King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
His breath sets coals ablaze; flames pour from his mouth.
Berean Standard Bible:
His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.
American Standard Version:
His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
His breath{H5315} kindleth{H3857} coals{H1513}, and a flame{H3851} goeth out{H3318} of his mouth{H6310}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 18:8
- There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
Habakkuk 3:5
- Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
Isaiah 30:33
- For Tophet [is] ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made [it] deep [and] large: the pile thereof [is] fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Psalms 18:12
- At the brightness [that was] before him his thick clouds passed, hail [stones] and coals of fire.
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Commentary for Job 41:21
The verse Job 41:21 is part of a larger poetic discourse in the Book of Job, specifically found within the speech of God to Job. This book is one of the Wisdom Literature texts in the Hebrew Bible and is known for its profound exploration of the problem of evil and human suffering. The historical context of Job is somewhat uncertain, with estimations placing its composition anywhere from the second millennium BCE to around the 6th century BCE. It is set in the patriarchal period and is not tied to a specific historical event.
In the preceding chapters, Job, a man known for his righteousness, has suffered immense personal tragedies and physical afflictions. He and his friends engage in a series of dialogues seeking to understand why the innocent suffer. In chapters 38-41, God responds to Job out of a whirlwind, challenging him with a series of rhetorical questions that highlight the limits of human knowledge and the grandeur of the created world.
Job 41:21 is part of God's description of Leviathan, a mythical sea creature often associated with chaos and evil in ancient Near Eastern literature. This verse metaphorically emphasizes the immense power and frightening nature of Leviathan, whose breath is so hot it kindles coals and whose mouth emits flame. The imagery here is not meant to be taken literally but serves to illustrate the untamable and awe-inspiring aspects of God's creation, which are beyond human control or comprehension.
The themes of this verse include the majesty and terror of the natural world, the unfathomable complexity of creation, and the humbling recognition of humanity's limited understanding. By invoking the fearsome Leviathan, God is underscoring the point that there are forces in the world that humans cannot hope to master. This serves as a reminder to Job—and to the reader—of the need for humility and trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty over the universe. The verse invites reflection on the mystery of existence and the appropriate human response to the grandeur and terror that coexist within the divine design.
*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: H5315
There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
Transliteration: nephesh
Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. - Strong's Number: H3857
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָהַט
Transliteration: lâhaṭ
Pronunciation: law-hat'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to lick, i.e. (by implication) to blaze; burn (up), set on fire, flaming, kindle. - Strong's Number: H1513
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֶּחֶל
Transliteration: gechel
Pronunciation: geh'-khel
Description: or (feminine) גַּחֶלֶת; from an unused root meaning to glow or kindle; an ember; (burning) coal. - Strong's Number: H3851
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַהַב
Transliteration: lahab
Pronunciation: lah'-hab
Description: from an usused root meaning to gleam; a flash; figuratively, a sharply polished blade or point of aweapon; blade, bright, flame, glittering. - 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: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word.