Job41
English Standard Version
1Can you with a or his with a ?
2Can you a in his or his with a ?
3Will he make to you? he to you words?
4Will he a with you to him for your ?
5Will you with him as with a , or will you put him on a for your ?
6Will him? Will they divide him the ?
7Can you his with or his with ?
8 your him; the —you will do it !
9 , the of a man is ; he is even at the of him.
10No is so he dares to . then is he who can me?
11 has to me, that I should him? Whatever is the is mine.
12I will concerning his , his , or his .
13Who can his ? would near him with a ?
14 can the of his ? his is .
15His is made of of , as with a .
16 is so to that can them.
17They are to ; they each other and be .
18His , and his are like the of the .
19 of his ; of .
20 of his comes , as from a and .
21His , and a comes his .
22In his , and him.
23The of his , firmly him and .
24His is as a , as the .
25When he himself up the are ; at the they are themselves.
26Though the him, it does , nor the , the , or the .
27He as , and as .
28The make him ; for him are to .
29 are as ; he at the of .
30His are like ; he himself like a the .
31He the like a ; he the like a pot of .
32 him he leaves a ; one would the to be .
33 there is his , a .
34He that is ; he is the of .
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.
Supported by JFB
Parallel warning against rousing a fierce, sleeping beast (a lion), illustrating the danger of Leviathan.
Supported by JFB
Affirms God's absolute ownership of the whole earth, establishing His sovereign authority over creation.
Supported by JFB
Poetic imagery of smoke and consuming fire from the nostrils/mouth of God in His wrath.
Supported by JFB
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.
Supported by JFB
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.
Supported by JFB
Compares Leviathan's unique supremacy to Behemoth as the chief of the ways of God.
Supported by JFB