Job 41:1-11

1 ^[a]"Can you draw out ¹Leviathan^[b] with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?

2 Can you put ²a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with ³a hook?

3 Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?

4 Will he make a covenant with you to take him for ⁴your servant forever?

5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?

6 Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?

7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle--you will not do it again!

9 ^[c] Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.

10 No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?

11 ⁵Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? ⁶Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Job 41:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Job 3:8; Psalms 74:14; Psalms 104:26; Isaiah 27:1
• 2. [2 Kings 19:28; Isaiah 37:29]
• 3. [2 Kings 19:28; Isaiah 37:29]
• 4. Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 15:17
• 5. Romans 11:35; [Job 35:7]
• 6. See Psalms 24:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Ch 40:25 in Hebrew
• [b]. A large sea animal, exact identity unknown
• [c]. Ch 41:1 in Hebrew