Job 41:12

KJV

I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

KJV (with Strong's)

I will not conceal {H2790} his parts {H907}, nor his power {H1369}{H1697}, nor his comely {H2433} proportion {H6187}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"I have more to say about his limbs, his strong talk, and his matchless strength.

Berean Standard Bible

I cannot keep silent about his limbs, his power and graceful form.

American Standard Version

I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 41:12 is a powerful declaration from God, spoken during His profound discourse to Job concerning the untamable creature, Leviathan. In this verse, God asserts His intimate and exhaustive knowledge of every aspect of Leviathan—its physical components, its formidable strength, and its perfectly designed structure. This statement serves to underscore God's absolute omniscience and omnipotence, demonstrating His unparalleled sovereignty over even the most terrifying and seemingly uncontrollable elements of creation, thereby humbling Job and revealing the vast chasm between divine and human understanding.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 41:12 is embedded within God's second and most extensive speech to Job, specifically within the detailed description of Leviathan (Job 41:1-34). This divine monologue follows God's initial challenge to Job in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Challenge to Job"), where God begins to question Job's understanding of creation. The Leviathan passage functions as the climax of God's argument, presenting a creature so powerful and terrifying that no human can subdue it. By meticulously detailing Leviathan's invincibility and unique design, God highlights His own exclusive mastery over such a formidable being, thereby demonstrating His incomparable wisdom and power. The verse directly precedes further descriptions of Leviathan's might and the fear it inspires, reinforcing the creature's role as a symbol of untamed power under God's sole command.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, large, fearsome creatures, often depicted as sea monsters (like Lotan in Ugaritic myths), symbolized the forces of chaos that threatened cosmic order. These myths frequently portrayed gods engaging in cosmic battles to subdue such monsters and establish order. Against this backdrop, God's detailed and unchallenged description of Leviathan in Job 41, without any hint of struggle or conflict, powerfully asserts His unique and absolute sovereignty. Unlike pagan deities who might battle chaos, the God of Israel simply *describes* His creation, including its most terrifying aspects, as being fully known and under His command. This context underscores that Leviathan, far from being a chaotic force, is an integral part of God's ordered creation, perfectly designed by Him, even if beyond human control.

* **Key Themes:** The primary themes illuminated by Job 41:12 are God's **unfathomable power and knowledge**, His **divine design in creation**, and His **absolute sovereignty over all**. The declaration, "I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion," emphasizes God's intimate and exhaustive knowledge of every detail of Leviathan, affirming His omnipotence and omniscience, which extend even to the most formidable and mysterious aspects of His creation. The phrase "comely proportion" speaks to the meticulous craftsmanship of the Creator, indicating that even a creature as fearsome as Leviathan is not chaotic but perfectly designed and structured by God for its purpose, showcasing His immense wisdom (cf. [Psalm 104:24](/psalm/104-24 "Psalm 104:24 - God's Wisdom in Creation")). By detailing Leviathan's invincibility from a human perspective, God underscores that only He truly understands and controls such a creature, reinforcing the message that God is sovereign over all forces, visible and unseen, providing comfort and assurance that He is in complete control, as seen throughout the book of Job, particularly in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Conceal (Hebrew, _ḥāśak'_):** This verb means "to hold back," "to restrain," or "to keep secret." In this context, God declares that He will not hold back any information or detail about Leviathan. It signifies God's complete and transparent knowledge of the creature, implying nothing about Leviathan is hidden from its Creator. This stands in stark contrast to human ignorance and limited understanding, which Job has experienced.
* **Parts (Hebrew, בַּדִּים, _baddîm'_):** Literally meaning "bars," "limbs," or "sections." Here, it refers to the individual components, the physical makeup, or the distinct members of Leviathan's body. God's declaration that He will not conceal its "parts" emphasizes His intimate knowledge of its anatomical structure, down to every minute detail. It speaks to the Creator's comprehensive understanding of His handiwork.
* **Comely Proportion (Hebrew, תָּכְנִיָּהוּ, _takhnîyāhû'_):** This word is unique in the Old Testament and derives from a root meaning "to measure," "to weigh," or "to estimate." It denotes the creature's "structure," "arrangement," "design," or "well-ordered construction." It does not necessarily imply aesthetic beauty in a human sense, but rather the perfection of its design, its fitness for purpose, and its internal coherence as a divinely engineered being. It highlights God's meticulous planning and intentionality in creation, ensuring every aspect is perfectly fitted and formed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I will not conceal his parts":** God declares His absolute and exhaustive knowledge of Leviathan's physical composition. Every limb, scale, and internal organ is known to Him, not hidden or mysterious. This emphasizes God's omniscience, contrasting with humanity's limited perception and inability to fully comprehend the creature.
* **"nor his power":** This clause speaks to God's full understanding of Leviathan's formidable strength, its destructive capabilities, and its inherent might. God knows the full extent of its force, its invincibility from a human perspective, and the terror it inspires. This highlights God's omnipotence, for He who knows such power also controls it.
* **"nor his comely proportion":** This refers to Leviathan's perfect design, its intricate structure, and its functional arrangement. God knows the precise measurements, the deliberate engineering, and the purposeful construction of this creature. This underscores God's wisdom as the ultimate Designer, demonstrating that even the most fearsome aspects of creation are not chaotic but meticulously crafted according to His divine plan.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several literary devices to convey God's message. The overarching **Divine Monologue** (God speaking directly to Job) establishes an authoritative tone, highlighting the vast gap between divine and human understanding. **Hyperbole** is evident in the descriptions of Leviathan throughout chapter 41, emphasizing its unparalleled strength and invincibility from a human perspective, serving to magnify God's even greater power. The implied **Rhetorical Question** undergirds God's entire discourse: "Can *you*, Job, control this creature? If not, how can you question Me, who created and controls it?" This device effectively humbles Job. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is crucial, as Leviathan serves as a powerful symbol of untamed, chaotic, and fearsome power in the created order, which only God can fully know and command. By stating He will not "conceal" anything about this symbol of ultimate natural power, God asserts His absolute transparency and mastery over all things, leaving no room for doubt about His sovereignty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 41:12 profoundly contributes to the biblical understanding of God's attributes. It showcases His absolute sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence, not merely in abstract terms but through the concrete example of His mastery over creation's most formidable creature. This verse reassures us that there is nothing in creation—no force, no challenge, no mystery—that is unknown or uncontrollable by God. His intimate knowledge of Leviathan's "parts," "power," and "comely proportion" demonstrates that His creative act is not merely an external command but an internal, detailed, and perfectly executed design. This truth provides immense comfort, reminding us that the God who meticulously crafted and fully comprehends Leviathan is the same God who holds every detail of our lives in His knowing and powerful hands.

* [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalm/139-1 "Psalm 139:1-4 - God's Omniscience and Presence")
* [Psalm 104:24](/psalm/104-24 "Psalm 104:24 - God's Wisdom in Creation")
* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God's Everlasting Power and Understanding")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 41:12 calls us to a profound humility and trust in the face of life's overwhelming realities. Just as God meticulously knows and controls Leviathan, a creature beyond human comprehension and control, so too does He intimately know and sovereignly orchestrate the seemingly chaotic or fearsome circumstances of our lives. This verse encourages us to relinquish our attempts to control or fully understand everything, instead resting in the assurance that God's knowledge and power far exceed our own. It reminds us that even in the most daunting situations—whether personal struggles, global crises, or existential anxieties—God is not surprised, nor is He distant. He is the meticulous Designer and Controller of all things, inviting us to find peace and security in His absolute sovereignty, recognizing that His perfect design extends even to the "uncomely" or terrifying aspects of our existence, working all things for His ultimate purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Leviathans" or overwhelming forces in your life currently feel beyond your control or comprehension?**
* **How does God's intimate knowledge of Leviathan's "parts, power, and comely proportion" encourage you regarding His knowledge of your own life and circumstances?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender control and trust more fully in God's sovereign design and power?**
* **How can acknowledging God's complete mastery over creation deepen your worship and reduce your anxiety?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of God detailing Leviathan's attributes in Job 41, and specifically in verse 12?**

Answer: The significance lies in God's demonstration of His absolute and unchallenged sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence. By describing Leviathan, a creature so terrifying and powerful that no human can subdue it, God highlights that *He alone* possesses intimate knowledge of its "parts" (its physical makeup), its "power" (its formidable strength), and its "comely proportion" (its perfect, deliberate design). This detailed description serves to humble Job, who had questioned God's justice and governance. God uses Leviathan as a metaphor for any force or mystery in creation that is beyond human control or understanding. The message is clear: if Job cannot even begin to comprehend or control a creature like Leviathan, how can he presume to understand or challenge the Creator of all things, who knows every detail of even the most fearsome aspects of His creation? It underscores that God's ways and His power are infinitely superior to human capabilities and comprehension, reinforcing the theme of divine wisdom and human limitation found throughout [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 41:12 speaks directly of God's mastery over creation, its ultimate fulfillment is profoundly seen in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The God who intimately knows and controls Leviathan is the same God revealed in Christ, who demonstrates ultimate sovereignty over all things, not just the natural world, but also sin, death, and spiritual powers. Just as God declares He will not conceal Leviathan's power, so too does Christ openly display His power over creation, calming storms with a word ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) and walking on water ([Matthew 14:25](/matthew/14-25 "Matthew 14:25 - Jesus Walks on Water")). More significantly, Christ's "comely proportion"—His perfect divine and human nature—is revealed in His life, death, and resurrection, demonstrating God's meticulous design for salvation. He is the true "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), perfectly fulfilling God's redemptive plan. Through His victory on the cross, Christ disarmed the spiritual "Leviathans" of this world—the powers and authorities that held humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities")). Thus, the absolute knowledge and control God displays over Leviathan in Job 41:12 finds its ultimate and redemptive expression in the sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ, who holds all things together ([Colossians 1:17](/colossians/1-17 "Colossians 1:17 - Christ's Supremacy")) and perfectly executes the divine will.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.