# Job 40.2

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Job](/codex/job/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 1. Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said,
>
> **2. Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.**
>
> 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. (Job 40:1-4, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 1. Moreover Yahweh answered Job,
>
> **2. “Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”**
>
> 3. Then Job answered Yahweh, 4. “Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. (Job 40:1-4, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 1. Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
>
> **2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.**
>
> 3. Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 4. Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. (Job 40:1-4, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 1. And Jehovah doth answer Job, and saith:
>
> **2. Is the striver with the Mighty instructed? The reprover of God, let him answer it.**
>
> 3. And Job answereth Jehovah, and saith: 4. Lo, I have been vile, What do I return to Thee? My hand I have placed on my mouth. (Job 40:1-4, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** narrator + Job + friends + LORD (multi-voiced dialogue)
- **Audience:** wisdom-tradition Israel
- **Location:** land of Uz (Edomite region)
- **Time period:** events possibly patriarchal-era; composed unclear, likely c. 1500-500 BC

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [H7706 - shaddai](/codex/h7706-shaddai/), *shaddai* (Strong's H7706). Also appears in: [Genesis 28](/codex/genesis-28/), [Psalms 91.1-2](/codex/psalms-91-1-2/), [Isaiah 13](/codex/isaiah-13/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Passages:**

- [Genesis 28](/codex/genesis-28/)
- [Isaiah 13](/codex/isaiah-13/)
- [Psalms 91.1-2](/codex/psalms-91-1-2/)

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