Read Job chapter 41 online with LogosAI Bible study tools, highlights, and cross references.
Job 41 is part of “The LORD Speaks: Behemoth and Leviathan” (40:6–41:34) in the outline of Job.
Job 41 summary
The description here given of the leviathan, a very large, strong, formidable fish, or water-animal, is designed yet further to convince Job of his own impotency, and of God's omnipotence, that he might be humbled for his folly in making so bold with him as he had done. I. To convince Job of his own weakness he is here challenged to subdue and tame this leviathan if he can, and make himself master of him (Job 41:1-9), and, since he cannot do this, he must own himself utterly unable to stand before the great God (Job 41:10). II. To convince Job of God's power and terrible majesty several particular instances are here given of the strength and terror of the leviathan, which is no more than what God has given him, nor more than he has under his check, (Job 41:11, Job 41:12). The face of the leviathan is here described to be terrible (Job 41:12, Job 41:14), his scales close (Job 41:15-17), his breath and neesings sparkling (Job 41:18-21), his flesh firm (Job 41:22-24), his strength and spirit, when he is attacked, insuperable (Job 41:25-30), his motions turbulent, and disturbing to the waters (Job 41:31, Job 41:32), so that, upon the whole, he is a very terrible creature, and man is no match for him (Job 41:33, Job 41:34).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook, 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. Won’t 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 will 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 to one another. They stick together, so that they can’t be pulled apart.
18 His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap out.
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 out of his mouth.
22 There is strength in his neck. 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 attacks him with the sword, it can’t prevail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
27 He counts iron as straw, and bronze 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 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.”