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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.
The spiritual weapons [of humans], he says, are unable to kill him, and [the devil] considers as straw and rotten wood those weapons that cannot inflict a lethal wound on him.
23. As if he were saying, He despises even the weight of that reproof, which strikes him by a punishment coming from above. For in Holy Scripture by the name ‘hammer’ is sometimes designated the devil, by whom the faults of offenders are now smitten. But it is sometimes taken for the smiting of heaven, by which even the Elect feel blows from above, in order to amend their evil ways: or it strikes the reprobate with just indignation, in order that by now anticipating eternal punishments, it may show them what they also deserve hereafter. For that the ancient enemy is expressed by the term ‘hammer’ the Prophet witnesses, when he observes the power of the last judgment upon him, and says, How is the hammer of the whole earth broken and crushed? [Jer. 50, 23] As if he were saying, Who can imagine with what a whirling stroke, at the coming of the last judgment, the Lord shatters him with eternal damnation, by whom He smites those vessels of His which are to he fashioned for the use of His service? Again, by a ‘hammer’ is expressed a blow from heaven, which is signified by Solomon building the temple, when it is said, And the house when it was in building, was built of stones hewn, and made ready, and neither hammer, nor hatchet, nor any tool of iron was heard in the house, while it was in building. [1 Kings 6, 7] For what did that house typify but Holy Church, which the Lord inhabits in heavenly places? To the building of which the souls of the Elect are brought, as if they were some polished stones. And when it is built in heaven, no hammer of discipline there any longer resounds, because we are brought thither, as stones hewn, and made ready to he arranged in places fitted for us according to our desert. For here we are beaten outwardly, in order that we may arrive thither without reproach. Here does the hammer, here the hatchet, here do all the iron tools of blows resound. But in the house of God no blows are heard, because in the eternal country the noises of smitings are now hushed. There the hammer strikes not, because no punishment afflicts. The hatchet cuts not, because no sentence of severity casts out those who have been once received within. The instruments of iron resound not, because not even the slightest scourges are any longer felt. Because then the weight of the heavenly blow is expressed by a hammer coming down from above, what is meant by this Leviathan despising the hammer, except that he scorns to dread the blows of the heavenly punishment? And he counts the hammer as stubble, because he prepares himself for the weight of just wrath, as if against the lightest alarms. Whence it is also added still more expressly;
And will laugh at Him that shaketh the spear.
24. For the Lord shakes a spear against Leviathan, because He threatens a severe sentence in his destruction. For to ‘shake a spear’ is to prepare for him eternal death through strict punishment. But the apostate spirit, despising the Author of his life, even with his own death, laughs at Him that shaketh the spear; because whatever severe, whatever horrible fate he foresees approaching from the strict judgment, he fears not to suffer it: but the more he perceives that he cannot escape eternal torments, with the greater cruelty does he rise up in practising his wickedness. And when the wise ones of this world behold him made firm with such perseverance, and such might, in all that he desires, they, most of them, incline their hearts to yield to his tyranny; and all that they know by the gift of God, do they turn against Him and apply to the service of His enemy.
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SUMMARY
Job 41:29 powerfully illustrates the unparalleled might and invulnerability of Leviathan, a formidable creature described by God to Job. By portraying human weaponry—darts and spears—as utterly ineffective, likened to mere stubble, the verse underscores Leviathan's indomitable nature and its complete disdain for any human challenge. This vivid imagery serves to magnify God's supreme sovereignty and wisdom, demonstrating that if humanity cannot subdue even one of His most fearsome creations, then human understanding and control are profoundly limited before the Creator Himself.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Job 41:29 is situated within God's second and final discourse to Job, commencing in Job 38 and concluding in Job 42. Following Job's prolonged lament and his friends' inadequate theological explanations, God directly addresses Job from a whirlwind. Instead of providing answers to Job's "why" questions regarding his suffering, God embarks on a majestic display of His omnipotence and omniscience through a series of rhetorical questions about the creation and sustenance of the cosmos. Chapters 40-41 focus specifically on two magnificent creatures, Behemoth and Leviathan, as prime examples of God's creative power and sovereign control over even the most untamable aspects of His creation. Job 41 is entirely dedicated to the Leviathan, detailing its fearsome attributes, impenetrable hide, fiery breath, and utter invincibility to human assault, culminating in verses like 41:29 that emphasize its unassailable nature. This divine monologue aims to humble Job and recalibrate his perspective on divine justice and human limitation in the face of infinite wisdom.
Historical & Cultural Context: The ancient Near East, where the book of Job is set, was a world deeply aware of the power of nature and often personified chaotic forces in mythical creatures. While some scholars interpret Leviathan as a real, albeit exaggerated, animal like a massive crocodile or hippopotamus (creatures known for their formidable strength and danger in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia), its description in Job 41 transcends mere zoology. Leviathan likely carries symbolic weight, representing the untamable forces of chaos and the primordial deep, often depicted in ancient mythologies as a cosmic serpent or dragon. In various ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies, deities often had to conquer such chaotic entities to establish order. However, in Job, the point is not that God struggles with Leviathan, but that He created it and effortlessly controls it. This demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including the most terrifying and chaotic elements, distinguishing Him from pagan deities who might battle such forces. The weapons mentioned—darts and spears—were common military implements of the time, making the comparison to stubble all the more impactful for an ancient audience.
Key Themes: Job 41:29 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Job and God's discourse. Firstly, it underscores the Immeasurable Power and Sovereignty of God. By creating and controlling a creature as formidable as Leviathan, God demonstrates His absolute dominion over all things, both wild and seemingly chaotic, far beyond human comprehension or control. This serves as a direct challenge to Job's earlier questioning of divine justice and governance, highlighting that God's ways are inscrutable and His power boundless (Job 42:2). Secondly, the verse emphasizes Human Limitation and Insignificance. If humanity's most potent weapons are rendered useless against one of God's creatures, it profoundly illustrates the futility of human strength and wisdom when attempting to contend with or even fully grasp the Creator. This theme of human frailty in the face of divine majesty is a recurring motif throughout God's speeches (e.g., Job 38:4-7). Finally, it speaks to the theme of Divine Order and Control over Chaos. In a world where terrifying creatures like Leviathan exist, this verse reassures that they are not independent forces of chaos but are under God's creative and sustaining hand, ultimately serving His purposes and demonstrating His glory.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 41:29 is rich in literary devices that amplify its message of Leviathan's invincibility and, by extension, God's supreme power. The most prominent device is Simile, evident in "Darts are counted as stubble," which creates a vivid and easily understood comparison between formidable weapons and worthless, brittle plant matter. This comparison effectively conveys the utter futility of human attack. Personification is powerfully employed in "he laugheth at the shaking of a spear," attributing human emotion and action (laughter) to Leviathan. This personification not only makes the creature more terrifying and alive but also emphasizes its psychological dominance and complete lack of fear in the face of human threats. Furthermore, the verse utilizes Hyperbole to exaggerate Leviathan's invulnerability, portraying it as so absolute that even the most potent human weapons are reduced to nothing. This exaggeration serves to underscore the creature's extraordinary nature and, by implication, the even greater power of its Creator. The use of these devices collectively paints a picture of an unconquerable beast, designed to humble Job and magnify the Creator's might.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 41:29, through its depiction of Leviathan's unassailable power, serves as a profound theological statement about God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including the most chaotic and fearsome elements. The verse is not merely a zoological description but a theological argument: if humanity cannot contend with one of God's creatures, how much less can they contend with God Himself? This highlights the vast chasm between human power and divine omnipotence, fostering a posture of humility and awe. It teaches that true power resides not in human strength or weaponry, but in the Creator who effortlessly controls even the most terrifying aspects of His universe. This understanding should lead to a deeper trust in God's ultimate control, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges or "Leviathans" in our own lives, reminding us that God is sovereign over all chaos and every threat.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 41:29 confronts us with the staggering reality of God's power, not just in abstract terms, but through the vivid imagery of a creature utterly beyond human control. This should cultivate a profound sense of humility within us, recognizing the limits of our own strength, wisdom, and ability to control circumstances. Just as Job was brought to a place of humble submission by God's display of power over creation, we too are called to relinquish our illusions of self-sufficiency. When we encounter "Leviathans" in our lives—whether they are overwhelming personal struggles, societal injustices, or global crises that seem unconquerable—this verse reminds us that there is a God who is sovereign over all. Our trust should not be placed in our own ingenuity or might, but in the Creator who controls even the most fearsome and chaotic elements of His world. This perspective offers immense comfort, knowing that the God who laughs at spears directed at His creation also holds our lives firmly in His hands, capable of navigating and overcoming any challenge that seems insurmountable to us.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is Leviathan a literal animal or a mythical creature?
Answer: The interpretation of Leviathan in Job 41 is a subject of scholarly debate, with arguments for both a literal and a symbolic understanding. Some scholars suggest Leviathan is an exaggerated description of a real, formidable animal known in the ancient Near East, such as a large crocodile or hippopotamus, known for their impenetrable hides and dangerous nature. Others argue that Leviathan is a mythical creature, a cosmic sea monster representing primordial chaos, similar to figures found in other ancient Near Eastern mythologies. Given the hyperbolic language and the creature's seemingly supernatural attributes (e.g., breathing fire in Job 41:19-21), it's most likely that Leviathan functions as a symbolic representation of the ultimate untamable power in creation, whether or not it has a direct zoological counterpart. Its primary purpose in the text is to serve as a concrete example of God's unparalleled creative power and His absolute control over even the most terrifying and chaotic elements of His world, thereby demonstrating His sovereignty to Job.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 41:29 highlights God's power over His creation, particularly over the formidable Leviathan, its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's power and sovereignty. If Leviathan demonstrates God's dominion over physical creation and chaos, Christ demonstrates God's ultimate authority over spiritual chaos, sin, and death. Jesus, as the Creator through 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), is the one who truly has power over all "Leviathans." We see this in His calming of the storm with a mere word, rebuking the wind and waves, demonstrating His authority over natural forces (Mark 4:39). More profoundly, Christ's victory on the cross and His resurrection represent the ultimate triumph over the spiritual "Leviathans" of sin, death, and the devil, which no human effort or weapon could ever conquer. He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities, triumphing over them (Colossians 2:15). The "laughter" of Leviathan at human weapons foreshadows the ultimate futility of all spiritual opposition against Christ, who will eventually put "all enemies under his feet" (1 Corinthians 15:25). Thus, the untamable power of Leviathan points to the infinitely greater, redemptive power of Christ, who not only controls creation but also conquers the very forces that enslave humanity, offering true freedom and peace.