Job 41:31

KJV

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

KJV (with Strong's)

He maketh the deep {H4688} to boil {H7570} like a pot {H5518}: he maketh {H7760} the sea {H3220} like a pot of ointment {H4841}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"He makes the depths seethe like a pot, he makes the sea [boil] like a perfume kettle.

Berean Standard Bible

He makes the depths seethe like a cauldron; he makes the sea like a jar of ointment.

American Standard Version

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 41:31 is a pivotal verse within God's climactic discourse to Job from the whirlwind, vividly depicting the awe-inspiring and terrifying power of Leviathan. Through two striking similes, the verse portrays Leviathan's ability to violently churn the deepest waters into a boiling cauldron and then transform the sea into a viscous, perhaps even oily, substance like a pot of ointment. This profound imagery serves to underscore God's absolute and incomprehensible sovereignty over even the most untamable forces of creation, challenging Job's limited human perspective and calling him to humility before the Creator's majestic power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 41:31 is situated within God's series of speeches to Job, beginning in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech to Job") and extending through [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - God's Description of Leviathan"). These divine pronouncements serve as God's direct response to Job's complaints and questioning of divine justice. After systematically illustrating His wisdom and power through various natural phenomena and creatures like the wild goat, the wild ass, and the formidable Behemoth in [Job 40](/job/40 "Job 40 - God's Description of Behemoth"), God dedicates the entirety of [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - God's Description of Leviathan") to Leviathan. This creature, often identified as a powerful aquatic beast like a crocodile or a mythical sea monster, represents the apex of untamable power in creation. The detailed description of Leviathan's invincibility and destructive capabilities is designed to humble Job, demonstrating that if he cannot contend with one of God's creatures, how much less can he contend with God Himself. This culminates in Job's repentance and submission in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Response and Repentance").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of Leviathan and the "deep" (Hebrew: *tehom*) resonates with ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cosmologies, where primeval waters and sea monsters often symbolized chaos and forces of rebellion against divine order. While biblical texts consistently affirm God's ultimate sovereignty over these forces (e.g., [Psalm 74:13-14](/psalm/74-13 "Psalm 74:13-14 - God Crushing the Heads of Leviathan")), the description of Leviathan in Job emphasizes its unparalleled might within creation. The "pot of ointment" (Hebrew: *merqachah*) refers to an apothecary's pot used for mixing perfumes or unguents, which were highly valued in ancient cultures for their medicinal, cosmetic, and ceremonial uses. This unusual comparison highlights the creature's unique and profound impact on its environment, transforming the chaotic deep into something strangely altered, perhaps viscous or frothy, underscoring its utterly overwhelming and mysterious effect. The cultural understanding of powerful, untamable beasts, whether literal or symbolic, would have amplified the awe and terror evoked by God's description.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Job. First, it profoundly illustrates **Divine Sovereignty over Chaos**. Despite Leviathan's terrifying might, it is God who "maketh" it act, reinforcing His absolute control over even the most chaotic and powerful elements of His creation, including those beyond human control or comprehension. Second, it highlights the stark contrast between **Human Limitation and Divine Omnipotence**. By presenting a creature so formidable that no human can tame it, God implicitly asks Job to consider His own infinite power, thereby challenging Job's finite understanding and self-righteousness. Third, the description of Leviathan embodies the **Mystery and Awe of Creation**. Not all of God's creation is benign or easily understood; some aspects are fearsome and mysterious, designed to evoke profound reverence and humility. The "pot of ointment" simile, in particular, adds to this mystery, suggesting an unsettling, lingering transformation. Ultimately, the entire discourse, including [Job 41:31](/job/41-31 "Job 41:31 - Leviathan's Power Over the Deep"), aims to instill **Awe and Humility** in Job, leading him to recognize the vast chasm between human wisdom and divine wisdom, prompting his repentance and renewed trust in God's majestic plan, as seen in [Job 42:5-6](/job/42-5 "Job 42:5-6 - Job's Confession").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Deep (Hebrew, _təhōm'_):** This term refers to the primeval ocean or abyss, often associated with chaos and the unformed waters from [Genesis 1:2](/genesis/1-2 "Genesis 1:2 - The Spirit Hovering Over the Deep"). In Job 41:31, it signifies the profound, hidden, and often turbulent depths of the sea, emphasizing that Leviathan's power extends to the very foundations of the waters, disturbing what is typically calm and unfathomable. Its use here underscores the creature's ability to stir up the most fundamental and chaotic elements of creation.
* **Boil (Hebrew, _yirtach'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to boil, bubble up, rage," this word vividly conveys intense agitation, churning, and violent disturbance. While literal heat is not implied in the context of the sea, the metaphor evokes the image of a pot vigorously bubbling over a fire, suggesting an overwhelming, almost volcanic, disruption of the water. It emphasizes the raw, untamed, and destructive force that Leviathan unleashes upon its environment.
* **Ointment (Hebrew, _merqāḥâ'_):** This word denotes a pot for mixing perfumes, unguents, or spices, or the ointment itself. The comparison is striking and somewhat paradoxical. While "boiling" suggests violent agitation, "ointment" implies a thick, viscous, perhaps even smooth or oily consistency. This could suggest that after Leviathan's passage, the disturbed waters settle into a strangely altered state—perhaps frothy, oily, or thick with residue—or that its presence leaves a unique, almost alchemical, mark on the sea, transforming it into something unexpectedly different and perhaps even unsettlingly calm or stagnant. It highlights the creature's unique and profound impact, leaving a distinct, lingering impression.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He maketh the deep to boil like a pot":** This clause immediately establishes Leviathan's immense and disruptive power. The imagery of the "deep" (the vast, often calm, and mysterious ocean depths) being made to "boil like a pot" vividly conveys a scene of violent, chaotic churning. It suggests that Leviathan's movement is so forceful and vigorous that it transforms the tranquil, unfathomable waters into a raging, bubbling cauldron. This paints a picture of a creature capable of generating immense turbulence and disarray, far beyond any human capacity to control or even comprehend.
* **"he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment."** This second clause offers a surprising and contrasting simile, adding another layer to Leviathan's mysterious power. After the initial violent agitation, the sea is depicted as becoming like "a pot of ointment." This could imply several things: perhaps the churning leaves a thick, frothy, or oily residue on the surface; or it might suggest that the water, after being violently disturbed, settles into an unnaturally smooth, viscous, or even stagnant state, akin to a thick unguent. This striking paradox—from boiling chaos to an oily calm—underscores the creature's unique and overwhelming impact, demonstrating its ability not just to disrupt, but to fundamentally alter the very nature of its environment, leaving a distinct and perhaps unsettling mark.

#### Literary Devices
Job 41:31 is rich in **Imagery** and **Simile**, employing vivid comparisons to convey the unparalleled power of Leviathan. The primary device is **Simile**, with the phrases "like a pot" and "like a pot of ointment" directly comparing the sea's transformation to familiar objects. These similes make the abstract and terrifying power of Leviathan concrete and relatable, allowing the reader to visualize the immense disturbance. The verse also employs **Hyperbole**, exaggerating Leviathan's effect on the sea to emphasize its extraordinary strength and the impossibility of human control. Furthermore, a profound **Contrast** or **Paradox** is presented between the "boiling" (violent agitation) and the "ointment" (viscous, perhaps calm or strangely altered state). This juxtaposition heightens the creature's mysterious and overwhelming impact, suggesting that its power is not merely destructive but also capable of strange, transformative effects, leaving a unique and lasting impression on the environment. The use of these devices effectively communicates the creature's untamable nature and, by extension, God's supreme power over all creation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 41:31 profoundly reinforces the biblical truth of God's absolute sovereignty, particularly over the forces of chaos and the seemingly untamable aspects of creation. Leviathan, as the embodiment of overwhelming natural power, serves as a testament to a created order that extends far beyond human comprehension and control. Yet, the verse explicitly states that it is God who "maketh" Leviathan perform these actions, firmly placing even this terrifying creature under divine command. This challenges any notion of independent chaotic forces and asserts that all of creation, in its diverse and often fearsome manifestations, ultimately serves God's purposes and testifies to His matchless wisdom and might. The theological implication is clear: if God can command such a creature, then His power over all human circumstances, including Job's suffering, is unquestionable, demanding awe, humility, and trust.

* [Psalm 74:13-14](/psalm/74-13 "Psalm 74:13-14 - God Crushing the Heads of Leviathan")
* [Psalm 104:25-26](/psalm/104-25 "Psalm 104:25-26 - God's Creation and Leviathan")
* [Isaiah 27:1](/isaiah/27-1 "Isaiah 27:1 - God's Judgment on Leviathan")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 41:31 offers a powerful reminder that God's power extends even to the most chaotic, terrifying, and seemingly uncontrollable aspects of our world and our lives. Just as Leviathan's immense strength and disruptive presence are ultimately within God's purview, so too are the "boiling" and unsettling circumstances we face—whether personal crises, global upheavals, or the inexplicable mysteries of existence. This verse calls us to move beyond our limited human understanding and to cultivate a profound sense of awe and humility before the Creator. It encourages us to trust that the God who orchestrates even the most formidable creatures and transforms the "deep" in surprising ways is fully capable of sovereignly overseeing our lives. In moments when our own "deep" seems to boil, or when life leaves us feeling strangely altered like "a pot of ointment," we are invited to rest in the knowledge that God's power is supreme, His wisdom is unfathomable, and His control is absolute, providing a foundation for peace amidst chaos.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the description of Leviathan in Job 41:31 challenge my preconceived notions of God's power and control over creation?**
* **In what areas of my life do I perceive "chaos" or "uncontrollable forces," and how can this verse encourage me to place those areas more fully under God's sovereignty?**
* **What does the paradox of the "boiling" sea becoming "like a pot of ointment" teach me about God's mysterious and transformative work in difficult situations?**

### FAQ
**Is Leviathan a literal creature or purely symbolic?**

Answer: The interpretation of Leviathan in Job 41 has been debated, but the most robust understanding suggests it is a real, formidable creature (likely a large aquatic reptile like a crocodile, though exaggerated) that also carries profound symbolic weight. God's detailed description of its physical attributes and behaviors points to a creature observed in the natural world. However, its portrayal as utterly invincible and beyond human control elevates it to a symbolic representation of the untamable forces of nature and chaos. The purpose of the description is not merely zoological, but theological: to demonstrate God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including the most terrifying and powerful elements, whether literal or symbolic. Therefore, it is both a formidable, real creature (or based on one) and a powerful symbol of chaos, over which God alone reigns supreme, as seen in other biblical references like [Psalm 104:26](/psalm/104-26 "Psalm 104:26 - Leviathan in God's Creation") and [Isaiah 27:1](/isaiah/27:1 "Isaiah 27:1 - God's Judgment on Leviathan").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 41:31 directly speaks of God's sovereignty over Leviathan, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate demonstration of divine power and control over chaos found in Jesus Christ. The untamable Leviathan, churning the deep and transforming the sea, represents the formidable forces of a fallen world—sin, death, and chaos—that are beyond human mastery. Yet, in the New Testament, we see Jesus, the incarnate God, exercising direct authority over these very elements. His calming of the storm in [Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm"), where He rebukes the wind and stills the waves, is a profound echo of God's power over the "deep" and its chaotic manifestations. This act reveals Christ as the very 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](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator")). Ultimately, Christ's victory on the cross and His resurrection represent the definitive triumph over the "ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan" ([Revelation 12:9](/revelation/12-9 "Revelation 12:9 - The Great Dragon, That Ancient Serpent")), the true embodiment of rebellion and chaos. Just as God demonstrates His power over Leviathan, Christ's work ensures that in the new heavens and new earth, there will be "no more sea" ([Revelation 21:1](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1 - New Heaven and New Earth")), signifying the ultimate and eternal cessation of all chaos, fear, and separation, fully realizing the dominion foreshadowed in Job.

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.