Job 40:2

World English Bible (2000)

"Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הֲ֭רֹב עִם־שַׁדַּ֣י יִסּ֑וֹר מוֹכִ֖יחַ אֱל֣וֹהַּ יַעֲנֶֽנָּה׃ פ

Transliteration

hă-rōb ʿim-Šadday yissōr mōkîaḥ ʾĕlōahh yaʿănennâ

Grammar Details

• *hă-rōb*: interrogative particle + infinitive/noun - contend/contention
• *ʿim*: preposition - with
• *Šadday*: divine name - Almighty
• *yissōr*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he contends/disputes
• *mōkîaḥ*: hiphil participle, masculine singular - one who reproves/argues
• *ʾĕlōahh*: noun, masculine singular - God
• *yaʿănennâ*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - he will answer it

Word Meanings

• *rōb*: contention, dispute, argument
• *yissōr*: to contend, argue, dispute
• *mōkîaḥ*: reprover, disputer, arguer
• *ʾĕlōahh*: God, deity
• *yaʿănennâ*: to answer, respond, reply

Referenced Verses

• Job 33:13 : 13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn't give account of any of his matters?
• Job 9:3 : 3 If he is pleased to contend with him, he can't answer him one time in a thousand.
• Isa 45:9-9 : 9 Woe to him who strives with his Maker-- a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, 'What are you making?' or your work, 'He has no hands?' 10 Woe to him who says to a father, 'What have you become the father of?' or to a mother, 'To what have you given birth?'" 11 Thus says Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "You ask me about the things that are to come, concerning my sons, and you command me concerning the work of my hands!
• Isa 50:8 : 8 He is near who justifies me; who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.
• Ezek 18:2 : 2 What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
• Matt 20:11 : 11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
• Rom 9:19-23 : 19 You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" 21 Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction, 23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,
• Rom 11:34-36 : 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?" 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
• 1 Cor 2:16 : 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?" But we have Christ's mind.
• 1 Cor 10:22 : 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
• Job 9:17-18 : 17 For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause. 18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
• Job 9:32-35 : 32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment. 33 There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid; 35 then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
• Job 10:3-7 : 3 Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked? 4 Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees? 5 Are your days as the days of mortals, or your years as man's years, 6 that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin? 7 Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.
• Job 10:14-17 : 14 if I sin, then you mark me. You will not acquit me from my iniquity. 15 If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still shall not lift up my head, being filled with disgrace, and conscious of my affliction. 16 If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me. 17 You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.
• Job 13:21-27 : 21 withdraw your hand far from me; and don't let your terror make me afraid. 22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me. 23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin. 24 Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy? 25 Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble? 26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth: 27 You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
• Job 14:16-17 : 16 But now you number my steps. Don't you watch over my sin? 17 My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.
• Job 16:11-21 : 11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target. 13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground. 14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant. 15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust. 16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids. 17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18 "Earth, don't cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest. 19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high. 20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God, 21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
• Job 19:6-9 : 6 know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net. 7 "Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice. 8 He has walled up my way so that I can't pass, and has set darkness in my paths. 9 He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 10 He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. My hope he has plucked up like a tree. 11 He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
• Job 27:2 : 2 "As God lives, who has taken away my right, the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter.
• Job 30:21 : 21 You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
• Eccl 6:10 : 10 Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
• Isa 40:14 : 14 Who did he take counsel with, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?
• Job 3:11-12 : 11 "Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the spirit when my mother bore me? 12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should nurse?
• Job 3:20 : 20 "Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,
• Job 3:23 : 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
• Job 7:12 : 12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
• Job 7:19-21 : 19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle? 20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself? 21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."