Job 41:5

Wilt thou play with him as [with] a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

Wilt thou play {H7832} with him as with a bird {H6833}? or wilt thou bind {H7194} him for thy maidens {H5291}?

Will you play with him as you would with a bird or keep him on a string to amuse your little girls?

Can you pet him like a bird or put him on a leash for your maidens?

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

Commentary

Job 41:5 is part of God's profound discourse to Job, where the Almighty challenges Job's understanding and humility by describing the formidable creature known as Leviathan. This verse uses rhetorical questions to underscore the immense power and untamable nature of Leviathan, contrasting it sharply with human capabilities.

Context of Job 41:5

In the book of Job, after chapters of intense dialogue and Job's lamentations, God finally speaks from a whirlwind (Job 38:1, Job 40:6). His intention is to reveal His boundless wisdom and power, thereby putting Job's suffering and questions into perspective. Chapters 38-39 present God's mastery over the natural world, while Chapter 40 describes Behemoth, a creature of immense strength. Chapter 41 focuses entirely on Leviathan, a terrifying and unconquerable sea monster, often interpreted as a crocodile or a mythical creature embodying chaos. The questions in verse 5 — "Wilt thou play with him as [with] a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?" — highlight the absurdity of any human attempt to domesticate or control such a beast.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Power: The primary message is God's absolute and unquestionable control over all creation, even its most fearsome and wild elements. No creature, however mighty, is beyond His dominion.
  • Human Limitation and Humility: The verse serves as a powerful reminder of humanity's finite power and knowledge. Just as Job cannot tame Leviathan, so he cannot fully comprehend the vastness of God's plan or challenge His divine authority. This leads to Job's ultimate repentance and humility (Job 42:5-6).
  • The Untamable Nature of Creation: Some aspects of God's creation are meant to remain wild and beyond human control, serving as a testament to His unsearchable greatness. Leviathan represents untamed power that defies human domestication.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "play" (*sahaq*) used here can mean to laugh, mock, or amuse oneself. The rhetorical question "Wilt thou play with him as [with] a bird?" emphasizes the sheer impossibility and foolishness of treating Leviathan like a docile pet. Similarly, "bind him for thy maidens" evokes the image of young women playing with small, harmless creatures. The juxtaposition of Leviathan's terrifying power with the domestic imagery of a bird or a pet for maidens powerfully underscores its wildness and the vast chasm between human and divine power.

Practical Application

Job 41:5 encourages believers to recognize and humble themselves before the incomprehensible power and wisdom of God. When faced with challenges or mysteries that seem overwhelming, this verse reminds us that God is sovereign over all things, even those that appear chaotic or beyond human control. It fosters trust in His plan, knowing that He manages the "Leviathans" of our lives and the world with ease. This perspective can bring peace and a deeper reverence for the Creator, encouraging us to rest in His omnipotence rather than striving in our own limited strength, echoing themes found in Psalm 46:10.

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Cross-References

  • Job 28:11 (2 votes)

    He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and [the thing that is] hid bringeth he forth to light.

  • Judges 16:25 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

  • Judges 16:30 (2 votes)

    And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with [all his] might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life.