Job 40 3

Job 40:3 kjv

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

Job 40:3 nkjv

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

Job 40:3 niv

Then Job answered the LORD:

Job 40:3 esv

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

Job 40:3 nlt

Then Job replied to the LORD,

Job 40 verses

Job 40 3 Meaning

Job 40:3 records the beginning of Job’s second response to God. After God’s extended and awe-inspiring speech, Job acknowledges the divine address and prepares to speak, signaling a moment of significant change in his perspective and stance before the Almighty. It marks a transition from Job's earlier protestations and demands for an audience with God to a humble, albeit initial, acceptance of his position in light of God's overwhelming wisdom and power.

Job 40 3 Context

Job 40:3 appears at a pivotal juncture in the book of Job. Prior to this verse, God has spoken at length from a whirlwind in chapters 38-39, presenting an overwhelming display of His cosmic power, wisdom, and sovereign control over creation, contrasting it with Job's limited understanding and strength. God's speech, commencing in Job 38:2, challenges Job directly with rhetorical questions designed to expose human ignorance and expose Job's inability to comprehend the divine administration of the universe. Job 40:1-2 briefly indicates that God pauses for a reply from Job, and Job 40:3 begins Job's humbled, yet brief, initial response to this awe-inspiring revelation. Historically, the book of Job reflects ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions and epic literature, often engaging with questions of suffering and divine justice. This section, particularly, showcases the power dynamic between a suffering individual challenging divine ways and the Creator's self-revelation, culminating in the individual's reorientation and submission.

Job 40 3 Word analysis

• Then (וַיַּעַן - vayyaʿan): This Hebrew conjunction-verb construction ("and...answered") often indicates a sequential action and immediate response. In this context, it emphasizes Job's promptness in responding after God's challenge, without hesitation or delay. It directly links his reply to God's preceding questions and declaration.
• Job (אִיּוֹב - ʾIyyōv): The subject of the verb. It refers to the individual whose name means "Persecuted One" or "Hated One." His identity is central, as it is he who had previously expressed desire to contend with God (Job 23:3-5, Job 31:35). The naming here reminds the audience of the protagonist whose transformation is unfolding.
• answered (וַיַּעַן - vayyaʿan): The same root as "then," conveying "responded" or "replied." It implies an interactive dialogue. This is not Job initiating speech, but reacting to what has been said to him. The shift from Job's earlier demands for a hearing to now "answering" signifies a change in the dynamic from prosecutor to one called to account.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the personal, transcendent God of Israel, the same divine entity who made covenant promises and sustained creation. Addressing "the LORD" underscores that Job is responding not to a vague deity, but to the very God of Israel, who had revealed Himself with awesome power from the whirlwind. It highlights the divine authority and Job’s encounter with the true and living God.
• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyōʾmer): This is a standard Hebrew construct for introducing direct speech, flowing from the act of "answering." It sets the stage for Job's utterance, showing that his internal processing of God's revelation is about to be articulated verbally.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then Job answered the LORD and said": This phrase encapsulates the decisive moment of Job's encounter. It signifies that Job is no longer railing against his fate or demanding a defense, but rather heeding, processing, and responding to God's revelation of divine majesty and sovereignty. This immediate response confirms God’s presence and marks a pivotal turning point towards Job's humility and ultimate repentance.

Job 40 3 Bonus section

The Hebrew verb root for "answered" (ʿanah) can also carry the meaning of "to be humbled" or "to be afflicted," particularly in its intensive forms, connecting it to the theme of suffering prevalent throughout the book. While the common meaning here is simply "to answer," the subtle interplay with "humiliation" can be seen contextually as Job's act of answering is an act of humbling himself. Furthermore, this verse underscores the intensely personal nature of the dialogue between Job and God. It is not mediated, not explained by friends, but a direct confrontation of wills and understandings, leading to Job's profound transformation. This encounter reinforces the biblical principle that genuine theological understanding often arises from personal engagement with God, where His self-revelation trumps all human speculation and suffering-based arguments.

Job 40 3 Commentary

Job 40:3 serves as the opening line of Job's pivotal, humble response to God's grand revelation from the whirlwind. Far from his previous legalistic arguments or protests of innocence, Job's act of "answering" signifies that the divine encounter has dramatically altered his perspective. The immediate nature of his reply ("Then Job answered...") shows the profound impact of God's overwhelming display of wisdom and power. This verse isn't merely a formal conversational bridge; it heralds a shift in Job's posture from contention to submission. He is no longer framing the divine encounter as a court case but acknowledging the profound, unassailable majesty of "the LORD," the Creator. His earlier complaints, driven by limited understanding, are now brought face-to-face with infinite wisdom. This sets the stage for his subsequent confession of unworthiness (Job 40:4-5), acknowledging his finite nature before an infinite God.