Job 41:1-33 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Job 41. Leviathan. The author regards the crocodile as impossible of capture. In Job 41:1 b perhaps the meaning is that when caught the crocodile cannot be led about by a rope round his tongue and lower jaw. In Job 41:8 Remember the battle seems to mean, Bethink thee of the struggle involved. We have already noted that Duhm places Job 41:9-12 after Job 39:24. In Job 41:10 b me is of course God, but Targ, and some MSS. read him so mg.). Whatever we do with Job 41:9 f. the following verses, Job 41:11 f. present difficulty. If Job 41:10 b is to be understood of God, then Job 41:11 is very loosely attached to it. Job 41:12 seems unsuitable in the mouth of God. Duhm reads, Who has assailed him and been safe? Under the whole heaven not one! He would not renew his boastings and the talk of valiant deeds and his rich outfit. The meaning is Behemoth will soon stop the hunter's boast of his exploits.

With Job 41:13 we return to Leviathan. The double bridle in his jaws. LXX his double breastplate, i.e. his scales and hide together. The doors of his face (Job 41:14) are the jaws. Neesings in Job 41:18 is an old form of sneezings. The spray breathed through the nostrils of the crocodile is luminous in the sunshine. His eyes are compared to the dawn (Job 3:9 *) because they are visible some distance under water. The Egyptians used them in the hieroglyphs as a symbol of the dawn. Job 41:19-21 is an exaggerated description of the crocodile's steaming breath. Job 41:22 b describes the terrified convulsions of other creatures when the crocodile appears. The flakes of his flesh refers to his under parts, which are not flabby like those of other animals. In Job 41:30 it is said that the scales on the under part are like sharp potsherds, making a mark on the mire like that of a threshing sledge. Job 41:31 describes how the crocodile churns the Nile (often called the sea, Isaiah 19:5; Isaiah 21:1, or the deep, Ezekiel 31:4-5) into froth. In Job 41:34 a read everything that is high feareth him: the sons of pride (Job 41:34 b) are the proud beasts of prey.

Related Commentaries of Job 41:1

Job 41:1-33

1 Canst thou draw out leviathana 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 scalesb 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 joyc before him.

23 The flakesd 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.e

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 stonesf 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.g