Job 41:7-17

7 Could you shoot him full of arrows like a pin cushion, or drive harpoons into his huge head?
8 If you so much as lay a hand on him, you won't live to tell the story.
9 What hope would you have with such a creature? Why, one look at him would do you in!
10 If you can't hold your own against his glowering visage, how, then, do you expect to stand up to me?
11 Who could confront me and get by with it? I'm in charge of all this - I run this universe!
12 "But I've more to say about Leviathan, the sea beast, his enormous bulk, his beautiful shape.
13 Who would even dream of piercing that tough skin or putting those jaws into bit and bridle?
14 And who would dare knock at the door of his mouth filled with row upon row of fierce teeth?
15 His pride is invincible; nothing can make a dent in that pride.
16 Nothing can get through that proud skin - impervious to weapons and weather,
17 The thickest and toughest of hides, impenetrable!

Job 41:7-17 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.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.