Job 41:7

KJV

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

KJV (with Strong's)

Canst thou fill {H4390} his skin {H5785} with barbed irons {H7905}? or his head {H7218} with fish {H1709} spears {H6767}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Can you fill his skin with darts or his head with fish-spears?

Berean Standard Bible

Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

American Standard Version

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 41:7 is a powerful rhetorical question posed by God to Job, challenging humanity's capacity to subdue the formidable creature Leviathan. This verse, situated within God's second major discourse, underscores the immense, untamable power of Leviathan, thereby magnifying God's own unparalleled sovereignty and omnipotence over all creation. It serves to highlight the vast chasm between human limitation and divine might, compelling Job, and by extension all humanity, to acknowledge God's ultimate control over even the most chaotic and powerful elements of the world.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 41:7 is embedded within God's second, climactic speech to Job, which spans [Job 40:6-41:34](/job/40-6 "God's Second Speech to Job"). Following a detailed description of Behemoth in [Job 40:15-24](/job/40-15 "Description of Behemoth"), God shifts His focus entirely to Leviathan in [Job 41](/job/41 "The Untamable Leviathan"). The entire discourse aims to humble Job by showcasing the Creator's absolute power and wisdom, far exceeding human comprehension or control. The rhetorical questions about Leviathan's invincibility, such as the one in this verse, serve to demonstrate that if Job cannot even contend with God's most fearsome creations, how much less can he contend with the Creator Himself. This section culminates in Job's humble repentance and renewed understanding of God's majesty in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job's Repentance and Restoration").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The descriptions of Leviathan, whether a mythical creature, a powerful real animal (like a crocodile), or a symbolic representation of chaos, would have resonated deeply with ancient Near Eastern audiences. Cultures in this region often depicted primordial chaos or powerful beasts as forces that only a supreme deity could control. The imagery of "barbed irons" and "fish spears" reflects the common hunting and fishing technologies of the time, emphasizing the futility of even the most advanced human weaponry against such a creature. The setting is likely ancient Uz, a land outside Israel, where Job's experiences would have been understood within a broader, pre-Mosaic understanding of God's universal sovereignty.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job. Firstly, it amplifies the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotence**, showcasing God's absolute dominion over all creation, even the most formidable and untamable forces, as seen throughout [Job 38-41](/job/38 "God's Speeches to Job"). Secondly, it highlights **Human Limitation and Weakness**, contrasting humanity's feeble attempts at control with the overwhelming power of God's design, a concept Job grapples with from the outset of his suffering in [Job 1](/job/1 "Satan's Challenge and Job's Integrity"). Finally, the untamable nature of Leviathan itself reinforces the idea that there are aspects of God's world, and indeed His very being, that remain wild, mysterious, and ultimately beyond human manipulation or full comprehension, a truth Job ultimately embraces in [Job 42](/job/42 "Job's Restoration").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Barbed irons (Hebrew, _mishlakot'_):** This term (מִשְׁלַכּוֹת) literally refers to "things cast" or "missiles," often interpreted as harpoons, javelins, or casting spears. In the context of hunting large aquatic creatures, it denotes a formidable weapon designed to pierce and hold. The use of "barbed" implies hooks or serrations to prevent escape. God's question challenges the efficacy of even such specialized and powerful human tools against Leviathan's impenetrable hide.
* **Fish spears (Hebrew, _tziltzal dagim'_):** The Hebrew phrase (צִלְצַל דָּגִים) is more complex. _Tziltzal_ (צִלְצַל) can mean "whirring," "clanging," or "a double-pointed instrument," often associated with cymbals or a rattling sound. When combined with _dagim_ (דָּגִים), "fish," it likely refers to a type of multi-pronged spear or harpoon used for fishing, perhaps one that makes a distinctive sound when thrown or strikes its target. The combination emphasizes a weapon specifically designed for aquatic prey, yet still utterly useless against Leviathan.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons?":** This clause presents a direct challenge to Job, and by extension, to all humanity. The verb "fill" (תְמַלֵּא, _tĕmallē'_) implies not just a single strike, but an overwhelming barrage, an attempt to completely incapacitate the creature by embedding numerous harpoons into its hide. The rhetorical nature of the question immediately signals an expected negative answer, emphasizing Leviathan's imperviousness and the futility of human aggression.
* **"or his head with fish spears?":** This second clause parallels the first, focusing on a more vulnerable, yet still unassailable, part of the creature – its head. The "fish spears" reiterate the type of weaponry, further underscoring the specific context of aquatic hunting. By targeting the head, a common strategy for a decisive blow, the question highlights that even the most critical and seemingly vulnerable points of Leviathan are beyond human conquest, reinforcing its invincibility.

#### Literary Devices
Job 41:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, which God uses repeatedly throughout His speeches in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "God's Speeches to Job"). By asking "Canst thou...?" God does not seek information but rather compels Job to acknowledge his own limitations and God's boundless power. This device forces self-reflection and humble admission of human inadequacy. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Hyperbole** by suggesting the "filling" of Leviathan's skin with weapons, an exaggerated image that underscores the absolute futility of such an endeavor. It implies that even an infinite number of strikes would be ineffective. Finally, Leviathan itself functions as a potent **Symbolism**. While possibly referring to a real creature, it primarily symbolizes the untamable, chaotic forces of creation that are utterly beyond human control, yet perfectly subject to God's sovereign will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 41:7 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's omnipotence and humanity's inherent limitations. By describing a creature so formidable that no human weapon can subdue it, God implicitly reveals His own immeasurable power as its Creator and Master. This passage underscores that true wisdom and power reside solely with God, challenging any human presumption of control over the natural world or, by extension, over the circumstances of life. It calls humanity to a posture of humility and awe before the Creator, recognizing that His ways are inscrutable and His dominion absolute.

* [Psalm 104:26](/psalm/104-26 "God's Control Over Leviathan") - "There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein."
* [Isaiah 27:1](/isaiah/27-1 "God's Judgment on Leviathan") - "In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea."
* [Romans 9:20](/romans/9-20 "Humanity's Place Before God") - "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The challenge of Job 41:7 extends far beyond the literal inability to capture a mythical beast; it speaks to the spiritual reality of human limitations in the face of divine power. In a world that often champions human ingenuity and control, this verse is a potent reminder that there are forces, both natural and spiritual, that remain utterly beyond our grasp. It invites us to relinquish our illusion of self-sufficiency and humble ourselves before the God who alone controls the "Leviathans" of our lives—the overwhelming circumstances, the intractable problems, the chaotic elements that threaten to consume us. True peace and wisdom come not from attempting to subdue these forces ourselves, but from trusting in the Creator who holds them in His hand. This passage encourages a deeper sense of awe and worship, shifting our focus from our own capabilities to God's infinite might and sovereign care.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Leviathans" in your life currently feel untamable or beyond your control?**
* **How does acknowledging God's absolute power over creation impact your perspective on your own limitations and struggles?**
* **In what ways might you be tempted to "fill God's skin with barbed irons" by trying to manipulate or control circumstances that are ultimately in His hands?**

### FAQ
**Is Leviathan a real animal or a mythical creature?**

Answer: The identity of Leviathan in Job 41 has been debated by scholars. Some interpret it as a literal, though exaggerated, description of a powerful aquatic creature like a crocodile or a large whale, given the detailed physical descriptions. Others view Leviathan as a mythical or symbolic creature, representing the forces of chaos and evil that only God can ultimately subdue, a common motif in ancient Near Eastern mythology. Regardless of its literal identity, its primary function in the book of Job is theological: to serve as an unparalleled example of God's creative power and dominion over even the most fearsome and untamable elements of His creation, thereby humbling Job and demonstrating God's supreme sovereignty. The descriptions emphasize its invincibility to human efforts, reinforcing the point that humanity cannot contend with God's works, let alone God Himself.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 41:7 speaks of God's power over creation, its ultimate fulfillment is found in Christ, who embodies the very power and wisdom of God. The untamable Leviathan, symbolizing chaos and forces beyond human control, finds its ultimate subduer in Jesus. Just as God demonstrates His dominion over the sea monster, so Jesus demonstrates His authority over all creation, calming the storm with a word in [Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Jesus Calms the Storm") and walking on water in [Matthew 14:25](/matthew/14-25 "Jesus Walks on Water"). More profoundly, Christ's victory on the cross and resurrection represent His triumph over the ultimate "Leviathan" of sin and death, forces that held humanity captive and were utterly beyond human power to overcome. He is the one who "disarmed the powers and authorities" in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ's Triumph Over Powers"), demonstrating that the Creator's power, revealed so dramatically in Job 41, is fully manifested in the person and work of the Son, who holds all things together by the word of His power, as affirmed in [Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Christ Upholds All Things"). Through Him, humanity finds not only a revelation of God's untamable power but also redemption and peace with the sovereign Creator.

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.