Job 40:22

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

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.

---

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 grass-covered hills serve him meals, while field mice frolic in his shadow.

21 He takes afternoon naps under shade trees, cools himself in the reedy swamps,

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

23 And when the river rages he doesn't budge, stolid and unperturbed even when the Jordan goes wild.

24 But you'd never want him for a pet - you'd never be able to housebreak him!