Job 40:3-5

B. JOB LEARNS OF HIS LIMITATIONS. (Job 40:3-5)

TEXT 40:3-5

3 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,
4 Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee?

I lay my hand upon my mouth.

5 Once have I spoken, and I will not answer;

Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.

COMMENT 40:3-5

Job 40:3Job breaks his silence by confession.

Job 40:4He acknowledges that Yahweh's challenges are beyond his ability and that he is contemptible (A. V. small account)Génesis 16:4 ff; Nahúm 1:14.

The hand over the mouth was a Near Eastern gesture of awed silenceJob 21:5; Job 29:9. Job is no longer hostile, but humble. When Yahweh broke His silence, He also broke Job's pride.

Job 40:5 Todo este versículo se repite enJob 42:4-5 . Este hecho nos permite recuperar el verbo -wsp, que falta casi por completo en The Qumran Targum. Job se niega a responder a Yahvé; ya ha dicho más de lo que sabeJob 9:22 ; Job 13:20 .

Dos veces antes Job derramó su sabiduría retórica, pero ahora se sienta asombrado ante el misterio del poder providencial de Yahvé. La majestuosidad de la creación ahora silencia a este pequeño burlador. Pero Yahvéh hablará de una vez por todas en El rompimiento del silencio.