Job 40:2 kjv
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Job 40:2 nkjv
"Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it."
Job 40:2 niv
"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"
Job 40:2 esv
"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."
Job 40:2 nlt
"Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?"
Job 40 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| God's Sovereignty & Power | ||
| Psa 115:3 | But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. | God's absolute authority and unlimited action. |
| Isa 40:13-14 | Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor... | No one advises or comprehends God's counsel. |
| Rom 9:20-21 | Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?... | The creature has no right to argue with Creator. |
| Dan 4:35 | And he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven... | God's sovereign control over all. |
| Jer 32:17 | Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth... | God's power in creation implies His sovereignty. |
| Isa 45:9 | Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive... | Condemnation for those who challenge their Creator. |
| Job 38:2 | Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? | God questions Job's previous ignorant speech. |
| Human Limitations & Folly | ||
| Pro 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own... | A call to humble reliance on God's wisdom, not self. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways... | God's infinite wisdom transcends human understanding. |
| Psa 139:6 | Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. | Acknowledging God's wisdom is beyond human grasp. |
| Pro 30:5-6 | Every word of God is pure... Add thou not unto his words, lest he... | Warnings against altering or presuming to correct God's word. |
| Eccl 8:4 | For where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto... | Questioning authority is futile when it's ultimate power. |
| Humility & Repentance | ||
| Job 42:1-6 | Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do... | Job's eventual confession of God's power and his own folly. |
| Hab 2:20 | But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. | Call to reverent silence before God's majesty. |
| Zech 2:13 | Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of... | A command for humility and silence before divine presence. |
| Psa 46:10 | Be still, and know that I am God... | Command to acknowledge God's identity and supreme power. |
| Mat 23:12 | And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that... | Principle of humility vs. exalting oneself. |
| God as Judge & Reprover | ||
| Gen 18:25 | Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? | God is inherently just and righteous. |
| Psa 94:2 | Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. | God is the righteous Judge who deals with pride. |
| Psa 50:21 | These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest... | God allows space but will eventually confront misjudgments. |
| Rom 14:10 | But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought... | Believers should not judge, reminding them God is the ultimate judge. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come... | Wait for God's ultimate judgment; do not prematurely judge. |
Job 40 verses
Job 40 2 Meaning
God directly challenges Job, asking if one who disputes with the Almighty is capable of correcting or disciplining Him. It is a rhetorical question designed to highlight the profound arrogance and impossibility of a creature daring to find fault with the infinite Creator. God then demands that this reprover of God answer Him, compelling Job to face the unanswerable nature of his complaints and the sheer might of the divine speaker.
Job 40 2 Context
Job 40:2 opens the second part of God's speech to Job (chapters 38-41). Having spent chapters 38-39 detailing His absolute mastery over creation—from the cosmos to wild beasts—God now confronts Job directly with the implied challenge: "Are you, who desired to contend with Me, truly capable of ruling the universe, judging righteously, or even understanding the depth of My ways?" This verse specifically targets Job's earlier demand to debate with God and justify himself (e.g., Job 13:3, 31:35). Historically, it stands within an ancient Near Eastern cultural context where confronting or questioning deities was a significant act. God's response asserts His ultimate, unquestionable sovereignty, standing as a polemic against any human assumption of wisdom or power rivaling His own.
Job 40 2 Word analysis
Word by word analysis:
- Shall he that contendeth: Implies a challenge or dispute. The Hebrew term yasar (יָסַר) carries the sense of attempting to "correct" or "discipline" God, highlighting the rhetorical absurdity.
- with the Almighty: Refers to Shaddai (שַׁדַּי), a divine name emphasizing God's omnipotence, self-sufficiency, and power, often associated with judgment or chastening. To contend with Shaddai is to challenge ultimate, all-encompassing power.
- instruct him: The Hebrew root yasar (יָסַר) appears again, here meaning to "discipline" or "chasten." God asks, "Will the one who disputes with me presume to instruct or correct me?"
- he that reproveth: From the Hebrew root yakhach (יָכַח), meaning to argue, decide, judge, rebuke, or reprove. Job had been actively rebuking God's justice.
- God: Here, the singular Eloah (אֵלוֹהַּ), emphasizing the singular, supreme divine being. To "reprove Eloah" is to declare the one true divine being wrong.
- let him answer it: From the Hebrew root anah (עָנָה), to answer or respond. God's challenge demands a direct response from Job regarding his criticisms.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?": This phrase underscores the massive gulf between the finite, suffering Job and the infinite, all-powerful God. It exposes the utter audacity of a creature seeking to "teach" or "correct" the Creator concerning His administration of the universe or His justice. The very idea is ludicrous and impossible.
- "he that reproveth God, let him answer it.": This directly addresses Job's persistent accusations and complaints against God's perceived injustice. God, having demonstrated His power, now calls Job to provide a coherent answer or solution to the problems Job sees, or to admit his inability to do so. It forces Job to transition from accusation to accountability and humble admission.
Job 40 2 Bonus section
God's questioning in Job 40:2 is not born of insecurity but pedagogical intent. It is designed to strip away Job's flawed understanding of divine justice, not by explaining suffering, but by revealing His own infinite wisdom and power that utterly dwarfs human capacity. This process shifts Job's focus from understanding "why" to knowing "who" God is. The phrase "contend with the Almighty" also implies not just arguing, but actually opposing and seeking to overturn divine decrees, which underscores the profound level of Job's previous complaints. This is not merely a verbal exchange; it's a test of whether Job can govern better, proving that even righteous suffering does not grant humanity the right to condemn the Holy One. It is an invitation for Job to abandon his legalistic framework and embrace trust.
Job 40 2 Commentary
This verse is God's direct and pointed challenge to Job, flowing from His majestic display of power in creation. It confronts Job's presumption that he could find fault with the divine. The rhetorical questions dismantle Job's arguments by highlighting the infinite disparity between man's limited understanding and God's boundless wisdom and might. God effectively asks, "You who dared to accuse and demand a hearing, are you truly qualified to sit in judgment over Me and provide solutions for My creation? If so, then prove it." This forced reflection on Job's part initiates his journey from self-righteous questioning to a profound posture of humility and repentance before an unsearchable God.