“Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.”
Job responds to God 'I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand on my mouth.' This verse presents Job's response to God's challenge: silence and submission. Job acknowledges his small account or insignificance relative to God. The image of laying a hand on the mouth suggests Job silencing himself, ceasing his complaint. The response is remarkable: Job does not defend his complaint, does not attempt to answer God's implicit challenge, but rather submits and silences himself. Yet the submission seems incomplete: Job does not withdraw his assertion of innocence, merely ceases to argue about it. The verse represents a turning point: Job's long discourse of complaint ends in silence. Yet whether this silence represents genuine conviction or merely submission to superior power remains somewhat ambiguous.
Church Fathers on Job 40:2
The Lord added, and spake to Job; Doth he that contendeth with God, so easily remain quiet? He that reproveth God, ought certainly also to answer Him. The holy man did not consider that his merits were being increased, but that his vices were being cut away by this so great severity of the scourge. And since he knew that there were no vices within him, he believed that he was unjustly smitten; and, to murmur at the blow, is altogether to reprove the Smiter. But the Lord,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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