The Meaning of Job 40:4 Explained

Job 40:4

KJV: Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

YLT: Lo, I have been vile, What do I return to Thee? My hand I have placed on my mouth.

Darby: Behold, I am nought: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

ASV: Behold, I am of small account; What shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, I am vile;  what shall I answer  thee? I will lay  mine hand  upon  my mouth. 

What does Job 40:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 40:1-24 - "hast Thou An Arm Like God?"
God seemed to await Job's reply to His questions. Job had protested that he would fill his mouth with arguments, but none was forthcoming. That vision of God had robbed him of self-reliance. He could only humbly acknowledge that he had uttered words enough. He must be led to the further confession, which will come presently, that he had sinned. Compare Job 42:6.
It was as though the Omniscient Eye still saw in Job some trust in himself; God therefore summoned him to array himself in his utmost glory and majesty and to argue his case further. But how impotent man is at the best!
The truth is driven home by a magnificent description of the hippopotamus, to whom the strongest and biggest of man's creations are child's play. If you cannot prevail against His creatures, how can you stand against the Creator? But if that Creator is your Father, how safe you are! [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 40

1  Job humbles himself to God
6  God stirs him up to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom
16  Of the behemoth

What do the individual words in Job 40:4 mean?

behold I am vile what shall I answer You my hand I lay over my mouth
הֵ֣ן קַ֭לֹּתִי מָ֣ה אֲשִׁיבֶ֑ךָּ יָ֝דִ֗י שַׂ֣מְתִּי לְמוֹ־ פִֽי

הֵ֣ן  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
קַ֭לֹּתִי  I  am  vile 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָלַל  
Sense: to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light.
אֲשִׁיבֶ֑ךָּ  shall  I  answer  You 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
יָ֝דִ֗י  my  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
שַׂ֣מְתִּי  I  lay 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
לְמוֹ־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמֹו  
Sense: at, to, for, in, of, by, in reference to.
פִֽי  my  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.