Job 40:16
Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
Original Language Analysis
נָ֣א
H4994
נָ֣א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
2 of 7
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
כֹח֣וֹ
Lo now his strength
H3581
כֹח֣וֹ
Lo now his strength
Strong's:
H3581
Word #:
3 of 7
vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)
בְמָתְנָ֑יו
is in his loins
H4975
בְמָתְנָ֑יו
is in his loins
Strong's:
H4975
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern texts occasionally referenced large creatures like hippopotami and crocodiles as symbols of chaos that only gods could control. Unlike pagan myths where gods struggled against such creatures, Yahweh presents Behemoth as His peaceful creation, demonstrating effortless sovereignty over the most powerful created beings.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's creation of creatures beyond human control humble your pretensions to comprehensive understanding?
- What "behemoths" in your life—overwhelming situations—must you remember are still under God's sovereign design?
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Analysis & Commentary
"Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly." God describes Behemoth's massive strength concentrated in its core—motsnyav (מָתְנָיו, "loins") and shorerey vitno (שֹׁרֵרֵי בִטְנוֹ, "muscles of its belly"). Scholars debate whether Behemoth represents hippopotamus, elephant, or symbolic creature. Regardless, it demonstrates God's power to create what humans cannot control. The detailed description invites Job to consider that if this creature's design surpasses human comprehension, how much more does divine providence surpass understanding?