15 “See now, behemoth, which I made as well as you.
He eats grass as an ox. 16 Look now, his strength is in his thighs.
His force is in the muscles of his belly. 17 He moves his tail like a cedar.
The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 18 His bones are like tubes of brass.
His limbs are like bars of iron. 19 He is the chief of the ways of God.
He who made him gives him his sword. 20 Surely the mountains produce food for him,
where all the animals of the field play. 21 He lies under the lotus trees,
in the covert of the reed, and the marsh. 22 The lotuses cover him with their shade.
The willows of the brook surround him. 23 Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble.
He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth. 24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch,
or pierce through his nose with a snare?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 40:15-24
Commentary on Job 40:15-24
(Read Job 40:15-24)
God, for the further proving of his own power, describes two vast animals, far exceeding man in bulk and strength. Behemoth signifies beasts. Most understand it of an animal well known in Egypt, called the river-horse, or hippopotamus. This vast animal is noticed as an argument to humble ourselves before the great God; for he created this vast animal, which is so fearfully and wonderfully made. Whatever strength this or any other creature has, it is derived from God. He that made the soul of man, knows all the ways to it, and can make the sword of justice, his wrath, to approach and touch it. Every godly man has spiritual weapons, the whole armour of God, to resist, yea, to overcome the tempter, that his never-dying soul may be safe, whatever becomes of his frail flesh and mortal body.