Job 41:26

26 When one catches up to him, no sword or spear or dart or coat of mail shall endure against him.

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Job 41:26 In-Context

24 His heart is as firm as a stone; as hard as a piece of the lower millstone.
25 Of his greatness, the mighty are afraid; by reason of breakings they remove sin from themselves.
26 When one catches up to him, no sword or spear or dart or coat of mail shall endure against him.
27 He esteems iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee; with him, slingstones are turned into stubble.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010