What does Job 40:13 mean?
"Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret." - Job 40:13

Job 40:13 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads, "Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret." This verse is part of a larger passage in which God is speaking to Job, challenging him and his understanding of the natural world. Job 40:15 is part of God's description of the Behemoth, a powerful and beast-like creature that is used as a symbol of the power and grandeur of God's creation.
In the broader context of the Book of Job, this verse comes at a critical moment in the story. Job has been through immense suffering, losing his wealth, health, and family. His friends have questioned him, accusing him of sin and urging him to repent. But Job maintains his innocence and continues to question why God would allow such suffering to befall him. In response, God appears to Job in a whirlwind and challenges him to consider the vastness and complexity of the natural world, effectively humbling Job and reminding him of his place in the larger order of creation.
The specific verse, Job 40:13, is part of God's description of the Behemoth, which scholars have interpreted in various ways. Some have understood the Behemoth as a literal creature, such as a hippopotamus or an elephant, while others see it as a mythical or symbolic representation of chaos and disorder in the world. In either case, God's description of the Behemoth serves to emphasize the greatness and power of God as the Creator of the world.
The verse itself, "Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret," can be understood in a few different ways. In the context of the passage, God is instructing Job to consider the Behemoth and its place in the world, as a demonstration of God's power and sovereignty. The image of "hiding" and "binding" the Behemoth suggests a sense of control and containment, reinforcing the idea that God is ultimately in charge of the natural world, and that even the most powerful creatures are subject to God's authority.
In a broader sense, this verse can also be seen as a reflection of the broader themes of the Book of Job. Throughout the story, Job grapples with the problem of suffering and the question of why a just and righteous person would undergo such trials. God's response, culminating in the description of the Behemoth, serves to remind Job of the vastness and complexity of the world, and the limits of human understanding. The verse can thus be seen as an invitation to humility and awe in the face of God's creation, and a reminder that God's ways are ultimately beyond human comprehension.
The verse also contains symbolic elements that have been interpreted in various ways. The idea of hiding and binding faces in secret can be seen as a metaphor for the mysteries of the natural world, and the limitations of human knowledge. It can also be understood as a symbol of the power of God to control and order the world, even in the face of chaos and disorder.
In conclusion, Job 40:13 is a rich and complex verse that is part of a larger passage in which God challenges Job to consider the natural world and his place within it. The verse carries themes of humility, awe, and the limits of human understanding. It also contains symbolic elements that have been interpreted in various ways by scholars and readers. Overall, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of the greatness and power of God, and the need for humility and reverence in the face of the natural world.
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Job 40:13 - "Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret."
"Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret." - Job 40:13
Job 40
Job 40:3 - "¶ Then Job answered the LORD, and said,"
Job 40:1 - "Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,"
Job 40:6 - "¶ Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,"
"¶ Then Job answered the LORD, and said," - Job 40:3
Job 31:40 - "Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended."
"Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said," - Job 40:1
Job 38:40 - "When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?"
"¶ Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said," - Job 40:6
Job 40:21 - "He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens."
Job 40:10 - "Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty."
Job 40:24 - "He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares."
Job 40:22 - "The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about."
Job 40:18 - "His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron."
Job 40:15 - "¶ Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox."
Job 40:17 - "He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together."
Job 40:12 - "Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place."
Job 40:9 - "Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?"
Job 40:5 - "Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further."
Job 40:11 - "Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him."
Job 40:16 - "Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly."
Job 40:20 - "Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play."
Job 40:2 - "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it."
Job 40:14 - "Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee."
Job 40:8 - "Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?"
Job 40:7 - "Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me."
Job 40:19 - "He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him."
"Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended." - Job 31:40