Job Is Silenced, Behemoth Described

Job 40

Job humbly answers that he has nothing more to say and lays his hand on his mouth, but the Lord presses him further and then describes Behemoth, a massive creature of great strength ranked first among the works of God.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEN the Lord God addressing Job, said,

BrentonAnd the Lord God answered Job, and said,

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἰὼβ, καὶ εἶπε,

KJVMoreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

JPSMoreover the LORD answered Job, and said:

Thomson—

BrentonWill any one pervert judgment with the Mighty One? and he that reproves God, let him return it for answer.

Greekμὴ κρίσιν μετὰ ἱκανοῦ ἐκκλίνει; ἐλέγχων δὲ Θεὸν, ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτήν.

KJVShall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

JPSShall he that reproveth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.

ThomsonWhereupon Job, in reply, said to the Lord,

BrentonAnd Job answered and said to the Lord,

GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ λέγει τῷ Κυρίῳ,

KJVThen Job answered the LORD, and said,

JPSThen Job answered the LORD, and said:

ThomsonWhy should I continue the debate any further? I stand corrected for commencing a suit against the Lord. On hearing such things, what answer can I, who am nothing, make to Thee? I will lay my hand on my mouth.

BrentonWhy do I yet plead? being rebuked even while reproving the Lord: hearing such things, whereas I am nothing: and what shall I answer to these arguments? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

Greekτί ἔτι ἐγὼ κρίνομαι, νουθετούμενος καὶ ἐλέγχων Κύριον, ἀκούων τοιαῦτα οὐθὲν ὤν; ἐγὼ δὲ τίνα ἀπόκρισιν δῶ πρὸς ταῦτα; χεῖρα θήσω ἐπὶ στόματί μου.

KJVBehold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

JPSBehold, I am of small account; what shall I answer Thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.

ThomsonOnce I have spoken, but I will not proceed a second time. I heard of Thee before, with the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye hath seen Thee, therefore I abhor myself, and am ready to drop into dissolution, and account myself as dust and ashes.

BrentonI have spoken once; but I will not do so a second time.

GreekἍπαξ λελάληκα, ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ οὐ προσθήσω.

KJVOnce have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

JPSOnce have I spoken, but I will not answer again; Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.

ThomsonWhereupon the Lord further said to Job from the cloud:

BrentonAnd the Lord yet again answered and spoke to Job out of the cloud, saying,

GreekἜτι δὲ ὑπολαβὼν ὁ Κύριος, εἶπε τῷ Ἰὼβ ἐκ τοῦ νέφους,

KJVThen answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

JPSThen the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

ThomsonNo, but gird now up thy loins like a man, and let Me question thee; and do thou answer Me.

BrentonNay, gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.

GreekΜὴ, ἀλλὰ ζῶσαι ὥσπερ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀσφύν σου, ἐρωτήσω δέ σε, σὺ δέ μοι ἀπόκριναι.

KJVGird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

JPSGird up thy loins now like a man; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me. .

ThomsonDecline not the trial with Me. Dost thou think that I have spoken to thee for any other purpose, but that thou mayst appear justified?

BrentonDo not set aside my judgment: and dost thou think that I have dealt with thee in any other way, than that thou mightest appear to be righteous?

GreekΜὴ ἀποποιοῦ μου τὸ κρίμα· οἴει δέ με ἄλλως σοι κεχρηματικέναι, ἢ ἳνα ἀναφανῇς δίκαιος;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHast thou an arm to contend against the Lord, or dost thou thunder with a voice against Him?

BrentonHast thou an arm like the Lord's? or dost thou thunder with a voice like his?

GreekἪ βραχίων σοί ἐστι κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, ἢ φωνῇ κατʼ αὐτοῦ βροντᾷς;

KJVHast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

JPSOr hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like Him?

ThomsonAssume then majesty and power, and array thyself with glory and excellence;

BrentonAssume now a lofty bearing and power; and clothe thyself with glory and honour.

GreekἈνάλαβε δὴ ὕψος καὶ δύναμιν, δόξαν δὲ καὶ τιμὴν ἀμφίασαι.

KJVDeck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

JPSDeck thyself now with majesty and excellency, And array thyself with glory and beauty.

Thomsonand send forth angels in wrath, and humble everyone who is insolent.

BrentonAnd send forth messengers with wrath; and lay low every haughty one.

GreekἈπόστειλον δὲ ἀγγέλους ὀργῇ, πὰντα δὲ ὑβριστὴν ταπείνωσον.

KJVCast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

JPSCast abroad the rage of thy wrath; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him.

Thomson—

BrentonBring down also the proud man; and consume at once the ungodly.

GreekὙπερήφανον δὲ σβέσον, σῆψον δὲ ἀσεβεῖς παραχρῆμα.

KJVLook on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

JPSLook on every one that is proud, and bring him low; And tread down the wicked in their place.

ThomsonHide them in the earth together, and cover their faces with dishonour.

BrentonAnd hide them together in the earth; and fill their faces with shame.

GreekΚρύψον δὲ εἰς γῆν ὁμοθυμαδόν, τὰ δὲ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ἀτιμίας ἔμπλησον.

KJVHide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.

JPSHide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden place.

ThomsonThen will I confess that thine own right hand can save thee.

BrentonThen will I confess that thy right hand can save thee.

GreekὉμολογήσω ὅτι δύναται ἡ δεξιά σου σῶσαι.

KJVThen will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

JPSThen will I also confess unto thee That thine own right hand can save thee.

ThomsonBut behold now the wild beasts around thee, which feed upon grass like cattle—

BrentonBut now look at the wild beasts with thee; they eat grass like oxen.

GreekἈλλὰ δὴ ἰδοὺ θηρία παρὰ σοὶ, χόρτον ἶσα βουσὶν ἐσθίουσιν.

KJVBehold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

JPSBehold now behemoth, which I made with thee; He eateth grass as an ox.

Thomsonbehold that one in particular whose strength is in his loins, and whose power is in the navel of his belly.

BrentonBehold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

GreekἸδοὺ δὴ ἡ ἰσχὺς αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ὀσφύϊ, ἡ δὲ δύναμις αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ὀμφαλοῦ γαστρός·

KJVLo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

JPSLo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the stays of his body.

ThomsonHe hath raised his tail like a cypress, and his sinews are plaited together.

BrentonHe sets up his tail like a cypress; and his nerves are wrapped together.

GreekἜστησεν οὐρὰν ὡς κυπάρισσον, τὰ δὲ νεῦρα αὐτοῦ συμπέπλεκται.

KJVHe moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

JPSHe straineth his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

ThomsonHis ribs are ribs of brass, and his backbone is molten iron;

BrentonHis sides are sides of brass; and his backbone is as cast iron.

GreekΑἱ πλευραὶ αὐτοῦ, πλευραὶ χάλκειαι, ἡ δὲ ῥάχις αὐτοῦ σίδηρος χυτός.

KJVHis bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

JPSHis bones are as pipes of brass; His gristles are like bars of iron.

Thomsonhe is a chief of the Lord’s fashioning, made to be insulted by His angels only.

BrentonThis is the chief of the creation of the Lord; made to be played with by his angels.

GreekΤουτέστιν ἀρχὴ πλάσματος Κυρίου· πεποιημένον ἐγκαταπαίζεσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWhen he went up to the craggy mountain, he gave joy to the four-footed beasts in the vale.

BrentonAnd when he has gone up to a steep mountain, he causes joy to the quadrupeds in the deep.

GreekἘπελθὼν δὲ ἐπʼ ὄρος ἀκρότομον, ἐποίησε χαρμονὴν τετράποσιν ἐν τῷ ταρτάρῳ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThey go to rest under trees of every sort, by the papyrus, the reed and the bulrush:

BrentonHe lies under trees of every kind, by the papyrus, and reed, and bulrush.

GreekὙπὸ παντοδαπὰ δένδρα κοιμᾶται, παρὰ πάπυρον καὶ κάλαμον καὶ βούτομον.

KJVHe lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

JPSHe lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and fens.

ThomsonBut by him large trees with branches, and the bushes of the field are overshadowed.

BrentonAnd the great trees make a shadow over him with their branches, and so do the bushes of the field.

GreekΣκιάζονται δὲ ἐν αὐτῷ δένδρα μεγάλα σὺν ῥαδάμνοις, καὶ κλῶνες ἀγροῦ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonShould there come a flood he would not regard it; he is confident the Jordan can roll into his mouth.

BrentonIf there should be a flood, he will not perceive it; he trusts that Jordan will rush up into his mouth.

GreekἘὰν γένηται πλημμύρα, οὐ μὴ αἰσθηθῇ· πέποιθεν, ὅτι προσκρούσει ὁ Ἰορδάνης εἰς τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ.

KJVBehold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

JPSBehold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though the Jordan rush forth to his mouth.

Thomson—

BrentonYet one shall take him in his sight; one shall catch him with a cord, and pierce his nose.

GreekἘν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ αὐτοῦ δέξεται αὐτόν, ἐνσκολιευόμενος τρήσει ῥῖνα.

KJV—

JPSShall any take him by his eyes, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?

Thomson—

BrentonBut wilt thou catch the serpent with a hook, and put a halter about his nose?

GreekἌξεις δὲ δράκοντα ἐν ἀγκίστρῳ, περιθήσεις δὲ φορβαίεαν περὶ ῥῖνα αὐτοῦ;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonOr canst thou fasten a ring in his snout, or bore his lip for a jewel?

BrentonOr wilt thou fasten a ring in his nostril, and bore his lip with a clasp?

GreekἬ δήσεις κρίκον ἐν τῷ μυκτῆρι αὐτοῦ, ψελλίῳ δὲ τρυπήσεις τὸ χεῖλος αὐτοῦ;

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonWill he address thee with a petition? softly, with the voice of a suppliant?

GreekΛαλήσει δέ σοι δεήσει, ἱκετηρίᾳ μαλακῶς;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWill he make a covenant with thee? And wilt thou take him for a perpetual servant?

BrentonAnd will he make a covenant with thee? and wilt thou take him for a perpetual servant?

GreekΘήσεται δὲ μετὰ σοῦ διαθήκην; λήψῃ δὲ αὐτὸν δοῦλον αἰώνιον;

KJVWill he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?

JPSWill he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever?

ThomsonWilt thou play with him as with a bird, or bind him as a sparrow for a child?

BrentonAnd wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or bind him as a sparrow for a child?

GreekΠαίξῃ δὲ ἐν αὐτῷ ὥσπερ ὀρνέῳ; ἢ δήσεις αὐτὸν ὥσπερ στρουθίον παιδίῳ;

KJVWilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

JPSWilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? .

ThomsonDo the nations feed upon him, or the Phœnicians divide him among them?

BrentonAnd do the nations feed upon him, and the nations of the Phœnicians share him?

GreekἘνσιτοῦνται δὲ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔθνη, μεριτεύονται δὲ αὐτὸν Φοινίκων ἔθνη;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWith their whole fleet they could not carry the first skin of his tail, nor his head in their fishing barks.

BrentonAnd all the ships come together would not be able to bear the mere skin of his tail; neither shall they carry his head in fishing-vessels.

GreekΠᾶν δὲ πλωτὸν συνελθὸν οὐ μὴ ἐνέγκωσι βύρσαν μίαν οὐρᾶς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν πλοίοις ἁλιέων κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWilt thou lay thine hand on him, recollecting the battle made by his mouth? Do not so again.

BrentonBut thou shalt lay thy hand upon him once, remembering the war that is waged by his mouth; and let it not be done any more.

GreekἘπιθήσεις δὲ αὐτῷ χεῖρα, μνησθεὶς πόλεμον τὸν γινόμενον ἐν στόματι αὐτοῦ, καὶ μηκέτι γινέσθω.

KJVLay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

JPSLay thy hand upon him; Think upon the battle, thou wilt do so no more.