Job 40:22 kjv
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
Job 40:22 nkjv
The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.
Job 40:22 niv
The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.
Job 40:22 esv
For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.
Job 40:22 nlt
The lotus plants give it shade
among the willows beside the stream.
Job 40 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 104:16-18 | "The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly... The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers." | God cares for all creation's dwelling. |
| Gen 1:24-25 | "Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth...'" | God created all living creatures. |
| Neh 9:6 | "You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve them all..." | God preserves all His creation. |
| Job 39:1-8 | Descriptions of various wild animals and their natural habitats. | God's intimate knowledge of creation. |
| Ps 50:10-11 | "For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is Mine." | God's absolute ownership and knowledge. |
| Matt 6:26 | "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" | God's provision for all creatures. |
| Job 40:15-18 | "Behold Behemoth, which I made as I made you... His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron." | Description of Behemoth's immense power. |
| Job 40:19 | "He is the first of the works of God..." | Behemoth as a prime example of God's power. |
| Ps 148:7, 10 | "Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps... wild animals and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!" | All creation praises the Creator. |
| Isa 40:12 | "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span...?" | God's immense power as Creator. |
| Jer 51:15 | "It is He who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding stretched out the heavens." | God's wisdom and understanding in creation. |
| Ps 24:1 | "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." | God's ownership over all creation. |
| Rom 1:20 | "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made..." | Creation reveals God's attributes. |
| Prov 8:22-31 | Wisdom personified assisting God in creation. | God's wisdom guiding creation. |
| Job 38:39-41 | "Can you hunt the prey for the lion...? Do you provide food for the raven...?" | God cares for animals Job cannot. |
| Isa 43:20 | "The wild beasts will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people..." | God's provision in natural environment. |
| Ps 65:9-13 | "You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it... The meadows are clothed with flocks..." | God's continuous care for creation. |
| Ez 31:3-9 | Description of a great tree (Assyria) providing shade for all creatures. | Imagery of trees providing shelter for creatures. |
| Ps 92:12-14 | "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord..." | Metaphorical imagery of flourishing trees/plants. |
| Dan 4:10-12 | A dream of a mighty tree providing shelter to animals. | Royal power and dominion symbolized by trees. |
| Eccl 3:1 | "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." | The natural order of creation is divinely set. |
Job 40 verses
Job 40 22 Meaning
Job 40:22 describes Behemoth's secure and natural habitat, emphasizing its massive size and the provision God has made for it within creation. The verse paints a picture of a creature perfectly at home and undisturbed, enveloped by lush, waterside vegetation. This imagery underscores God's omnipotence and wisdom in creating and sustaining even the largest and most formidable creatures, humbling Job by showcasing a realm of power far beyond human control or comprehension.
Job 40 22 Context
Job 40:22 is part of God's second and final speech to Job (chapters 40-41), specifically His detailed description of Behemoth. This section directly follows God challenging Job to account for creation and His wisdom. Having already humbled Job by confronting him with his ignorance of the vast cosmos (Job 38-39), God now presents Behemoth and Leviathan—two colossal and powerful creatures—as tangible proofs of His unchallengeable authority and creative prowess.
The immediate context is God emphasizing Behemoth's untamable strength and its peaceful existence in its divinely appointed habitat, entirely unthreatened by human intervention. This contrasts with Job's earlier questioning of divine justice. God uses these creatures to illustrate that He alone has the power to manage such might, subtly asserting His sovereignty over all creation, including chaotic elements, which humans could never control. This serves to humble Job further, shifting his focus from his own suffering and limited understanding to God's incomprehensible greatness and dominion.
Job 40 22 Word analysis
The lotus trees: (Hebrew: עֲצֵי לוֹטִים,
ăṣēy lōṭīm)- עֲצֵי (`ăṣēy): "Trees of" or "wood of." This implies sturdy, well-established vegetation, not mere reeds.
- לוֹטִים (lōṭīm): "Lotus" or, more broadly, "water plants" or "lilies." These were known for their large leaves, providing extensive shade and thriving in marshy or watery environments. The term refers to a specific type of abundant aquatic vegetation, highlighting Behemoth's preferred wetland habitat. Significance: Their size and density offer a fitting and sufficient cover for a creature as immense as Behemoth, showcasing divine provision.
cover him with their shade: (Hebrew: יְסֻכֻּהוּ צִלֲלוֹ, yəsuḳḳuhu ṣilălo)
- יְסֻכֻּהוּ (yəsuḳḳuhu): "They cover him" or "they overshadow him." Derived from the root "sakhakh," meaning to cover, protect, or shelter. This emphasizes a complete and natural enclosure, offering concealment and security.
- צִלֲלוֹ (ṣilălo): "His shadow" or "their shade." The possessive suffix indicates that the shade belongs to the trees themselves, underscoring their function as Behemoth's natural canopy. Significance: This highlights divine providence; Behemoth's resting place is not merely happenstance but a fully furnished, secure dwelling by its Creator. It contrasts sharply with human attempts to secure and control their own lives, especially in suffering.
the willows of the brook surround him: (Hebrew: עַרְבֵי נַחַל יַסֻּבֻּהוּ, `arbēy naḥal yassubbuhu)
- עַרְבֵי (`arbēy): "Willows of." Willows are commonly associated with watercourses and wetlands, known for their abundant branches and growth, further cementing the watery environment.
- נַחַל (naḥal): "Brook" or "wadi." This refers to a flowing stream or valley that may contain one, implying a constant water source essential for both the plants and Behemoth itself.
- יַסֻּבֻּהוּ (yassubbuhu): "They surround him." Derived from "savav," meaning to go around, encircle, or encompass. This completes the imagery of the creature being fully embraced and protected by its environment, providing not just cover but a perimeter of natural security. Significance: This emphasizes Behemoth's deep integration into its specific ecosystem, where God provides ample space and resources. It points to God's precise design and care for all living things, great and small.
Job 40 22 Bonus section
The depiction of Behemoth's habitat, thriving among the most abundant and dense riverine vegetation, signifies its unchallenged sovereignty within its natural domain. Unlike humans who strive to control their environment and create secure spaces, Behemoth simply exists within its divinely-provided sanctuary. This undisturbed existence reinforces the earlier point that Behemoth "is the first of the works of God" (Job 40:19), embodying an ultimate, untameable form of strength that humanity can neither create nor conquer. This complete provision by God for His mightiest earthly creature serves as a profound theological statement, asserting God's sovereignty not only over creation but over all power, strength, and even perceived "chaos" in the world. This creature is not a random beast but part of God's deliberate, ordered, and sustained design.
Job 40 22 Commentary
Job 40:22 continues God's vivid description of Behemoth, focusing not on its formidable physical power (already detailed in previous verses) but on its peaceful and secure habitation within the natural world. The verse paints a picture of serene might, undisturbed within its watery sanctuary. The "lotus trees" and "willows of the brook" are specific plant types that thrive in lush, moist environments, indicating Behemoth's chosen habitat—likely a marshy or riverside area. This chosen abode, abundantly furnished with natural cover and a constant water source, perfectly caters to a creature of such immense size, needing both ample food and concealment. The emphasis is on divine provision: God does not merely create, but He also perfectly sustains His creatures, even the most massive and seemingly chaotic. The secure environment underscores God's complete mastery; what He creates, He also provides for and protects. For Job, and indeed for humanity, this serves as a profound lesson in humility: if God so intricately cares for the behemoth, a creature beyond human control, how much more does He order the circumstances for humanity, even amid suffering. The order and security in Behemoth's life stand as a testament to God's providential care over creation, reassuring that even in the vastness and mystery of existence, divine design and sustenance are ever present.