Job 40:20 (KJV)

What does Job 40:20 mean?

Job 40:20 describes how the mountains provide food for a great creature, and that this is also where all the wild animals play. The verse points to a natural setting where both this powerful animal and other beasts live and find what they need.

In this part of the book of Job, God is speaking to Job, describing the might and independence of a mysterious creature—often called Behemoth. The verse highlights how this animal is sustained by the land itself, sharing its environment with many other wild creatures. The focus is on the creature’s place within the natural world, cared for by creation itself rather than by humans.

The Hebrew behind Job 40:20

• הָרִים (harim, "mountains"): This word points to the high, wild places where the creature finds its food, emphasizing its untamed and majestic habitat.
• יִשְּׂאוּ (yis'u, "bring forth"): This verb means to lift up or bear, suggesting that the mountains themselves provide or supply food for the animal, not through human effort but as part of the natural order.
• טֶרֶף (teref, "food"): This word often refers to prey or food gained by hunting, hinting that the creature is sustained by what it finds in the wild.
• חַיָּה (chayyah, "beasts"): This term means living creatures or wild animals, showing that the mountains are full of life beyond just the great beast.
• שָׂדֶה (sadeh, "field"): This word refers to open country or wilderness, reinforcing the idea of a wild, uncultivated setting.
• שָׂחַק (sachaq, "play"): This verb means to play or frolic, painting a picture of wild animals freely moving and enjoying themselves in the same area.

Why Job 40:20 matters

• Job 40:20 helps clear up the idea that this great animal is isolated or separate from other creatures; instead, it lives among and shares its environment with many other wild animals.
• The verse emphasizes that the creature is provided for by nature itself, not by human hands, which underlines God’s power and provision in creation.
• This detail fits into the larger argument God is making to Job about the vastness and complexity of creation, showing that there are things beyond human control or understanding.