Job 41:19-29

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.

25 {When it raises itself}, [the] mighty ones are terrified; they retreat because of its thrashing.

26 Reaching it [with the] sword does not avail, [nor] [with the] spear, [the] dart, or [the] javelin.

27 It regards iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.

28 {An arrow} will not make it flee; sling stones are turned to stubble for it.

29 Clubs are regarded as stubble, and it laughs at [the] short sword's rattle.

Job 41:19-29 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]. Or "strength"
• [b]. Literally "to the face of him/it"
• [c]. Hebrew "and"
• [d]. Literally "From his/its rising up"
• [e]. Hebrew "and"
• [f]. Literally "A son of a bow"