Job 40:7

For though he had said he would answer no more, Job 40:5; yet he might mean not in the manner he had, complaining of God and justifying himself; besides he might change his mind without any imputation of falsehood or a lie; see Jeremiah 20:9; to which may be added, that he had then said all he had to say, and did not know he should have more: he then confessed as much as he was convinced of, but it was not enough; and now through what the Lord had since said to him he was more convinced of his ignorance, mistakes, and sins, and had such a sight of God and of himself, that he could not forbear speaking; moreover an injunction was laid upon him from the Lord to speak again, and therefore he was obliged to give in his answer; see Job 40:7. Job 42:2 Ver. 2. I know that thou canst do every [thing],....

40:6-14 Those who profit by what they have heard from God, shall hear more from him. And those who are truly convinced of sin, yet need to be more thoroughly convinced and more humbled. No doubt God, and he only, has power to humble and bring down proud men; he has wisdom to know when and how to do it, and it is not for us to teach him how to govern the world. Our own hands cannot save us by recommending us to God's grace, much less rescuing us from his justice; and therefore into his hand we must commit ourselves. The renewal of a believer proceeds in the same way of conviction, humbling, and watchfulness against remaining sin, as his first conversion. When convinced of many evils in our conduct, we still need convincing of many more.

Verse 7. - Gird up thy loins now like a man (see the comment on Job 38:3): I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me . Job is given every opportunity of making good his pleas before God. If he has anything to say that he really wishes to urge, God is ready, nay, anxious, to hear him. Job 40:7

Gird up thy loins now like a man - An expression taken from the ancient mode of dress. That was a loose, flowing robe, which was secured by a girdle when traveling, or when one entered upon anything requiring energy; see the notes at Matthew 5:38-41 . The meaning here is, "Prepare thyself for the highest effort that can be made. Put forth all your strength, and explain to me what will now be said;" compare the notes at Isaiah 41:21 . I will demand of thee - Hebrew "I will ask of thee." That is, I will submit some questions to you to be answered. And declare thou unto me - Hebrew "Cause me to know." That is, furnish a satisfactory answer to these inquiries, so as to show that you understand the subject. The object is to appeal to the proofs of divine wisdom, and to show that the whole subject was far above human comprehension.

7 Gird up thy loins manfully: I will question thee, and do thou answer me! 8 Wilt thou altogether annul my right, Condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 9 And hast thou then an arm like God, And canst thou with the voice thunder like Him? The question with האף stands to Job 40:2 in the relation of a climax: Job contended not alone with God, which is in itself wrong, let it be whatsoever it may; he went so far as to lose sight of the divine justice in the government of the world, and in order not to be obliged to give up his own righteousness, so far as to doubt the divine. ואם, Job 40:9, is also interrogative, as Job 8:3; Job 21:4; Job 34:17, comp. Job 39:13, not expressive of a wish, as Job 34:16. In the government of the world, God shows His arm, He raises His voice of thunder: canst thou perhaps - asks Jehovah - do the like, thou who seemest to imagine thou couldst govern the world more justly, if thou hadst to govern it? וּבקוּל כּמהוּ are to be combined: of like voice to Him; the translation follows the accents (ובקול with Rebia mugrasch).

[Bible] \39:16\She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear; \39:17\Because God hath withheld wisdom from her, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. \39:18\When she lifteth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. \39:19\Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? \39:20\Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. \39:21\He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. \39:22\He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. \39:23\The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. \39:24\He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. \39:25\He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. \39:26\Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings towards the south? \39:27\Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? \39:28\She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. \39:29\From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. \39:30\Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. \40:1\Moreover, the LORD answered Job, and said, \40:2\Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. \40:3\Then Job answered the LORD, and said, \40:4\Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. \40:5\Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yes, twice; but I will proceed no further. Chapter 40 \40:6\Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, \40:7\Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou to me. \40:8\Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

seeketh —is on the lookout for. behold —The eagle descries its prey at an astonishing distance, by sight, rather than smell. 30. Quoted partly by Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:28). The food of young eagles is the blood of victims brought by the parent, when they are still too feeble to devour flesh. slain —As the vulture chiefly feeds on carcasses, it is included probably in the eagle genus. ## CHAPTER 40 Job 40:1-24. G OD ' S S ECOND A DDRESS. He had paused for a reply, but Job was silent. 1. the Lord — Hebrew, "J EHOVAH ." 2. he that contendeth —as Job had so often expressed a wish to do. Or, rebuketh. Does Job now still (after seeing and hearing of God's majesty and wisdom) wish to set God right? answer it —namely, the questions I have asked. 3. Lord —J EHOVAH . 4. I am (too) vile (to reply). It is a very different thing to vindicate ourselves before God, from what it is before men. Job could do the latter, not the former. lay … hand … upon … mouth —I have no plea to offer (Job 21:5; Jude 18:19). 5. Once … twice —oftentimes, more than once (Job 33:14, compare with Job 33:29; Psalms 62:11): I have spoken —namely, against God. ## not answer —not plead against Thee. 6. the Lord —J EHOVAH . 7. (See on Job 38:3). Since Job has not only spoken against God, but accused Him of injustice, God challenges him to try, could he govern the world, as God by His power doth, and punish the proud and wicked (Job 40:7-14). 8. Wilt thou not only contend with, but set aside My judgment or justice in the government of the world?

the east wind scattered upon the earth?] [Chapter 39] Chapter 40 And Jehovah answered Job and said, Shall he that will contend with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth +God, let him answer it. And Job answered Jehovah and said, Behold, I am nought: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further. And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Gird up now thy loins like a man: I will demand of thee, and inform thou me. Wilt thou also annul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with glory and excellency, and clothe thyself with majesty and splendour. Cast abroad the ragings of thine anger, and look on every one that is proud, and abase him: Look on every one that is proud, bring him low, and tread down the wicked in their place: Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in secret. Then will I also praise thee, because thy right hand saveth thee. See now the behemoth, which I made with thee: he eateth grass as an ox. Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the muscles of his belly. He bendeth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are woven together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his members are like bars of iron. He is the chief of God`s ways: he that made him gave him his sword. For the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.