Job 41:15-25

15 [His] pride is in [his] rows of scales, closely sealed together.^[a]

16 One scale is so close to another^[b] that no air can pass between them.

17 They are joined to one another, so closely connected^[c] they cannot be separated.

18 His snorting^[d] flashes with light, while his eyes are like the rays^[e] of dawn.

19 Flaming torches shoot^[f] from his mouth; fiery sparks fly out!

20 Smoke billows from his nostrils^[g] as from a boiling pot or [burning] reeds.

21 His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour out of his mouth.^[h]

22 Strength resides in his neck, and dismay dances before him.

23 The folds of his flesh are joined together, solid as metal^[i] and immovable.

24 His heart is as hard as a rock, as hard as a lower millstone!

25 When Leviathan rises, the mighty^[j] are terrified; they withdraw because of [his] thrashing.

Job 41:15-25 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jb 40:18
• [b]. Lit One by one they approach
• [c]. Lit another; they cling together and
• [d]. Or sneezing
• [e]. Lit eyelids
• [f]. Pr 26:18
• [g]. Ex 19:18; 2 Sm 22:9; Ps 18:8
• [h]. 2 Sm 22:9; Ps 18:8; Isa 66:15
• [i]. Lit together, hard on him
• [j]. Or the divine beings