Job 41:26

26 "If a sword touches him, it won't stick; neither will a spear, or a dart, or a lance.

Job 41:26 Meaning and Commentary

Job 41:26

The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold
It is either broken by striking at him, or however cannot pierce him and stick in him; but since a sword is not used in fishery, rather the harpagon or harpoon may be meant, which cannot enter into the crocodile, being so fenced with scales; but the whale being struck with it, it enters deep into his flesh, and is wounded by it; wherefore this and what follows in the next verses seems best to agree with the crocodile, or some other fish;

the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon;
that is, neither of these can fasten upon him or enter into him: and yet it is certain that the whale, after he has been struck and wounded by the harping-iron, men approach nearer to him and thrust a long steeled lance or spear under his gills into his breast, and through the intestines, which dispatches him: darts are not made use of in the whale fishery; and as for crocodiles, as Peter Martyr says ^F3, they are not to be pierced with darts: the habergeon, or coat of mail, being a defensive piece of armour, seems not to be designed, as being never used in taking such creatures; rather therefore a javelin or hand dart may be intended; since, as Bochart observes, in the Arabic language such an one is expressed by this word.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Apud Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 5. c. 17. col. 785.

Job 41:26 In-Context

24 His heart is as hard as a stone, yes, hard as a lower millstone.

25 When he rears himself up, the gods are afraid, beside themselves in despair.

26 "If a sword touches him, it won't stick; neither will a spear, or a dart, or a lance.

27 He regards iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood.

28 An arrow can't make him flee; for him, slingstones are so much chaff.