Job 41:21

KJV

His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

KJV (with Strong's)

His breath {H5315} kindleth {H3857} coals {H1513}, and a flame {H3851} goeth out {H3318} of his mouth {H6310}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 41:21 offers a breathtaking and terrifying description of Leviathan, a creature presented by God as the ultimate demonstration of His unparalleled power and sovereignty. This verse vividly portrays Leviathan's breath as capable of igniting coals and emitting literal flames from its mouth, painting a picture of an untamable, destructive force that utterly transcends human control and comprehension. This awe-inspiring imagery serves to humble Job, redirecting his focus from his own suffering and questions to the Creator's infinite wisdom, unchallengeable might, and absolute dominion over all creation, even its most chaotic and fearsome elements.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 41:21 is a pivotal verse within God's second and final discourse to Job, spanning chapters 38-41. This divine monologue serves as the climax of the book, following Job's profound lamentations and the extended, often misguided, theological debates with his three friends. God directly intervenes, not to explain the *reason* for Job's suffering, but to challenge Job's presumption of understanding divine governance and to re-establish His own unassailable authority. Chapters 38-39 meticulously detail God's mastery over the cosmos and various wild creatures, setting the stage for the descriptions of Behemoth in [Job 40:15-24](/job/40-15-24 "Job 40:15-24 - Description of Behemoth") and, more extensively, Leviathan in [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - Description of Leviathan"). The portrayal of Leviathan, culminating in verses like 41:21, is the apex of God's demonstration, presenting a creature so formidable that it is utterly beyond human subjection, thereby reinforcing God's unchallengeable power and wisdom over all creation. The description emphasizes Leviathan's invincibility to human weaponry and its terrifying demeanor, all to underscore the vast chasm between human weakness and divine omnipotence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a region often associated with Edom or northern Arabia, giving its universal themes a distinct ancient Near Eastern flavor. The descriptions of Leviathan and Behemoth resonate with ancient Near Eastern mythological imagery, where similar monstrous creatures often symbolized primeval chaos, the untamed sea, or forces of evil that only a supreme deity could subdue. While the text does not explicitly clarify whether Leviathan is a literal creature (perhaps a hyperbolic description of a large crocodile or a dinosaur) or a purely symbolic representation, its description employs highly exaggerated and hyperbolic language characteristic of ancient wisdom literature designed to convey immense power and awe. The cultural context of the ancient world placed significant emphasis on divine power manifested through control over nature and chaotic elements. Human wisdom was often understood as humility and reverence before such overwhelming divine might, contrasting sharply with any attempts to question or contend with the divine order.
* **Key Themes:** The vivid imagery of Leviathan's fiery breath in [Job 41:21](/job/41-21 "Job 41:21 - Leviathan's Fiery Breath") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Job. Firstly, it profoundly underscores the **Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotence** of God, demonstrating that His power extends even to the most formidable, chaotic, and seemingly untamable elements of creation, which are utterly beyond human control. This reasserts God's absolute dominion over all things, visible and invisible. Secondly, it highlights the **Limits of Human Understanding and Wisdom**, serving to humble Job by illustrating that if humanity cannot even contend with a creature like Leviathan, how much less can it grasp or challenge the infinite wisdom of God's ways and His governance of the universe. This resonates with the recurring theme that God's judgments are unsearchable and His paths inscrutable, as echoed in [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Depth of God's Wisdom"). Finally, the description evokes a profound sense of **Awe and Mystery in Creation**, inviting Job and the reader to marvel at the vastness, complexity, and sheer power of God's creative work, which far surpasses human comprehension and inspires worship rather than questioning or complaint. The creature's terrifying nature ultimately serves to magnify the glory of its Creator.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Breath (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** While _nephesh_ (H5315) is often translated as "soul" or "life," its primary meaning is "a breathing creature" or "vitality." In this context, it refers to Leviathan's very essence of life, its vital exhalation. The fact that its "breath" kindles coals implies that the creature's life force itself is imbued with an inherent, intense heat and destructive power, not merely a byproduct. This suggests a creature whose very existence is a furnace, making its exhalation a terrifying manifestation of its internal power.
* **Kindleth (Hebrew, _lâhaṭ'_):** The verb _lâhaṭ_ (H3857) means "to blaze," "to burn (up)," or "to kindle." It conveys an active, intense process of combustion. In the context of Leviathan's breath, it signifies that the exhalation is not just hot air, but so intensely fiery that it can spontaneously ignite or intensify existing embers. This emphasizes the creature's formidable, almost supernatural, internal furnace, capable of generating extreme heat and fire through the simple act of breathing. It is an active, consuming flame.
* **Flame (Hebrew, _lahab'_):** The noun _lahab_ (H3851) denotes a "flame," "blaze," or even the "blade" of a polished weapon, suggesting both intense light and destructive sharpness. The phrase "a flame goeth out of his mouth" is a direct and unambiguous depiction of fire-breathing. This moves beyond metaphorical heat to literal, visible fire, reinforcing the creature's terrifying and unapproachable nature. The "flame" signifies not just heat, but light, destruction, and an active, offensive capability, solidifying its portrayal as a living, breathing weapon, a force of nature unleashed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"His breath kindleth coals":** This initial clause establishes the internal, generative power of Leviathan's fiery nature. It suggests that the very act of breathing for this creature is so intensely hot that it has the effect of igniting or intensifying glowing embers. This is not merely a hot exhalation but a breath imbued with such extreme thermal energy that it can cause combustion, implying a creature of immense, self-contained destructive potential. The imagery evokes a forge or a furnace, where intense heat is produced and maintained, highlighting Leviathan's inherent power and the danger it poses.
* **"and a flame goeth out of his mouth":** This second clause provides the direct, visible manifestation of the power described in the first. It unequivocally states that actual fire, a "flame," emanates from Leviathan's mouth. This moves beyond the internal heat to an external, aggressive display of power, making Leviathan a truly terrifying and unapproachable entity. The "flame" signifies not just heat, but light, destruction, and an active, offensive capability, solidifying its portrayal as an unconquerable force. This direct emission of fire underscores its monstrous and formidable nature, making it a living weapon that no human can withstand or control.

#### Literary Devices
Job 41:21 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey Leviathan's terrifying power and, by extension, God's ultimate sovereignty. **Hyperbole** is prominently featured in the description of a creature whose breath kindles coals and emits literal flames; while some interpretations seek a naturalistic explanation, the language clearly pushes beyond the mundane to depict an exaggerated, awe-inspiring, and almost mythical force. This exaggeration serves to emphasize the creature's formidable nature and its utter invincibility to human efforts. **Vivid Imagery** is paramount, painting a clear and immediate picture of a fire-breathing monster, engaging the reader's senses of sight and heat. The phrases "kindleth coals" and "a flame goeth out of his mouth" are highly evocative, creating a profound sense of dread, wonder, and the creature's overwhelming power. Furthermore, the description uses **Personification** by attributing human-like actions and capabilities (breathing, having a mouth from which fire emerges) to an animal, enhancing its monstrous and almost sentient portrayal, making it more terrifying and relatable as an adversary. Ultimately, Leviathan functions as a powerful **Symbolism** for the untamed forces of chaos, the limits of human power, and the terrifying aspects of nature that are utterly beyond human control, yet entirely subject to God's dominion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 41:21, with its graphic depiction of Leviathan's fiery breath, serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's power and humanity's finite place within creation. The creature's untamable and destructive attributes are not merely for dramatic effect; they are a divine rhetorical tool designed to humble Job and all humanity, demonstrating that if such a creature is beyond human mastery, then the Creator of such a creature is infinitely more so. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including the most chaotic, fearsome, and seemingly uncontrollable elements, assuring us that nothing, no force of nature or evil, is outside His ultimate control. It challenges any human presumption of wisdom, self-sufficiency, or ability to question God's ways, fostering a necessary posture of profound awe, reverent trust, and humble submission before the Almighty. The verse implicitly asks: if you cannot even face Leviathan, how can you contend with its Maker?

* [Psalm 74:13-14](/psalms/74-13-14 "Psalm 74:13-14 - God's Triumph Over Sea Monsters")
* [Psalm 104:26](/psalms/104-26 "Psalm 104:26 - Leviathan in God's Creation")
* [Isaiah 27:1](/isaiah/27-1 "Isaiah 27:1 - God's Judgment on Leviathan")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The terrifying image of Leviathan's fiery breath in Job 41:21, presented within God's grand discourse to Job, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It is a powerful reminder that our God is not a domesticated deity, confined to our understanding or expectations, but an infinitely powerful, sovereign Creator whose wisdom and might far exceed our comprehension. In a world that often seeks to control, explain away, or even diminish God's absolute authority, this passage calls us to a posture of profound humility and reverent awe. Just as Job was brought to a place of repentance and renewed trust by encountering God's unassailable power over creation, we too are invited to relinquish our need for complete understanding and instead rest in the assurance that the One who controls even the most chaotic and destructive forces is also the One who holds our lives, our futures, and all of history in His hands. This understanding cultivates a deeper, more resilient faith, enabling us to trust God's purposes even when our circumstances seem overwhelming, inexplicable, or unjust, knowing that His control extends to all things, seen and unseen, good and seemingly chaotic.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the description of Leviathan's untamable power challenge your understanding of God's absolute sovereignty in your own life and in the world?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to question God's control or wisdom, and how might this passage encourage a greater posture of humility and trust in His unsearchable ways?**
* **What does it truly mean to live in a posture of profound awe and worship before a God who can create and effortlessly control such formidable and terrifying forces?**

### FAQ

**Is Leviathan a literal creature or symbolic?**

Answer: The nature of Leviathan in [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - Description of Leviathan") has been a subject of extensive debate among scholars and commentators for centuries. While some interpretations propose it was a real, albeit perhaps now extinct, creature like a massive crocodile, a dinosaur, or an exaggerated whale, the hyperbolic language used to describe it—such as its fiery breath in [Job 41:21](/job/41-21 "Job 41:21 - Leviathan's Fiery Breath"), its impenetrable scales, and its utter invincibility to human weaponry—strongly suggests it is more likely a symbolic representation. In ancient Near Eastern mythology, creatures similar to Leviathan often symbolized primeval chaos, the untamable forces of the sea, or cosmic evil. Within the book of Job, Leviathan primarily functions as a powerful symbol of God's absolute dominion over all creation, including the most formidable, chaotic, and fearsome elements, which are utterly beyond human control. The central point is not its biological classification, but its function as an unchallengeable display of divine power and a rhetorical tool to humble Job.

**What is the main purpose of God describing Leviathan to Job?**

Answer: God's primary purpose in describing Leviathan (and Behemoth in [Job 40](/job/40 "Job 40 - Description of Behemoth")) to Job is not to provide a direct explanation for the reasons behind Job's suffering, but rather to humble Job and profoundly reorient his perspective towards God's infinite wisdom, unsearchable ways, and absolute power. Throughout the preceding chapters, Job has questioned God's justice and governance, seeking an explanation for his plight. By presenting creatures like Leviathan, which are utterly beyond human control or comprehension, God dramatically demonstrates the vast chasm between His divine wisdom and Job's finite understanding. The implicit question is: if Job cannot even contend with Leviathan, how can he presume to understand or challenge the Creator of the universe? This divine discourse serves to silence Job's complaints and lead him to a place of profound humility, awe, and renewed trust in God's sovereign plan, culminating in Job's confession and repentance in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1-6 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and Confession").

**Does Leviathan's fiery breath have any spiritual meaning for believers today?**

Answer: While Leviathan's fiery breath is a literal description within the narrative, its spiritual meaning for believers today lies in its profound symbolic power. It represents the ultimate, untamable force, the epitome of chaos and destructive power that only God can control. For us, this imagery reinforces God's absolute sovereignty over all forms of chaos, evil, and destructive power in the world, whether natural or spiritual. It assures us that no matter how overwhelming, fearsome, or inexplicable our circumstances may seem, or how potent the forces of evil may appear, God is ultimately in sovereign control. This understanding should inspire profound trust and unwavering faith, knowing that the God who can command Leviathan's breath and subdue the most formidable creatures is also the God who cares intimately for His people and works all things, even the most challenging, for His ultimate glory and our good, as promised in [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works for Good in All Things").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 41:21 directly describes the fearsome Leviathan, its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the embodiment of God's supreme power and dominion over all creation, including the very forces of chaos and evil that Leviathan symbolizes. The untamable, fire-breathing monster of Job finds its ultimate master and conqueror in Christ, who is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation," and 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 1:15-16](/colossians/1-15-16 "Colossians 1:15-16 - Christ's Supremacy Over Creation")). Jesus demonstrates this absolute dominion not by creating a fire-breathing creature, but by calming the raging storm with a mere word ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")), casting out legions of demons with unparalleled authority ([Mark 1:27](/mark/1-27 "Mark 1:27 - Jesus' Authority Over Unclean Spirits")), and ultimately conquering the ultimate enemies—sin and death—through His crucifixion and glorious resurrection ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death")). The terrifying power of Leviathan, which serves to humble Job and reveal God's unchallengeable might, points forward to the even greater, redemptive power of the Lamb of God, who not only controls all creation but also reconciles it to Himself, ultimately establishing His eternal kingdom where all chaos is subdued, every enemy is put under His feet, and all things are made gloriously new ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - God Makes All Things New")).

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

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.