Job 41 - Introduction
Leviathan, that is, the crocodile... [ Continue Reading ]
Leviathan, that is, the crocodile... [ Continue Reading ]
The second clause appears to mean, Wilt thou press down his tongue with a cord? The "cord" may be that of the hook; when the hook is swallowed and the cord drawn tightly, it presses down the tongue.... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 40:6 to Job 42:6. The Lord's Second Answer to Job out of the Storm Shall Man charge God with unrighteousness in His Rule of the World? All that the first speech of the Lord touched upon was the presumption of a mortal man desiring to contend with the Almighty. The display from Creation of that... [ Continue Reading ]
The impossibility of capturing the animal.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a hook_ lit. A CORD OF RUSH. _a thorn_ That is, a spike. The reference in the first clause may be to the habit of passing a cord through the gills of fish when caught, and letting them down into the water again, to preserve them in freshness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ironical question whether Leviathan will beg to be spared or treated kindly.... [ Continue Reading ]
Will he consent to be one of thy domesticated animals, and serve thee?... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilt thou make a pet thing of him? The commentators quote Catullus, _passer, deliciœ meœ puellœ_.... [ Continue Reading ]
The first clause reads, Will the partners bargain over him? This sense is sustained by the second clause; comp. ch. Job 6:27. By "the partners" is meant the company of fishermen; comp. Luke 5:7; Luke 5:10. _the merchants_ lit. _the Canaanites_. The Phoenicians were the great merchants of antiquit... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse is ironical, Lay thine hand upon him! Think of the battle: thou shalt do so no more. The last words, _thou shalt do so no more_(so the Geneva), refer to the ironical advice given in the first clause, "lay thine hand upon him"! The thought of the "battle," that is, the conflict, will be... [ Continue Reading ]
_the hope of him is in vain_ Rather, BEHOLD, ONE'S HOPE IS BELIED; lit. _his hope_. The hope of the assailant to overcome Leviathan is disappointed.... [ Continue Reading ]
In these verses the speaker turns aside from describing the invincibility of Leviathan to impress the moral which he intends to teach by introducing the monster. If none dare stir up this creature, which God has made, who will stand before God who created him, or venture to contend with Him?... [ Continue Reading ]
_who hath prevented me_ Rather, WHO HATH FIRST GIVEN TO ME? So Tyndale, _Or who hathe geven me anye thinge afore hand, that I am bounde to reward him agayne_? As none dare contend with God (Job 41:10), so none have any _ground_of contention with Him. None hath given aught to God, so as to have a cla... [ Continue Reading ]
Description of the parts of Leviathan.... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse reads, Who hath uncovered the face of his garment? Or who will enter into his double jaw? The "face of his garment" seems to mean the upper side or surface of his coat of scales, his armour; and the question is, Who has turned back, or removed this scaly covering? The question seems a g... [ Continue Reading ]
The terrible jaws of the animal.... [ Continue Reading ]
_who can open_ Or, WHO HATH OPENED. The "doors of his face" is an expression for his "mouth" which has something artificial and forced in it. _his teeth are terrible_ The jaws of the crocodile are very extended; the two rows of long, pointed teeth, thirty-six, it is said, above, and thirty beneath,... [ Continue Reading ]
_his scales are his pride_ Rather, THE ROWS OF HIS SHIELDS ARE A PRIDE. Each of his scales is a shield, and they are disposed in rows, or courses, lit. _pipes_(ch. Job 40:18), so called from their being curved or bossed. Of these rows there are said to be seventeen. The second clause describes the f... [ Continue Reading ]
His armour of scales.... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses refer to the close coherence of the scales to one another.... [ Continue Reading ]
The monster breathes smoke and flame.... [ Continue Reading ]
The animal is said to inflate itself, as it lies basking in the sun, and then force the heated breath through its nostrils, which in the sun appears like a stream of light. _the eyelids of the morning_ The reference may be to the shining of the reddish eyes of the animal, which are seen even under... [ Continue Reading ]
_burning lamps_ Or, burning TORCHES.... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses refer probably to the animal's emergence from the water, when the long-repressed hot breath is blown out along with water from his mouth, and shines in the sun like a fiery stream.... [ Continue Reading ]
_as out of a seething pot or caldron_ Rather perhaps, LIKE A SEETHING POT WITH RUSHES, i. e. with a fire of rushes.... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse means, In his neck dwelleth strength, And terror leapeth up before him. His neck is the dwelling-place, the home of strength; and wherever he appears terror leaps up. The prosaic meaning in the last words is that in the presence of Leviathan every thing starts up affrighted and seeks es... [ Continue Reading ]
His strength and hardness of muscle.... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse reads, The flakes of his flesh cleave fast together; It is firm upon him, it is not moved. The "flakes" of his flesh are the parts beneath the neck and belly, which in most animals are soft and pendulous; in him they are firm and hard. In the second clause _it_refers to his flesh, which... [ Continue Reading ]
The second clause reads, Yea, firm as the nether millstone. Gen. "as hard as the nether millstone." The term "firm," lit. _cast_, is repeated from the first clause (cf. Job 41:23). The nether millstone, bearing all the pressure upon it, needs to be harder even than the upper stone.... [ Continue Reading ]
With his "firmness" of heart there naturally goes a corresponding courage and fierceness. _by reason of breakings_ Rather, BY REASON OF TERRORS THEY ARE BESIDE THEMSELVES; lit. _they lose themselves_. The Geneva has: _for fear they faint in themselves_. The expression "lose themselves" seems more n... [ Continue Reading ]
_that layeth at him_ That is, that striketh at him; lit. _he that layeth at him with the sword, it doth not hold_. The sword does not hold, or bite, but glances off his adamantine armour. _the habergeon_ That is, the mail. "And be ye apparelled or clothed, saith Paul, with the habergeon, or coat ar... [ Continue Reading ]
He can be subdued by no weapon.... [ Continue Reading ]
_darts are counted_ Rather, CLUBS.... [ Continue Reading ]
The impression left where he has lien. Under him he hath sharp potsherds, He spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire. The scales of the belly, though smoother than those on the back, still are sharp, particularly those under the tail, and leave an impression on the mire where he has lien as if... [ Continue Reading ]
The commotion he raises in the deep. The second clause of the verse hardly refers to fermentation in the pot of ointment, but rather to the foaming mixture of ingredients.... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse refers to the shining track which his swift darting through the water leaves behind him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_who is made_ That is, he who is made without fear so as to fear nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
He has no rival, he is king among the proud beasts.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he beholdeth all high things_ Or, HE LOOKETH ON ALL THAT IS HIGH; he looks them boldly in the face without terror. _the children of pride_ That is, the proud beasts; comp. ch. Job 28:8.... [ Continue Reading ]