Job41
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?
2Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
3Will he make many supplications unto thee? Or will he speak soft words unto thee?
4Will he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever?
5Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6Will the bands of fishermen make traffic of him? Will they part him among the merchants?
7Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?
8Lay thy hand upon him; Remember the battle, and do so no more.
9Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10None is so fierce that he dare stir him up; Who then is he that can stand before me?
11Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
13Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?
14Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15His strong scales are his pride, Shut up together as with a close seal.
16One is so near to another, That no air can come between them.
17They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered.
18His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth.
20Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
22In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him.
23The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
24His heart is as firm as a stone; Yea, firm as the nether millstone.
25When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves.
26If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
27He counteth iron as straw, And brass as rotten wood.
28The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.
29Clubs are counted as stubble: He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin.
30His underparts are like sharp potsherds: He spreadeth as it were a threshing-wain upon the mire.
31He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary.
33Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear.
34He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 41.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Concerning Leviathan. (1-34).
vv1-34
—The description of the Leviathan, is yet further to convince Job of his own weakness, and of God's almighty power. Whether this Leviathan be a whale or a crocodile, is disputed. The Lord, having showed Job how unable he was to deal with the Leviathan, sets forth his own power in that mighty creature. If such language describes the terrible force of Leviathan, what words can express the power of God's wrath? Under a humbling sense of our own vileness, let us revere the Divine Majesty; take and fill our allotted place, cease from our own wisdom, and give all glory to our gracious God and Saviour. Remembering from whom every good gift cometh, and for what end it was given, let us walk humbly with the Lord.
Key Words
מָשַׁךְ: to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)
לִוְיָתָן: a wreathed animal, i.e. a serpent (especially the crocodile or some other large sea-monster); figuratively, the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of Babylon
חַכָּה: a hook (as adhering)
שָׁקַע: to subside; by implication, to be overflowed, cease; causatively, to abate, subdue
לָשׁוֹן: the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)
חֶבֶל: a rope (as twisted), especially a measuring line; by implication, a district or inheritance (as measured); or a noose (as of cords); figuratively, a company (as if tied together); also a throe (especially of parturition); also ruin
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אַגְמוֹן: a bulrush (as growing there); collectively a rope of bulrushes
אַף: properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
נָקַב: to puncture, literally (to perforate, with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify, designate, libel)
Cross References
Job 41Paul echoes this verse to show God is under obligation to no man for his sovereign gifts.
Supported by JFB
Explicit biblical mention of Leviathan playing in the deep, showing God's creative design.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Leviathan as a symbol/type of oppressive worldly powers (like Egypt's Pharaoh) crushed by God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Leviathan depicted as the piercing, crooked serpent that the Lord will punish with His sore sword.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophetic imagery of putting hooks in the jaws of the great river monster (Pharaoh/Egypt).
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God puts His hook in Sennacherib's nose, treating a proud king like a subdued beast.
Supported by JFB
Pharaoh is compared to the great dragon (crocodile) in the rivers, embodying pride and sovereignty.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Refers to those skilled in mourning who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.
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Parallel warning against rousing a fierce, sleeping beast (a lion), illustrating the danger of Leviathan.
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Affirms God's absolute ownership of the whole earth, establishing His sovereign authority over creation.
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Poetic imagery of smoke and consuming fire from the nostrils/mouth of God in His wrath.
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The law of taking a servant 'for ever', contrasting with Leviathan's absolute untamability.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Similar rhetorical question about binding a wild beast (the unicorn) to serve human purposes.
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The poor use entreaties, but the mighty beast will never make soft supplications.
Supported by Matthew Poole
If a mere creature cannot be opposed, how much more must men serve God with fear.
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Compares Leviathan's unique supremacy to Behemoth as the chief of the ways of God.
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