/19). ***He*****is*****the chief of the ways of God*** — The *largest,* *strongest*, and *swiftest* quadruped that God has formed.
***He that made him*** — No power of *man* or *beast* can overcome him. God alone can overcome him, and God alone could *make his sword* (of *extinction*) *approach to him*.

Verse [Job 40:20](../../../kjv/job/40/20). ***The mountains bring him forth food*** — It cannot therefore be the *hippopotamus*, as he is seldom found far from the rivers where he has his chief residence.
***Where all the beasts of the field play.*** — He frequents those places where he can have most *prey*. He makes a mock of all the beasts of the field. They can neither resist his *power*, nor escape from his *agility*. All this answers to what we know of the *mammoth*, but not at all to the *hippopotamus*.

Verse [Job 40:21](../../../kjv/job/40/21). ***He lieth under the shady trees*** — This and the following verses refer to certain *habits* of the *behemoth*, with which we are and must be unacquainted,

Verse [Job 40:22](../../../kjv/job/40/22). ***The willows of the brook compass him*** — This would agree well enough with the hippopotamus.

Verse [Job 40:23](../../../kjv/job/40/23). ***Behold, he drinketh up a river*** — A similar mode of expression, and of precisely the same meaning, as that in [Job 39:24](../../../kjv/job/39/24): "He swalloweth the ground with fierceness." No river can stop his course: he wades through all; stems every tide and torrent; and *hurries not* as though he were in danger.
***He trusteth that he can draw up Jordan*** — Even when the river overflows its banks, it is no stoppage to him: though the whole impetuosity of its stream rush against his mouth, he is not afraid. Mr. *Good* has seized the true idea in his translation of this verse: -
"If the stream rage, he revileth not:
He is unmoved, though Jordan rush against his mouth."

From this mention of Jordan it is probable that the behemoth was once an *inhabitant* of the mountains, marshes, and woods, of the land of Palestine.

Verse [Job 40:24](../../../kjv/job/40/24). ***He taketh it with his eyes*** — He looks at the sweeping tide, and *defies* it.
**His*****nose pierceth through snares.*** — If *fences* of *strong stakes* be made in order to restrain him, or prevent him from passing certain boundaries, he tears them in pieces with his teeth; or, by pressing his nose against them, breaks them off. If other parts of the description would answer, this might well apply to the elephant, the *nose* here meaning the *proboscis*, with which he can *split trees*, or even *tear them up from the roots*!
Thus ends the description of the *behemoth*; what I suppose to be the *mastodon* or *mammoth*, or some creature of this kind, that God made as *the chief of his works*, exhibited in various countries for a time, cut them off from the earth, but by his providence preserved many of their skeletons, that succeeding ages might behold the *mighty power* which produced this *chief of the ways of* *God*, and admire the *providence* that rendered that race extinct which would otherwise, in all probability, have extinguished every other race of animals!
I am not unapprized of the strong arguments produced by learned men to prove, on the one hand, that *behemoth* is the *elephant*; and, on the other, that he is the *hippopotamus* or *river-horse*, and I have carefully read all that *Bochart*, that chief of learned men, has said on the subject. But I am convinced that an animal now *extinct*, probably of the kind already mentioned, is the creature pointed out and described by the inspiration of God in this chapter.
ON [Job 40:1](../../../kjv/job/40/1) of this chapter we have seen, from Mr. *Heath's* remarks, that the *fourteen* first verses were probably transposed. In the following observations Dr. Kennicott appears to prove the point.
"It will be here objected, that the poem could not possibly end with this question from *Job*; and, among other reasons, for this in particular; because we read in the very next verse, *That after the* *Lord had spoken these words unto Job*, c. If, therefore, the last speaker was not *Job*, but the *Lord*, Job could not originally have concluded this poem, as he does at present.
"This objection I hold to be exceedingly important and, indeed, to prove decisively that the poem must have ended at first with some speech from God.
"And this remark leads directly to a very interesting inquiry: *What* was at first *the conclusion* of this poem? This may, I presume, be pointed out and determined, not by the alteration of any one word, but only by allowing a *dislocation* of the *fourteen* verses which now begin the *fortieth* chapter. Chapters xxxviii., xxxix., xl., and xli., contain a magnificent display of the Divine power and wisdom in the works of the Creator; specifying the *lion,* *raven, wild goat, wild ass, unicorn, peacock, ostrich, horse,* *hawk, eagle, behemoth*, and *leviathan*.
"Now, it must have surprised most readers to find that the description of these creatures is strangely *interrupted* at [Job 40:1](../../../kjv/job/40/1), and as strangely *resumed* afterwards at [Job 40:15](../../../kjv/job/40/15); and therefore, if these *fourteen* verses will connect with and regularly follow what now *ends* the poem, we cannot much doubt that these *fourteen verses* have again found their true station, and should be restored to it.
"The greatness of the supposed transposition is no objection: because so *many verses* as would fill *one piece of vellum* in an ancient roll, might be easily sewed in *before* or *after* its proper place. In the case before us, the *twenty-five lines* in the *first* *fourteen* verses of chapter xl. seem to have been sewed in improperly after [Job 39:30](../../../kjv/job/39/30), instead of after [Job 42:6](../../../kjv/job/42/6). That such large parts have been transposed in rolls to make which the parts are sewed together is absolutely certain; and that this has been the case here, is still more probable for the following reason: -
"The lines here supposed to be out of place are *twenty-five*, and contain *ninety-two words*; which might be written on *one piece* or *page* of *vellum*. But the MS. in which these *twenty-five lines* made *one page*, must be supposed to have the same, or nearly the same, number of lines in *each of the pages adjoining*. And it would greatly strengthen this presumption if these *twenty-five* lines would fall in regularly at the end of any other set of lines, nearly of the same number; if they would fall in after the *next* set of *twenty-five*, or the *second* set, or the *third*, or the *fourth*, c. Now, *this is actually the case here* for the lines after these *twenty-five*, being *one hundred* or *one hundred and one,* make just *four times twenty-five*. And, therefore, if we consider these *one hundred and twenty-five lines* as written on *five equal* *pieces* of vellum, it follows that the *fifth* piece *might be* carelessly sewed up *before* the other *four*.
"Let us also observe that present *disorder* of the speeches, which is this. In chapters xxxviii. and xxxix., *God* first speaks to Job. The end of chap. xxxix. is followed by, 'And the Lord answered Job and said,' whilst yet Job had not replied. At [Job 40:3-5](../../../kjv/job/40/3-5), Job answers; but he says, *he had* then *spoken TWICE*, and *he would add no more*; whereas, this was his *first* reply, and he speaks afterwards. From [Job 40:15-34](../../../kjv/job/40/15-34) are now the descriptions of behemoth and leviathan, which would regularly follow the descriptions of the horse, hawk, and eagle. And from [Job 42:1-6](../../../kjv/job/42/1-6) is now *Job's* speech, after which we read in [Job 42:7](../../../kjv/job/42/7), 'After the Lord had spoken these words unto Job!'
"Now, all these confusions are removed at once if we only allow that a piece of vellum containing the *twenty-five lines*, ([Job 40:1-14](../../../kjv/job/40/1-14),) originally followed [Job 42:6](../../../kjv/job/42/6). For then, after God's *first speech*, ending with *leviathan*, Job replies: then God, to whom Job replies the *second* time, when he *added no more*; and then God addresses him the *third*, when Job is silent, and the *poem* concludes: upon which the *narrative* opens regularly, with saying, 'After the Lord had spoken these words unto Job,' c. [Job 42:7](../../../kjv/job/42/7)." - *Kennicott's* Remarks, p. 161.
The reader will find much more satisfaction if he read the places as above directed. Having ended chap. xxix., proceed immediately to [Job 40:15](../../../kjv/job/40/15) go on regularly to the end of [Job 42:6](../../../kjv/job/42/6), and immediately after that add [Job 40:1-14](../../../kjv/job/40/1-14). We shall find then that the poem has a consistent and proper ending, and that the concluding speech was spoken by JEHOVAH.

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