Passage

Job 41

Book: Job · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord? 2. Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 3. Will he make many supplications unto thee? Or will he speak soft words unto thee? 4. Will he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever? 5. Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6. Will the bands of fishermen make traffic of him? Will they part him among the merchants? 7. Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish - spears? 8. Lay thy hand upon him; Remember the battle, and do so no more. 9. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10. None is so fierce that he dare stir him up; Who then is he that can stand before me? 11. Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12. I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. 13. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws? 14. Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror. 15. His strong scales are his pride, Shut up together as with a close seal. 16. One is so near to another, That no air can come between them. 17. They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered. 18. His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19. Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth. 20. Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and burning rushes. 21. His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. 22. In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him. 23. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; They cannot be moved. 24. His heart is as firm as a stone; Yea, firm as the nether millstone. 25. When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves. 26. If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. 27. He counteth iron as straw, And brass as rotten wood. 28. The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble. 29. Clubs are counted as stubble: He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin. 30. His underparts are like sharp potsherds: He spreadeth as it were a threshing-wain upon the mire. 31. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32. He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary. 33. Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear. 34. He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride." (Job 41:1-34, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook, or press down his tongue with a cord? 2. Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 3. Will he make many petitions to you, or will he speak soft words to you? 4. Will he make a covenant with you, that you should take him for a servant forever? 5. Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls? 6. Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants? 7. Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears? 8. Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more. 9. Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Won’t one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10. None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? 11. Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine. 12. “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. 13. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws? 14. Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror. 15. Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal. 16. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17. They are joined to one another. They stick together, so that they can’t be pulled apart. 18. His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19. Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap out. 20. Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. 21. His breath kindles coals. A flame goes out of his mouth. 22. There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him. 23. The flakes of his flesh are joined together. They are firm on him. They can’t be moved. 24. His heart is as firm as a stone, yes, firm as the lower millstone. 25. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing. 26. If one attacks him with the sword, it can’t prevail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. 27. He counts iron as straw; and brass as rotten wood. 28. The arrow can’t make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him. 29. Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin. 30. His undersides are like sharp potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge. 31. He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. 32. He makes a path shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair. 33. On earth there is not his equal, that is made without fear. 34. He sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride.”" (Job 41:1-34, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? ^{leviathan: That is, a whale or a whirlepoole} ^{which: Heb. which thou drownest?} 2. Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3. Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4. Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5. Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6. Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7. Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8. Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10. None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? 11. Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13. Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? ^{with: or, within} 14. Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15. His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. ^{scales: Heb. strong pieces of shields} 16. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18. By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22. In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. ^{is turned into joy: Heb. rejoiceth} 23. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. ^{flakes: Heb. fallings} 24. His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25. When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. ^{habergeon: or, breastplate} 27. He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30. Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. ^{Sharp stones: Heb. Sharp pieces of potsherd} 31. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32. He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. ^{is made without fear: or, behave themselves without fear} 34. He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride." (Job 41:1-34, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. Dost thou draw leviathan with an angle? And with a rope thou lettest down, his tongue? 2. Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw? 3. Doth he multiply unto thee supplications? Doth he speak unto thee tender things? 4. Doth he make a covenant with thee? Dost thou take him for a servant age-during? 5. Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels? 6. (Feast upon him do companions, They divide him among the merchants!) 7. Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head? 8. Place on him thy hand, Remember the battle, do not add! 9. Lo, the hope of him is found a liar, Also at his appearance is not one cast down? 10. None so fierce that he doth awake him, And who [is] he before Me stationeth himself? 11. Who hath brought before Me and I repay? Under the whole heavens it [is] mine. 12. I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement. 13. Who hath uncovered the face of his clothing? Within his double bridle who doth enter? 14. The doors of his face who hath opened? Round about his teeth [are] terrible. 15. A pride, strong ones of shields, Shut up, a close seal. 16. One unto another they draw nigh, And air doth not enter between them. 17. One unto another they adhere, They stick together and are not separated. 18. His sneezings cause light to shine, And his eyes [are] as the eyelids of the dawn. 19. Out of his mouth do flames go, sparks of fire escape. 20. Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, As a blown pot and reeds. 21. His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth. 22. In his neck lodge doth strength, And before him doth grief exult. 23. The flakes of his flesh have adhered, Firm upon him, it is not moved. 24. His heart [is] firm as a stone, Yea, firm as the lower piece. 25. From his rising are the mighty afraid, From breakings they keep themselves free. 26. The sword of his overtaker standeth not, Spear, dart, and lance. 27. He reckoneth iron as straw, brass as rotten wood. 28. The son of the bow doth not cause him to flee, Turned by him into stubble are stones of the sling. 29. As stubble have darts been reckoned, And he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin. 30. Under him [are] sharp points of clay, He spreadeth gold on the mire. 31. He causeth to boil as a pot the deep, The sea he maketh as a pot of ointment. 32. After him he causeth a path to shine, One thinketh the deep to be hoary. 33. There is not on the earth his like, That is made without terror. 34. Every high thing he doth see, He [is] king over all sons of pride." (Job 41:1-34, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.