Job 38 · Verse 40

Job 38:40

When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
Job 38:40, King James Version

Job 38:40 in other translations

BSBwhen they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket?
WEBwhen they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
ASVWhen they couch in their dens, And abide in the covert to lie in wait?
YLTWhen they bow down in dens--Abide in a thicket for a covert?
DARBYWhen they crouch in their dens, and abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
BBEWhen they are stretched out in their holes, and are waiting in the brushwood?
WebsterWhen they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

What does Job 38:40 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
40. lie in wait?--for their prey (Psa 10:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 When they couch in their dens - Before they are capable of trusting themselves abroad. Abide in the covert - Before they are able to hunt down the prey by running. It is a fact that the young lions, before they have acquired sufficient strength and swiftness, lie under cover, in order to surprise those animals which they have not fleetness enough to overtake in the forest; and from this circumstance the כפירים kephirim, "young lions, or lions' whelps," have their name: the root is כפר caphar, to cover or hide. See the note on Job 4:11, where six different names are given to the lion, all expressing some distinct quality or state.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 38:25-41

Hitherto God had put questions to Job to show him his ignorance; now God shows his weakness. As it is but little that he knows, he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels; it is but little he can do, therefore he ought not to oppose the ways of Providence. See the all-sufficiency of the Divine Providence; it has wherewithal to satisfy the desire of every living thing. And he that takes care of the young ravens…

Read the full comment on Job 38:25-41 →

Job 38:40 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּי\־ki-ifH3588
יָשֹׁ֥חוּya.Sho.chuthey will crouchH7817
בַמְּעוֹנ֑וֹתva.me.'o.Notin <the> densH4585
יֵשְׁב֖וּye.she.Vuthey will remainH3427
בַסֻּכָּ֣הva.su.Kahin <the> thicketH5521
לְמוֹ\־le.mov-forH3926
אָֽרֶב\׃'A.revlying-in-waitH695

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 38:40

  • Job 37:8

    Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

  • Numbers 24:9

    He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

  • Numbers 23:24

    Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

  • Genesis 49:9

    Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ge 49:9; Nu 23:24; 24:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 38:39

    Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

  • Job 38:40

    When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

  • Job 38:41

    Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:40 in other languages

French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand ils sont couchés dans leurs tanières et se tiennent aux aguets dans leur fourré?
German
Elberfelder 1871		wenn sie in den Höhlen kauern, im Dickicht auf der Lauer sitzen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quando cubant in antris, et in specubus insidiantur?