Job 40:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God asks whether the one who quarrels with Him is fit to correct Him, and invites Job to answer for the charges he has raised.
What Does Job 40:2 Mean?
This is the summons that draws Job's first reply. Throughout his suffering Job has wished to argue his case, even to put God in the wrong so that he himself might be cleared. Now the Lord lays that wish bare: will the one who finds fault with the Almighty step forward and teach Him?
The question is not cruel; it is clarifying. It does not deny Job's pain or call his honesty sin. It simply asks him to consider who he is before whom he stands. There is a humility that grows only when we measure ourselves against God rather than against our troubles. To stop instructing God and start listening to Him is not defeat but the doorway to peace.
Job 40:2 in the Original Language
Shaddai (שַׁדַּי), 'Almighty' -- an ancient title for God that conveys overwhelming sufficiency and power.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 40:2
What does Job 40:2 mean?
God asks whether the one who quarrels with Him is fit to correct Him, and invites Job to answer for the charges he has raised.