Job 41:14-24

14 Who can open [the] doors of its face? Its teeth all around [are] fearsome.

15 Its back [has] scales of shields; it is shut up closely [as with] a seal.

16 They are close {to one another}-- even [the] air cannot come between them.

17 They are joined {one to another}; they cling together and cannot be separated.

18 "Its snorting flashes forth light, and its eyes [are] {red like dawn}.

19 Torches go from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.

20 Smoke comes from its nostrils as [from] a kettle boiling and [burning] bulrushes.

21 Its breath kindles charcoal, and a flame comes from its mouth.

22 "Strength abides in its neck, and dismay dances {before it}.

23 Its flesh's folds of skin cling together; it is cast on it--it will not be moved.

24 Its heart is cast as stone; yes, it is cast as [the] lower millstone.

Job 41:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 41

A large description is here given of the leviathan, from the difficulty and danger of taking it, from whence it is inferred that none can stand before God, Job 41:1-10; from the several parts of him, his face, teeth, scales, eyes, mouth and neck, flesh and heart, Job 41:11-24; and from various wonderful terrible things said of him, and ascribed to him, Job 41:25-34.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX; or "pride"
• [b]. Literally "one to one"
• [c]. Hebrew "and"
• [d]. Literally "a man to his brother"
• [e]. Literally "like eyelids of dawn"
• [f]. Or "strength"
• [g]. Literally "to the face of him/it"
• [h]. Hebrew "and"