1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
1 Canst thou draw out H4900 leviathan H3882 with an hook? H2443 or his tongue H3956 with a cord H2256 which thou lettest down? H8257
2 Canst thou put H7760 an hook H100 into his nose? H639 or bore H5344 his jaw H3895 through with a thorn? H2336
3 Will he make many H7235 supplications H8469 unto thee? will he speak H1696 soft H7390 words unto thee?
4 Will he make H3772 a covenant H1285 with thee? wilt thou take H3947 him for a servant H5650 for ever? H5769
5 Wilt thou play H7832 with him as with a bird? H6833 or wilt thou bind H7194 him for thy maidens? H5291
6 Shall the companions H2271 make a banquet H3739 of him? shall they part H2673 him among the merchants? H3669
7 Canst thou fill H4390 his skin H5785 with barbed irons? H7905 or his head H7218 with fish H1709 spears? H6767
8 Lay H7760 thine hand H3709 upon him, remember H2142 the battle, H4421 do no more. H3254
9 Behold, the hope H8431 of him is in vain: H3576 shall not one be cast down H2904 even at the sight H4758 of him?
10 None is so fierce H393 that dare stir him up: H5782 H5782 who then is able to stand H3320 before H6440 me?
11 Who hath prevented H6923 me, that I should repay H7999 him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven H8064 is mine.
12 I will not conceal H2790 his parts, H907 nor his power, H1369 H1697 nor his comely H2433 proportion. H6187
13 Who can discover H1540 the face H6440 of his garment? H3830 or who can come H935 to him with his double H3718 bridle? H7448
14 Who can open H6605 the doors H1817 of his face? H6440 his teeth H8127 are terrible H367 round about. H5439
15 His scales H4043 H650 are his pride, H1346 shut up together H5462 as with a close H6862 seal. H2368
16 One H259 is so near H5066 to another, H259 that no air H7307 can come H935 between them.
17 They are joined H1692 one H376 to another, H251 they stick together, H3920 that they cannot be sundered. H6504
18 By his neesings H5846 a light H216 doth shine, H1984 and his eyes H5869 are like the eyelids H6079 of the morning. H7837
19 Out of his mouth H6310 go H1980 burning lamps, H3940 and sparks H3590 of fire H784 leap out. H4422
20 Out of his nostrils H5156 goeth H3318 smoke, H6227 as out of a seething H5301 pot H1731 or caldron. H100
21 His breath H5315 kindleth H3857 coals, H1513 and a flame H3851 goeth out H3318 of his mouth. H6310
22 In his neck H6677 remaineth H3885 strength, H5797 and sorrow H1670 is turned into joy H1750 before H6440 him.
23 The flakes H4651 of his flesh H1320 are joined together: H1692 they are firm H3332 in themselves; they cannot be moved. H4131
24 His heart H3820 is as firm H3332 as a stone; H68 yea, as hard H3332 as a piece H6400 of the nether H8482 millstone.
25 When he raiseth up H7613 himself, the mighty H352 are afraid: H1481 by reason of breakings H7667 they purify H2398 themselves.
26 The sword H2719 of him that layeth H5381 at him cannot hold: H6965 the spear, H2595 the dart, H4551 nor the habergeon. H8302
27 He esteemeth H2803 iron H1270 as straw, H8401 and brass H5154 as rotten H7539 wood. H6086
28 The arrow H1121 H7198 cannot make him flee: H1272 slingstones H68 H7050 are turned H2015 with him into stubble. H7179
29 Darts H8455 are counted H2803 as stubble: H7179 he laugheth H7832 at the shaking H7494 of a spear. H3591
30 Sharp H2303 stones H2789 are under him: he spreadeth H7502 sharp pointed things H2742 upon the mire. H2916
31 He maketh the deep H4688 to boil H7570 like a pot: H5518 he maketh H7760 the sea H3220 like a pot of ointment. H4841
32 He maketh a path H5410 to shine H215 after H310 him; one would think H2803 the deep H8415 to be hoary. H7872
33 Upon earth H6083 there is not his like, H4915 who is made H6213 without H1097 fear. H2844
34 He beholdeth H7200 all high H1364 things: he is a king H4428 over all the children H1121 of pride. H7830
1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? Or will he speak soft words unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Will the bands `of fishermen' make traffic of him? Will they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?
8 Lay thy hand upon him; Remember the battle, and do so no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up; Who then is he that can stand before me?
11 Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? `Whatsoever is' under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15 `His' strong scales are `his' pride, Shut up together `as with' a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, That no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered.
18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth.
20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and `burning' rushes.
21 His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
22 In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; Yea, firm as the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves.
26 If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
27 He counteth iron as straw, `And' brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble: He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin.
30 His underparts are `like' sharp potsherds: He spreadeth `as it were' a threshing-wain upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride.
1 Dost thou draw leviathan with an angle? And with a rope thou lettest down -- his tongue?
2 Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw?
3 Doth he multiply unto thee supplications? Doth he speak unto thee tender things?
4 Doth he make a covenant with thee? Dost thou take him for a servant age-during?
5 Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels?
6 (Feast upon him do companions, They divide him among the merchants!)
7 Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head?
8 Place on him thy hand, Remember the battle -- do not add!
9 Lo, the hope of him is found a liar, Also at his appearance is not one cast down?
10 None so fierce that he doth awake him, And who `is' he before Me stationeth himself?
11 Who hath brought before Me and I repay? Under the whole heavens it `is' mine.
12 I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement.
13 Who hath uncovered the face of his clothing? Within his double bridle who doth enter?
14 The doors of his face who hath opened? Round about his teeth `are' terrible.
15 A pride -- strong ones of shields, Shut up -- a close seal.
16 One unto another they draw nigh, And air doth not enter between them.
17 One unto another they adhere, They stick together and are not separated.
18 His sneezings cause light to shine, And his eyes `are' as the eyelids of the dawn.
19 Out of his mouth do flames go, sparks of fire escape.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, As a blown pot and reeds.
21 His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth.
22 In his neck lodge doth strength, And before him doth grief exult.
23 The flakes of his flesh have adhered -- Firm upon him -- it is not moved.
24 His heart `is' firm as a stone, Yea, firm as the lower piece.
25 From his rising are the mighty afraid, From breakings they keep themselves free.
26 The sword of his overtaker standeth not, Spear -- dart -- and lance.
27 He reckoneth iron as straw, brass as rotten wood.
28 The son of the bow doth not cause him to flee, Turned by him into stubble are stones of the sling.
29 As stubble have darts been reckoned, And he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.
30 Under him `are' sharp points of clay, He spreadeth gold on the mire.
31 He causeth to boil as a pot the deep, The sea he maketh as a pot of ointment.
32 After him he causeth a path to shine, One thinketh the deep to be hoary.
33 There is not on the earth his like, That is made without terror.
34 Every high thing he doth see, He `is' king over all sons of pride.
1 Wilt thou draw out the leviathan with the hook, and press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak softly unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Shall partners make traffic of him, will they divide him among merchants?
7 Wilt thou fill his skin with darts, and his head with fish-spears?
8 Lay thy hand upon him; remember the battle, -- do no more!
9 Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me?
11 Who hath first given to me, that I should repay [him]? [Whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure.
13 Who can uncover the surface of his garment? who can come within his double jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15 The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
16 One is so near to another that no air can come between them;
17 They are joined each to its fellow; they stick together, and cannot be sundered.
18 His sneezings flash light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out:
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck lodgeth strength, and terror danceth before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are fused upon him, they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether [millstone].
25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: they are beside themselves with consternation.
26 If any reach him with a sword, it cannot hold; neither spear, nor dart, nor harpoon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow will not make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.
30 His under parts are sharp potsherds: he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment;
32 He maketh the path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.
1 "Can you draw out Leviathan{Leviathan is a name for a crocodile or similar creature.} with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Can you put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
3 Will he make many petitions to you? Or will he speak soft words to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you, That you should take him for a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls?
6 Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?
8 Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine.
12 "I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.
15 Strong scales are his pride, Shut up together with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, That no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they can't be pulled apart.
18 His sneezing flashes forth light, His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning torches, Sparks of fire leap forth.
20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, As of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
21 His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth.
22 In his neck there is strength. Terror dances before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together. They are firm on him. They can't be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone, Yes, firm as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing.
26 If one lay at him with the sword, it can't avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
27 He counts iron as straw; And brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow can't make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds, Leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He makes a path to shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is not his equal, That is made without fear.
34 He sees everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride."
1 He is so cruel that no one is ready to go against him. Who then is able to keep his place before me?
2 Who ever went against me, and got the better of me? There is no one under heaven!
3 I will not keep quiet about the parts of his body, or about his power, and the strength of his frame.
4 Who has ever taken off his outer skin? who may come inside his inner coat of iron?
5 Who has made open the doors of his face? Fear is round about his teeth.
6 His back is made of lines of plates, joined tight together, one against the other, like a stamp.
7 One is so near to the other that no air may come between them.
8 They take a grip of one another; they are joined together, so that they may not be parted.
9 His sneezings give out flames, and his eyes are like the eyes of the dawn.
10 Out of his mouth go burning lights, and flames of fire are jumping up.
11 Smoke comes out of his nose, like a pot boiling on the fire.
12 His breath puts fire to coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.
13 Strength is in his neck, and fear goes dancing before him.
14 The plates of his flesh are joined together, fixed, and not to be moved.
15 His heart is as strong as a stone, hard as the lower crushing-stone.
16 When he gets ready for the fight, the strong are overcome with fear.
17 The sword may come near him but is not able to go through him; the spear, or the arrow, or the sharp-pointed iron.
18 Iron is to him as dry grass, and brass as soft wood.
19 The arrow is not able to put him to flight: stones are no more to him than dry stems.
20 A thick stick is no better than a leaf of grass, and he makes sport of the onrush of the spear.
21 Under him are sharp edges of broken pots: as if he was pulling a grain-crushing instrument over the wet earth.
22 The deep is boiling like a pot of spices, and the sea like a perfume-vessel.
23 After him his way is shining, so that the deep seems white.
24 On earth there is not another like him, who is made without fear.
25 Everything which is high goes in fear of him; he is king over all the sons of pride.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 41
Commentary on Job 41 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 41
Job 41:1-34.
1. leviathan—literally, "the twisted animal," gathering itself in folds: a synonym to the Thannin (Job 3:8, Margin; see Ps 74:14; type of the Egyptian tyrant; Ps 104:26; Isa 27:1; the Babylon tyrant). A poetical generalization for all cetacean, serpentine, and saurian monsters (see on Job 40:15, hence all the description applies to no one animal); especially the crocodile; which is naturally described after the river horse, as both are found in the Nile.
tongue … lettest down?—The crocodile has no tongue, or a very small one cleaving to the lower jaw. But as in fishing the tongue of the fish draws the baited hook to it, God asks, Canst thou in like manner take leviathan?
2. hook—rather, "a rope of rushes."
thorn—rather, a "ring" or "hook." So wild beasts were led about when caught (Isa 37:29; Eze 29:4); fishes also were secured thus and thrown into the water to keep them alive.
3. soft words—that thou mayest spare his life. No: he is untamable.
4. Can he be tamed for domestic use (so Job 39:10-12)?
5. a bird?—that is, tamed.
6. Rather, "partners" (namely, in fishing).
make a banquet—The parallelism rather supports Umbreit, "Do partners (in trade) desire to purchase him?" So the Hebrew (De 2:6).
merchants—literally, "Canaanites," who were great merchants (Ho 12:7, Margin).
7. His hide is not penetrable, as that of fishes.
8. If thou lay … thou wilt have reason ever to remember … and thou wilt never try it again.
9. the hope—of taking him.
cast down—with fear "at the (mere) sight of him."
10. fierce—courageous. If a man dare attack one of My creatures (Ge 49:9; Nu 24:9), who will dare (as Job has wished) oppose himself (Ps 2:2) to Me, the Creator? This is the main drift of the description of leviathan.
11. prevented—done Me a favor first: anticipated Me with service (Ps 21:3). None can call Me to account ("stand before Me," Job 41:10) as unjust, because I have withdrawn favors from him (as in Job's case): for none has laid Me under a prior obligation by conferring on Me something which was not already My own. What can man give to Him who possesses all, including man himself? Man cannot constrain the creature to be his "servant" (Job 41:4), much less the Creator.
12. I will not conceal—a resumption of the description broken off by the digression, which formed an agreeable change.
his power—literally, "the way," that is, true proportion or expression of his strength (so Hebrew, De 19:4).
comely proportion—literally, "the comeliness of his structure" (his apparatus: so "suit of apparel" Jud 17:10) [Maurer]. Umbreit translates, "his armor." But that follows after.
13. discover—rather, "uncover the surface" of his garment (skin, Job 10:11): strip off the hard outer coat with which the inner skin is covered.
with—rather, "within his double jaws"; literally, "bridle"; hence that into which the bridle is put, the double row of teeth; but "bridle" is used to imply that none dare put his hand in to insert a bridle where in other animals it is placed (Job 41:4; 39:10).
14. doors of … face—his mouth. His teeth are sixty in number, larger in proportion than his body, some standing out, some serrated, fitting into each other like a comb [Bochart].
15. Rather, his "furrows of shields" (as "tubes," "channels," see on Job 40:18), are, &c., that is, the rows of scales, like shields covering him: he has seventeen such rows.
shut up—firmly closed together. A musket ball cannot penetrate him, save in the eye, throat, and belly.
18. Translate: "his sneezing, causeth a light to shine." Amphibious animals, emerging after having long held their breath under water, respire by violently expelling the breath like one sneezing: in the effort the eyes which are usually directed towards the sun, seem to flash fire; or it is the expelled breath that, in the sun, seems to emit light.
eyelids of morning—The Egyptian hieroglyphics paint the eyes of the crocodile as the symbol for morning, because the eyes appear the first thing, before the whole body emerges from the deep [Horæ Hierogliphicæ 1.65. Bochart].
19. burning lamps—"torches"; namely, in respiring (Job 41:18), seem to go out.
20. seething—boiling: literally, "blown under," under which a fire is blown.
21. kindleth coals—poetical imagery (Ps 18:8).
22. remaineth—abideth permanently. His chief strength is in the neck.
sorrow—anxiety or dismay personified.
is turned into joy—rather, "danceth," "exulteth"; wherever he goes, he spreads terror "before him."
23. flakes—rather, "dewlaps"; that which falls down (Margin). They are "joined" fast and firm, together, not hanging loose, as in the ox.
are firm—Umbreit and Maurer, "are spread."
in themselves—rather, "upon him."
24. heart—"In large beasts which are less acute in feeling, there is great firmness of the heart, and slower motion" [Bochart]. The nether millstone, on which the upper turns, is especially hard.
25. he—the crocodile; a type of the awe which the Creator inspires when He rises in wrath.
breakings—namely, of the mind, that is, terror.
purify themselves—rather, "they wander from the way," that is, flee away bewildered [Maurer and Umbreit].
26. cannot hold—on his hard skin.
habergeon—coat of mail; avail must be taken by zeugma out of "hold," as the verb in the second clause: "hold" cannot apply to the "coat of mail."
27. iron … brass—namely, weapons.
28. arrow—literally, "son of the bow"; Oriental imagery (La 3:13; Margin).
stubble—Arrows produce no more effect than it would to throw stubble at him.
29. Darts—rather, "clubs"; darts have been already mentioned (Job 41:26).
30. stones—rather, "potsherds," that is, the sharp and pointed scales on the belly, like broken pieces of pottery.
sharp-pointed things—rather, "a threshing instrument," but not on the fruits of the earth, but "on the mire"; irony. When he lies on the mire, he leaves the marks of his scales so imprinted on it, that one might fancy a threshing instrument with its sharp teeth had been drawn over it (Isa 28:27).
31. Whenever he moves.
sea—the Nile (Isa 19:5; Na 3:8).
pot of ointment—the vessel in which it is mixed. Appropriate to the crocodile, which emits a musky smell.
32. path—the foam on his track.
hoary—as hair of the aged.
33. who—being one who, &c.
34. beholdeth—as their superior.
children of pride—the proud and fierce beasts. So Job 28:8; Hebrew, "sons of pride." To humble the pride of man and to teach implicit submission, is the aim of Jehovah's speech and of the book; therefore with this as to leviathan, the type of God in His lordship over creation, He closes.