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Commentary on Job 41 verses 11–34
God, having in the foregoing verses shown Job how unable he was to deal with the leviathan, here sets forth his own power in that massy mighty creature. Here is,
I. God's sovereign dominion and independency laid down, Job 41:11. 1. That he is indebted to none of his creatures. If any pretend he is indebted to them, let them make their demand and prove their debt, and they shall receive it in full and not by composition: "Who has prevented me?" that is, "who has laid any obligations upon me by any services he has done me? Who can pretend to be before-hand with me? If any were, I would not long be behind-hand with them; I would soon repay them." The apostle quotes this for the silencing of all flesh in God's presence, Rom 11:35. Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? As God does not inflict upon us the evils we have deserved, so he does bestow upon us the favours we have not deserved. 2. That he is the rightful Lord and owner of all the creatures: "Whatsoever is under the whole heaven, animate or inanimate, is mine (and particularly this leviathan), at my command and disposal, what I have an incontestable property in and dominion over." All is his; we are his, all we have and do; and therefore we cannot make God our debtor; but of thy own, Lord, have we given thee. All is his, and therefore, if he were indebted to any, he has wherewithal to repay them; the debt is in good hands. All is his, and therefore he needs not our services, nor can he be benefited by them. If I were hungry I would not tell thee, for the world is mind and the fulness thereof, Psa 50:12.
II. The proof and illustration of it, from the wonderful structure of the leviathan, Job 41:12.
1.The parts of his body, the power he exerts, especially when he is set upon, and the comely proportion of the whole of him, are what God will not conceal, and therefore what we must observe and acknowledge the power of God in. Though he is a creature of monstrous bulk, yet there is in him a comely proportion. In our eye beauty lies in that which is small (inest sua gratia parvis - little things have a gracefulness all their own) because we ourselves are so; but in God's eye even the leviathan is comely; and, if he pronounce even the whale, event he crocodile, so, it is not for us to say of any of the works of his hands that they are ugly of ill-favoured; it is enough to say so, as we have cause, of our own works. God here goes about to give us an anatomical view (as it were) of the leviathan; for his works appear most beautiful and excellent, and his wisdom and power appear most in them, when they are taken in pieces and viewed in their several parts and proportions. (1.) The leviathan, even prima facie - at first sight, appears formidable and inaccessible, Job 41:13, Job 41:14. Who dares come so near him while he is alive as to discover or take a distinct view of the face of the garment, the skin with which he is clothed as with a garment, so near him as to bridle him like a horse and so lead him away, so near him as to be within reach of his jaws, which are like a double bridle? Who will venture to look into his mouth, as we do into a horse's mouth? He that opens the doors of his face will see his teeth terrible round about, strong and sharp, and fitted to devour; it would make a man tremble to think of having a leg or an arm between them. (2.) His scales are his beauty and strength, and therefore his pride, Job 41:15-17. The crocodile is indeed remarkable for his scales; if we understand it of the whale, we must understand by these shields (for so the word is) the several coats of his skin; or there might be whales in that country with scales. That which is remarkable concerning the scales is that they stick so close together, by which he is not only kept warm, for no air can pierce him, but kept safe, for no sword can pierce him through those scales. Fishes, that live in the water, are fortified accordingly by the wisdom of Providence, which gives clothes as it gives cold. (3.) He scatters terror with his very breath and looks; if he sneeze or spout up water, it is like a light shining, either with the froth or the light of the sun shining through it, Job 41:18. The eyes of the whale are reported to shine in the night-time like a flame, or, as here, like the eye-lids of the morning; the same they say of the crocodile. The breath of this creature is so hot and fiery, from the great natural heat within, that burning lamps and sparks of fire, smoke and a flame, are said to go out of his mouth, even such as one would think sufficient to set coals on fire, Job 41:19-21. Probably these hyperbolical expressions are used concerning the leviathan to intimate the terror of the wrath of God, for that is it which all this is designed to convince us of. Fire out of his mouth devours, Psa 18:7, Psa 18:8. The breath of the Almighty, like a stream of brimstone, kindles Tophet, and will for ever keep it burning, Isa 30:33. The wicked one shall be consumed with the breath of his mouth, Th2 2:8. (4.) He is of invincible strength and most terrible fierceness, so that he frightens all that come in his way, but is not himself frightened by any. Take a view of his neck, and there remains strength, Job 41:22. his head and his body are well set together. Sorrow rejoices (or rides in triumph) before him, for he makes terrible work wherever he comes. Or, Those storms which are the sorrow of others are his joys; what is tossing to others is dancing to him. His flesh is well knit, Job 41:23. The flakes of it are joined so closely together, and are so firm, that it is hard to pierce it; he is as if he were all bone. His flesh is of brass, which Job had complained his was not, Job 6:12. His heart is as firm as a stone, Job 41:24. He has spirit equal to his bodily strength, and, though he is bulky, he is sprightly, and not unwieldy. As his flesh and skin cannot be pierced, so his courage cannot be daunted; but, on the contrary, he daunts all he meets and puts them into a consternation (Job 41:25): When he raises up himself like a moving mountain in the great waters even the mighty are afraid lest he should overturn their ships or do them some other mischief. By reason of the breakings he makes in the water, which threaten death, they purify themselves, confess their sins, betake themselves to their prayers, and get ready for death. We read (Job 3:8) of those who, when they raise up a leviathan, are in such a fright that they curse the day. It was a fear which, it seems, used to drive some to their curses and others to their prayers; for, as now, so then there were seafaring men of different characters and on whom the terrors of the sea have contrary effects; but all agree there is a great fright among them when the leviathan raises up himself. (5.) All the instruments of slaughter that are used against him do him no hurt and therefore are not error to him, Job 41:26-29. The sword and the spear, which wound nigh at hand, are nothing to him; the darts, arrows, and sling-stones, which wound at a distance, do him no damage; nature has so well armed him cap-a-pie - at all points, against them all. The defensive weapons which men use when they engage with the leviathan, as the habergeon, or breast-plate, often serve men no more than their offensive weapons; iron and brass are to him as straw and rotten wood, and he laughs at them. It is the picture of a hard-hearted sinner, that despises the terrors of the Almighty and laughs at all the threatenings of his word. The leviathan so little dreads the weapons that are used against him that, to show how hardy he is, he chooses to lie on the sharp stones, the sharp-pointed things (Job 41:30), and lies as easy there as if he lay on the soft mire. Those that would endure hardness must inure themselves to it. (6.) His very motion in the water troubles it and puts it into a ferment, Job 41:31, Job 41:32. When he rolls, and tosses, and makes a stir in the water, or is in pursuit of his prey, he makes the deep to boil like a pot, he raises a great froth and foam upon the water, such as is upon a boiling pot, especially a pot of boiling ointment; and he makes a path to shine after him, which even a ship in the midst of the sea does not, Pro 30:19. One may trace the leviathan under water by the bubbles on the surface; and yet who can take that advantage against him in pursuing him? Men track hares in the snow and kill them, but he that tracks the leviathan dares not come near him.
2.Having given this particular account of his parts, and his power, and his comely proportion, he concludes with four things in general concerning this animal: - (1.) That he is a non-such among the inferior creatures: Upon earth there is not his like, Job 41:33. No creature in this world is comparable to him for strength and terror. Or the earth is here distinguished from the sea: His dominion is not upon the earth (so some), but in the waters. None of all the savage creatures upon earth come near him for bulk and strength, and it is well for man that he is confined to the waters and there has a watch set upon him (Job 7:12) by the divine Providence, for, if such a terrible creature were allowed to roam and ravage upon this earth, it would be an unsafe and uncomfortable habitation for the children of men, for whom it is intended. (2.) That he is more bold and daring than any other creature whatsoever: He is made without fear. The creatures are as they are made; the leviathan has courage in his constitution, nothing can frighten him; other creatures, quite contrary, seem as much designed for flying as this for fighting. So, among men, some are in their natural temper bold, others are timorous. (3.) That he is himself very proud; though lodged in the deep, yet he beholds all high things, Job 41:34. The rolling waves, the impending rocks, the hovering clouds, and the ships under sail with top and top-gallant, this mighty animal beholds with contempt, for he does not think they either lessen him or threaten him. Those that are great are apt to be scornful. (4.) That he is a king over all the children of pride, that is, he is the proudest of all proud ones. He has more to be proud of (so Mr. Caryl expounds it) than the proudest people in the world have; and so it is a mortification to the haughtiness and lofty looks of men. Whatever bodily accomplishments men are proud of, and puffed up with, the leviathan excels them and is a king over them. Some read it so as to understand it of God: He that beholds all high things, even he, is King over all the children of pride; he can tame the behemoth (Job 40:19) and the leviathan, big as they are, and stout-hearted as they are. This discourse concerning those two animals was brought in to prove that it is God only who can look upon proud men and abase them, bring them low and tread them down, and hide them in the dust (Job 40:11-13), and so it concludes with a quod erat demonstrandum - which was to be demonstrated; there is one that beholds all high things, and, wherein men deal proudly, is above them; he is King over all the children of pride, whether brutal or rational, and can make them all either bend or break before him, Isa 2:11. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and thus the Lord alone shall be exalted.
Others believe that here he alludes to the fact that sneezing has the power to purify the brain; therefore, [the devil] transfigures himself into light, and even pretends to be able to purify. So [faithless] Gentiles and wizards use the devil’s power in certain rites of purification, pretending that they have the power of the light, whereas they are entirely full of filth.
56. This passage we expound the better, if we first enquire, how sneezing is produced. For in sneezing the breath rises up from the breast, and when it finds no pores open for its escape, it touches the brain, and, passing out condensed through the nostrils, it shakes at once all the head. In this body therefore of Leviathan, that is, in either malignant spirits, or reprobate men, who have adhered to him through resemblance in their guilt, a breath rises, as it were, from the breast, when pride exalts itself through the power of the present world. And it finds as it were no pores for escape; because in this raising up of itself against the just, it is kept, by God’s provision, from prevailing as much as it desires. But it ascends and touches and shakes the brain, because the collected pride of Satan strikes the sense more closely at the end of the world, and disturbs the head, when it excites more vehemently the author himself of malignant spirits to the persecution of the faithful, by him who is called Antichrist. Then does the condensed breath come forth through his nostrils, because the iniquity of his pride is fully set forth by the open blasts of his malice. Because therefore sneezing especially shakes the head, that last commotion of this Leviathan, with which he enters into that accursed man, and by him rules over the reprobate, is called his ‘sneezing.’ And he rouses himself at that time with such power, as to confound, if possible, even the Elect members of the Lord: he makes use of such signs and prodigies, as to seem to glitter with the power of miracles, as if with a kind of light of fire. Because his head then strives, when aroused, to shine forth with miracles, his sneezing is rightly called the splendour of fire. For in rousing himself to persecute the just, he shines forth before the eyes of the reprobate with mighty signs. And because the wise ones of the world adhere to his tyranny, and he exercises by their advice every evil which he attempts, it is rightly subjoined,
And his eyes as the eyelids of the morning.
57. For by his ‘eyes,’ which are fixed in his head, and serve the purpose of sight, his counsellors are not improperly designated, who, when they foresee in their perverse machinations in what manner what things are to be done, point out to his evil workers a way, as it were, for their feet. And they are rightly compared to the eyelids of the morning. For by the ‘eyelids of the morning’ we understand the last hours of the night, in which the night opens, as it were, its eyes, when now setting forth the beginnings of the coming light. The prudent then of this world, who adhere to the perverse counsels of the malice of Antichrist, are, as it were, the eyelids of the morning, because they declare that the faith in Christ which they meet with is, as it were, the night of error, and profess that veneration for Antichrist is the true morning. For they promise to banish the darkness, and to announce the light of truth by brilliant miracles; because they cannot persuade what they wish, unless they profess to offer better things. Whence also this very snake, when speaking to our first parents in paradise, by pretending to provide something better for them, opened as it were the eyelids of the morning, when he reproved in their innocent minds the ignorance of humanity, and promised the knowledge of Godhead. For he banished, as it were, the darkness of ignorance, and announced the divine morning of eternal knowledge, saying; Your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. [Gen. 3, 5] In like manner when coming then in that accursed man, his eyes are compared to the eyelids of the morning, because his wise ones reject the simplicity of the true faith, as if the darkness of the night which is past, and display his lying wonders as the rays of the rising sun. But because this Leviathan not only has eyes to foresee evil things with malignant designs, but also opens his mouth to pervert the minds of men, (since by his wicked preachers he inflames the hearts of his hearers to love the deceit of error,)
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SUMMARY
Job 41:18 offers a breathtaking description of Leviathan, a formidable creature presented by God to Job as a testament to divine omnipotence and unsearchable wisdom. Within God's extended monologue, this verse vividly portrays Leviathan's awe-inspiring power through its luminous "neesings" and eyes that gleam like the dawn, underscoring its untamable nature and the Creator's absolute sovereignty over all creation, even the most terrifying and mysterious elements.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Job 41:18 is situated within God's climactic speeches to Job, beginning in Job 38. After Job and his friends have exhausted their human wisdom in attempting to explain suffering, God intervenes, not to answer Job's specific questions about his affliction, but to challenge Job's limited perspective by revealing the grandeur and complexity of His creation. God's monologue highlights His unparalleled power and wisdom, contrasting it with Job's finite understanding. Chapter 41 is entirely dedicated to the description of Leviathan, following a similar detailed portrayal of Behemoth in Job 40:15-24. The purpose of these elaborate descriptions is to humble Job and lead him to a deeper trust in God's sovereign control over all things, culminating in Job's confession of God's unchallengeable power in Job 42:2. This specific verse contributes to the overall portrait of Leviathan's terrifying and majestic attributes, emphasizing its fiery breath and watchful, brilliant gaze.
Historical & Cultural Context: The book of Job is a masterpiece of ancient Hebrew wisdom literature, likely set in the patriarchal period, though its exact dating is debated. The descriptions of creatures like Leviathan and Behemoth resonate with ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cosmological narratives, where powerful, often chaotic, creatures symbolized forces beyond human control. While some ANE myths depict deities battling such monsters, the biblical account in Job asserts God's effortless creation and complete mastery over them, demonstrating His unique and unchallenged power. The imagery used, such as "eyelids of the morning," draws on common poetic tropes of the time, where dawn symbolized new beginnings, revelation, and powerful light. The cultural context emphasizes a world where humanity was acutely aware of its vulnerability to natural forces, making God's dominion over such formidable beings even more profound and awe-inspiring.
Key Themes: Job 41:18 powerfully reinforces several central themes of the book of Job. Firstly, it underscores Divine Power and Sovereignty. If God can create and command a creature as untamable and fearsome as Leviathan, whose very "neesings" emit light and whose eyes shine like the dawn, His power is truly limitless and beyond human comprehension. This reinforces the overarching message of God's absolute control over all creation, a theme woven throughout God's speeches in Job 38-41. Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of The Untamable Creation. Leviathan is presented as a creature beyond human control, a force of nature that no man can subdue. The vivid imagery of its eyes like "the eyelids of the morning" suggests a piercing, ever-watchful, and formidable gaze, emphasizing its wild and independent spirit, a testament to its Creator's might. This serves to humble humanity and magnify the Creator who alone holds dominion over such mighty beings. Lastly, the language employed is a prime example of Poetic Imagery and Hyperbole, characteristic of Hebrew wisdom literature. The "light" from its sneezes and the "eyelids of the morning" for its eyes are not necessarily literal scientific descriptions but powerful metaphors intended to convey the creature's overwhelming might, brilliant appearance, and fearsome presence, evoking a sense of profound awe and terror.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 41:18 is rich with Imagery, creating a vivid mental picture of Leviathan's formidable nature. The description of "neesings" emitting "light" immediately evokes a sense of fiery breath or luminous spray, characteristic of a mythical beast. This is further amplified by Hyperbole, as the creature's sneezes are unlikely to literally produce light, but the exaggeration serves to magnify its power and terrifying presence beyond ordinary comprehension. The most striking device is the Metaphor in "his eyes [are] like the eyelids of the morning." This comparison imbues Leviathan's eyes with the brilliant, piercing quality of the rising sun, suggesting an intense, watchful, and almost divine luminosity. The use of "eyelids" rather than just "morning" adds a subtle layer of Personification, hinting at a conscious, observing entity whose gaze is as inevitable and powerful as the dawn itself. These devices collectively elevate Leviathan from a mere animal to a symbol of untamed, overwhelming power, serving to underscore the even greater power of its Creator.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 41:18, as part of God's extended discourse on Leviathan, serves as a profound theological statement on divine omnipotence and human limitation. The creature's untamable power and awe-inspiring attributes are not merely for descriptive effect but are meant to humble Job and, by extension, all humanity, before the Creator. If God can effortlessly bring forth and control such a terrifying and majestic being, then His wisdom and power far exceed any human capacity to comprehend or challenge. This passage underscores that God's ways are inscrutable, and His sovereignty extends over every aspect of creation, including those forces that seem chaotic or beyond human control. It calls for a posture of humility, reverence, and absolute trust in a God who is truly supreme.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 41:18, with its vivid portrayal of Leviathan, serves as a powerful and enduring reminder of God's awe-inspiring power and unsearchable wisdom. In a world that often strives for control, certainty, and human mastery, this passage calls us to a profound humility and trust. If God can create and manage a creature as formidable and mysterious as Leviathan, whose very breath shines and whose eyes mimic the dawn, then He is undeniably capable of handling our greatest challenges, fears, and unanswered questions. This verse invites us to gaze in wonder at the Creator, recognizing that His dominion extends over every chaotic force, every unknown, and every seemingly insurmountable obstacle in our lives. It fosters a deep sense of reverence and encourages us to release our need for complete understanding and control, instead resting in the absolute sovereignty of a God who is truly supreme. Our faith is not in our ability to comprehend Him, but in His infinite capacity to govern all things for His purposes.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is Leviathan, and is it a literal creature?
Answer: Leviathan, as described in Job 41, is a colossal, fearsome, and untamable creature, often depicted as a sea monster or dragon. While some interpret it as a literal, though now extinct, creature (like a massive crocodile or whale), the highly poetic and hyperbolic language used (e.g., breathing fire/light, impenetrable scales) suggests it functions more as a symbolic representation of chaotic, untamable power in creation. Its primary purpose in the book of Job is not zoological identification but theological demonstration: to illustrate God's absolute sovereignty over all forces, whether natural or mythical, known or unknown. Other biblical references to Leviathan, such as in Psalm 74:14 and Isaiah 27:1, also use it in a symbolic or mythical sense, often associated with forces of chaos or evil that God ultimately conquers.
How does Job 41:18 contribute to the overall message of the book of Job?
Answer: Job 41:18, by vividly portraying Leviathan's overwhelming power and awe-inspiring nature, serves as a crucial component of God's argument to Job. The verse emphasizes that even the most formidable and untamable aspects of creation are entirely subject to God's command. This directly counters Job's human-centric perspective and his attempts to understand or question God's justice based on his limited experience. By showcasing His mastery over such a creature, God demonstrates His unchallengeable power, wisdom, and sovereignty, which are far beyond human comprehension. The verse, therefore, helps to humble Job, leading him to confess his own ignorance and embrace a posture of trust and reverence before an infinitely wise and powerful God, as seen in Job 42:2-6.
What is the significance of Leviathan's eyes being "like the eyelids of the morning"?
Answer: The phrase "eyelids of the morning" is a powerful poetic metaphor. "The eyelids of the morning" refers to the first rays of dawn, which are bright, piercing, and herald the coming of a new day. By comparing Leviathan's eyes to this phenomenon, the verse conveys several layers of meaning. Firstly, it suggests intense luminosity and brilliance, implying that Leviathan's gaze is striking and perhaps even fiery. Secondly, it evokes a sense of alertness and watchfulness, as the dawn signals the beginning of activity. Thirdly, it imbues the creature with a majestic, almost cosmic, presence, linking its eyes to a powerful natural phenomenon. This imagery contributes to the overall portrayal of Leviathan as a creature of immense power, majesty, and terrifying vigilance, further magnifying the Creator who brought such a being into existence.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 41:18 primarily showcases God's unparalleled power in creation, its ultimate fulfillment points to the absolute sovereignty of Jesus Christ. The untamable Leviathan, a symbol of chaotic and overwhelming power, finds its true master in the Son of God. Just as God effortlessly controls Leviathan, Christ demonstrates His dominion over all creation, including the raging seas, the forces of nature, and even spiritual powers. The "light" shining from Leviathan's "neesings" and its eyes like "the eyelids of the morning" foreshadow the true Light of the World, Jesus Christ, who illuminates all darkness and whose glory outshines any created wonder (John 1:9). He is the one in whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16). The power displayed in Leviathan is but a shadow of the power Christ wields, for He has "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15). Ultimately, the awe and reverence due to the Creator of Leviathan are fully realized in worship of Christ, who is "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come" (Ephesians 1:21).