Job 40 · Verse 4

Job 40:4

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:4, King James Version

Job 40:4 in other translations

BSB“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.
WEB“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
ASVBehold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.
YLTLo, I have been vile, What do I return to Thee? My hand I have placed on my mouth.
DARBYBehold, I am nought: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
BBETruly, I am of no value; what answer may I give to you? I will put my hand on my mouth.
WebsterBehold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

What does Job 40:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. I am (too) vile (to reply). It is a very different thing to vindicate ourselves before God, from what it is before men. Job could do the latter, not the former. lay ... hand ... upon ... mouth--I have no plea to offer (Job 21:5; Jud 18:19).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Behold, I am vile - I acknowledge my inward defilement. I cannot answer thee. I will lay mine hand upon my mouth - I cannot excuse myself, and I must be dumb before thee.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 40:1-5

Chapter Outline Job humbles himself to God. (1-5) The Lord reasons with Job to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom. (6-14) God's power shown in Behemoth. (15-24) Verses 1-5 Communion with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins. There is need to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare us for remarkable deliverances. After God had shown…

Read the full comment on Job 40:1-5 →

Job 40:4 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.

הֵ֣ןhenhere!H2005
קַ֭לֹּתִיKa.lo.tiI am insignificantH7043
מָ֣הmahwhat?H4100
אֲשִׁיבֶ֑ךָּ'a.shi.Ve.kawill I respond to youH7725
יָ֝דִ֗יya.Dihand myH3027
שַׂ֣מְתִּיSam.tiI putH7760
לְמוֹ\־le.mov-toH3926
פִֽי\׃Fimouth myH6310

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

Cross references for Job 40:4

  • Proverbs 30:32

    If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

  • Job 29:9

    The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

  • Job 21:5

    Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

  • Job 42:6

    Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

  • Judges 18:19

    And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

  • Genesis 18:27

    And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

  • Ezra 9:6

    And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

  • Psalms 39:9

    I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

  • Genesis 32:10

    I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

  • Micah 7:16

    The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.

  • Luke 5:8

    When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

  • Luke 15:18-19

    I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Behold.
42:6; Ge 18:27; 32:10; 2Sa 24:10; 1Ki 19:4; Ezr 9:6,15; Ne 9:33
Ps 51:4,5; Isa 6:5; 53:6; 64:6; Da 9:5,7; Lu 5:8; 15:18,19; 18:13
1Ti 1:15
what.
9:31-35; 16:21; 23:4-7; 31:37
I will.
21:5; 29:9; Jud 18:19; Ps 39:9; Pr 30:32; Mic 7:16; Hab 2:20
Zec 2:13

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

Context

  • Job 40:3

    Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

  • Job 40:4

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

  • Job 40:5

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

Read all of Job 40

Job 40:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Tienes tú brazo como Dios? ¿y tronarás tú con voz como él?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, je suis une créature de rien, que te répliquerai-je? Je mettrai ma main sur ma bouche.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Oder hast du einen Arm wie Gott, und kannst du donnern mit einer Stimme wie er?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si habes brachium sicut Deus? et si voce simili tonas?