Iyov 41

1 1 Canst thou draw out Leviathan with a khakah (fishhook)? Or tie down his leshon with a cord?
104 (41:2) None is so foolhardy that dare stir him up. Mi (who) then is able to stand before Me?
114 (41:3) Mi (who) hath given Me, that I must repay him? Whatsoever is under the kol HaShomayim is Mine.
124 (41:4) I will not keep silent about his members, nor his gevurah, nor the grace of his form.
134 (41:5) Mi (who) can remove his outer garment? Or mi (who) can come near him with a double bridle?
144 (41:6) Mi (who) can open the doors of his face? Terror is round about his teeth.
154 (41:7) His scales are his ga’avah (pride), shut up together as with a rigid chotam (seal).
164 (41:8) One is so near to another, that no ruach (air) can pass between them.
174 (41:9) They are joined one to another; they stick together, inseparably.
184 (41:10) By his sneezings ohr flares out, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the shachar.
194 (41:11) Out of his mouth goeth flame, and sparks of eish leap out.
204 (41:12) Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, like a seething pot or caldron.
214 (41:13) His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
224 (41:14) In his neck resideth oz (strength), and terror dances before him.
226 (26) Canst thou put a hook into his af (nose)? Or bore his jaw through with a barb?
234 (41:15) The flanks of his basar are joined together; they are firm in themselves, immoveable.
244 (41:16) His lev (chest) is as firm as an even (stone); yea, as hard as the lower millstone.
254 (41:17) When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid; shuddering they retreat.
264 (41:18) The cherev of him that reacheth at him cannot hold—the spear, the dart, nor the harpoon.
274 (41:19) He esteemeth barzel (iron) like straw, and nechoshet as rotten wood.
284 (41:20) The arrow cannot make him flee; sling stones are turned with him into stubble.
294 (41:21) Clubs are counted as straw; he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
304 (41:22) Sharp shards are his under parts; he leaveth a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
314 (41:23) He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he stirreth the yam like a pot of ointment.
324 (41:24) He maketh a wake to shine after him; one would think the deep to be white hair.
327 (27) Will he make many tachanunim unto thee? Will he speak soft words unto thee?
334 (41:25) Upon earth there is not his equal, who is created without fear.
344 (41:26) He beholdeth all things lofty; he is a melech over every proud beast.
428 (28) Will he make a brit (covenant) with thee? Wilt thou take him for an eved olam?
529 (29) Wilt thou play with him as with a pet bird? Or wilt thou leash him for thy na’arot (maidens)?
630 (30) Shall traders barter for him? Shall they divide him among the Kena’anim (Canaanites, merchants)?
731 (31) Canst thou fill his ohr (skin) with harpoons? Or his head with fishing spears?
832 (32) Lay thine hand upon him; remember the milchamah. Thou wilt not do it more.
941 (41:1) See, every tokhelet (expectation) is false; shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

Iyov 41 Commentary

Chapter 41

Concerning Leviathan.

- The description of the Leviathan, is yet further to convince Job of his own weakness, and of God's almighty power. Whether this Leviathan be a whale or a crocodile, is disputed. The Lord, having showed Job how unable he was to deal with the Leviathan, sets forth his own power in that mighty creature. If such language describes the terrible force of Leviathan, what words can express the power of God's wrath? Under a humbling sense of our own vileness, let us revere the Divine Majesty; take and fill our allotted place, cease from our own wisdom, and give all glory to our gracious God and Saviour. Remembering from whom every good gift cometh, and for what end it was given, let us walk humbly with the Lord.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 41

A large description is here given of the leviathan, from the difficulty and danger of taking it, from whence it is inferred that none can stand before God, Job 41:1-10; from the several parts of him, his face, teeth, scales, eyes, mouth and neck, flesh and heart, Job 41:11-24; and from various wonderful terrible things said of him, and ascribed to him, Job 41:25-34.

Iyov 41 Commentaries

The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.