Job 40:22

22 He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him.

Job 40:22 Meaning and Commentary

Job 40:22

The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow
Under which it lies, as in ( Job 40:21 ) ; which is thought not so well to agree with the elephant, since, according to Aelianus ^F8 and other writers, it lies not down, at least but rarely, but sleeps standing; it being very troublesome to it to lie down and rise up again; and besides it is represented by some authors ^F9 as higher than the trees, and therefore this is supposed to agree better with the river horse; especially since it follows,

the willows of the brook compass him about;
or the willows of the Nile, as some choose to render it; which would put it out of all doubt that the river horse is intended, if it could be established, it being an inhabitant of that river; and yet the above writer ^F11 speaks of elephants, when grown old, seeking large thick and shady woods to take up their abode in.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Ibid. (Aelian. de Animal.) c. 31.
F9 Ibid. l. 7. c. 6.
F11 Ibid. c. 2.

Job 40:22 In-Context

20 He takes the produce of the mountains, where all the beasts of the field are at play.

21 He takes his rest under the trees of the river, and in the pool, under the shade of the water-plants.

22 He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him.

23 Truly, if the river is overflowing, it gives him no cause for fear; he has no sense of danger, even if Jordan is rushing against his mouth.

24 Will anyone take him when he is on the watch, or put metal teeth through his nose?