Iyov 40:21

21 He lieth under the shade of lotus plants, beseter (in the covert) of the reed and marsh.

Iyov 40:21 Meaning and Commentary

Job 40:21

He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed,
and fens.
] This may be thought to agree very well with the river horse, the inhabitant of the Nile, where reeds in great plenty grew, and adjoining to which were fenny and marshy places, and shady trees; and, as historians relate ^F5, this creature takes its lodging among high reeds, and in shady places; yea, the reeds and sugar canes, and the leaves of the papyrus, are part of the food on which it lives; and hence the hunters of them sometimes cover their bait with a reed to take them; though it must be allowed that the elephant delights to be about rivers, and in clayey and fenny places ^F6, and therefore Aelianus ^F7 says it may be called the fenny animal.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Ammian. Marcellin. l. 22. Bellonius & Achilles Tatius apud Bochart ut supra. (Apud Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 5. c. 14. col. 760.)
F6 Aristot. Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 46. Plin. l. 8. c. 10. Aelian. de Animal. l. 9. c. 56.
F7 lbid. l. 9. c. 24.

Iyov 40:21 In-Context

19 He is the reshit (firstling) of the ways of El; He, his Maker, can approach it with His cherev.

20 Surely the harim bring forth food for him, where all the wild beasts play.

21 He lieth under the shade of lotus plants, beseter (in the covert) of the reed and marsh.

22 The lotus plants cover him with their shadow; the willows by the nakhal (brook, stream) surround him.

23 See, when the nahar (river) rages, he is not alarmed; he is confident, though Yarden breaketh forth upon his mouth.