411 Dost thou draw leviathan with an angle? And with a rope thou lettest down—his tongue? 2 Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw? 3 Doth he multiply unto thee supplications? Doth he speak unto thee tender things? 4 Doth he make a covenant with thee? Dost thou take him for a servant age-during? 5 Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels? 6 (Feast upon him do companions, They divide him among the merchants!) 7 Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head? 8 Place on him thy hand, Remember the battle—do not add! 9 Lo, the hope of him is found a liar, Also at his appearance is not one cast down? 10 None so fierce that he doth awake him, And who 'is' he before Me stationeth himself?
11 Who hath brought before Me and I repay? Under the whole heavens it 'is' mine. 12 I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement. 13 Who hath uncovered the face of his clothing? Within his double bridle who doth enter? 14 The doors of his face who hath opened? Round about his teeth 'are' terrible. 15 A pride—strong ones of shields, Shut up—a close seal. 16 One unto another they draw nigh, And air doth not enter between them. 17 One unto another they adhere, They stick together and are not separated. 18 His sneezings cause light to shine, And his eyes 'are' as the eyelids of the dawn. 19 Out of his mouth do flames go, sparks of fire escape. 20 Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, As a blown pot and reeds. 21 His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth. 22 In his neck lodge doth strength, And before him doth grief exult. 23 The flakes of his flesh have adhered—Firm upon him—it is not moved. 24 His heart 'is' firm as a stone, Yea, firm as the lower piece.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 41:1-24
Chapter Contents
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.