The Meaning of Job 40:8 Explained

Job 40:8

KJV: Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

YLT: Dost thou also make void My judgment? Dost thou condemn Me, That thou mayest be righteous?

Darby: Wilt thou also annul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous?

ASV: Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wilt thou also disannul  my judgment?  wilt thou condemn  me, that thou mayest be righteous? 

What does Job 40:8 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 40:8 mean?

Would you indeed annul My judgment would you condemn Me that you may be justified
הַ֭אַף תָּפֵ֣ר ؟ מִשְׁפָּטִ֑י תַּ֝רְשִׁיעֵ֗נִי לְמַ֣עַן ؟ תִּצְדָּֽק

הַ֭אַף  Would  you  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
תָּפֵ֣ר  annul 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַר 
Sense: to break, frustrate.
؟ מִשְׁפָּטִ֑י  My  judgment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
תַּ֝רְשִׁיעֵ֗נִי  would  you  condemn  Me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: רָשַׁע  
Sense: to be wicked, act wickedly.
לְמַ֣עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
؟ תִּצְדָּֽק  you  may  be  justified 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: צָדַק  
Sense: to be just, be righteous.