Job 40:22

22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.

Job 40:22 in Other Translations

22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.

22 The lotus plants give it shade among the willows beside the stream.

22 Lazily cool in the leafy shadows as the breeze moves through the willows.

22 Lotus plants cover him with their shade; the willows by the brook surround 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 The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby.

21 Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.

22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.

23 A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.

24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 1:3; Isaiah 44:4