Job 41:5-15

5 Will you tie him like a pet bird, like something to amuse your servant women?

6 Will fishermen bargain over him? Will merchants cut him up to sell?

7 Can you fill his hide with fishing spears or pierce his head with a harpoon?

8 Touch him once and you'll never try it again; you'll never forget the fight!

9 Anyone who sees Leviathan loses courage and falls to the ground.

10 When he is aroused, he is fierce; no one would dare to stand before him.

11 Who can attack him and still be safe? No one in all the world can do it.

12 Let me tell you about Leviathan's legs and describe how great and strong he is.

13 No one can tear off his outer coat or pierce the armor he wears.

14 Who can make him open his jaws, ringed with those terrifying teeth?

15 His back is made of rows of shields, fastened together and hard as stone.

Job 41:5-15 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]. [Verse 11 in Hebrew is unclear.]
• [b]. [One ancient translation] armor; [Hebrew] bridle.
• [c]. [Some ancient translations] back; [Hebrew] pride.