King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as [out] of a seething pot or caldron.
Complete Jewish Bible:
His nostrils belch steam like a caldron boiling on the fire.
Berean Standard Bible:
Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
American Standard Version:
Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and burning rushes.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Out of his nostrils{H5156} goeth{H3318} smoke{H6227}, as out of a seething{H5301} pot{H1731} or caldron{H100}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 1:13
- And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof [is] toward the north.
Jeremiah 1:14
- Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 41:20
Job 41:20 is part of a larger poetic discourse in the Book of Job, specifically found within God's speech to Job from the whirlwind. This verse describes a fearsome creature, often interpreted as a metaphorical representation of Leviathan, a primordial sea monster or serpent found in ancient Near Eastern mythologies. In the context of Job, Leviathan symbolizes the untamable and incomprehensible aspects of God's creation.
The verse "Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as [out] of a seething pot or caldron" vividly portrays the creature's immense power and terrifying presence. The imagery of smoke billowing from its nostrils likens Leviathan to a pot of water at a rolling boil, suggesting an inner furnace of strength and ferocity. This depiction contributes to the theme of the awesomeness of God's power as manifested in the natural world, which is beyond human control or understanding.
The Book of Job itself is a complex work of wisdom literature, addressing the problem of suffering and the nature of faith in the face of undeserved calamity. Job, a righteous man, endures severe trials as God allows Satan to test his faith. The book raises questions about divine justice and human affliction, and God's speeches serve to remind Job of the limits of human knowledge and the grandeur of divine wisdom.
Historically, the Book of Job is thought to have been written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), a period when the Israelites were grappling with theological questions about God's justice and the suffering of the innocent. The character of Leviathan, as described in Job 41:20, would have resonated with ancient audiences familiar with myths of chaotic sea creatures, embodying the forces that God has conquered and ordered in creation. This verse, with its powerful imagery, underscores the majesty and mystery of God's dominion over all aspects of the universe, including the terrifying and the inexplicable.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5156
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְחִיר
Transliteration: nᵉchîyr
Pronunciation: nekh-eer'
Description: from the same as נַחַר; a nostril; (dual) nostrils. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H6227
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׁן
Transliteration: ʻâshân
Pronunciation: aw-shawn'
Description: from עָשַׁן; smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust, anger); smoke(-ing). - Strong's Number: H5301
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָפַח
Transliteration: nâphach
Pronunciation: naw-fakh'
Description: a primitive root; to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem); blow, breath, give up, cause to lose (life), seething, snuff. - Strong's Number: H1731
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דּוּד
Transliteration: dûwd
Pronunciation: dood
Description: from the same as דּוֹד; a pot (for boiling); also (by resemblance of shape) a basket; basket, caldron, kettle, (seething) pot. - Strong's Number: H100
There are 1840 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַגְמוֹן
Transliteration: ʼagmôwn
Pronunciation: ag-mone'
Description: from the same as אֲגַם; a marshy pool (others from a different root, a kettle); by implication; a bulrush (as growing there); collectively a rope of bulrushes; bulrush, caldron, hook, rush.