A further description of the leviathan – Book of Job, chapter 41

[1] I will not stir him up, like one that is cruel: for who can resist my countenance? [2] Who hath given me before that I should repay him? All things that are under heaven are mine. [3] I will not spare him, nor his mighty words, and framed to make supplication. [4] Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can go into the midst of his mouth? [5] Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

[6] His body is like molten shields, shut close up with scales pressing upon one another. [7] One is joined to another, and not so much as any air can come between them: [8] They stick one to another and they hold one another fast, and shall not be separated. [9] His sneezing is like the shining of fire, and his eyes like the eyelids of the morning. [10] Out of his mouth go forth lamps, like torches of lighted fire.

[11] Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, like that of a pot heated and boiling. [12] His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh forth out of his mouth. [13] In his neck strength shall dwell, and want goeth before his face. [14] The members of his flesh cleave one to another: he shall send lightnings against him, and they shall not be carried to another place. [15] His heart shall be as hard as a stone, and as firm as a smith’s anvil.

[16] When he shall raise him up, the angels shall fear, and being affrighted shall purify themselves. [17] When a sword shall lay at him, it shall not be able to hold, nor a spear, nor a breastplate. [18] For he shall esteem iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. [19] The archer shall not put him to flight, the stones of the sling are to him like stubble. [20] As stubble will he esteem the hammer, and he will laugh him to scorn who shaketh the spear.

[21] The beams of the sun shall be under him, and he shall strew gold under him like mire. [22] He shall make the deep sea to boil like a pot, and shall make it as when ointments boil. [23] A path shall shine after him, he shall esteem the deep as growing old. [24] There is no power upon earth that can be compared with him who was made to fear no one. [25] He beholdeth every high thing, he is king over all the children of pride.

Commentary

[16] “Angels”: Elim, Hebrew: which signifies here, the mighty, the most valiant, shall fear this monstrous fish, and in their fear shall seek to be purified.

[21] “Under him”: He shall not value the beams of the sun; and gold to him shall be like mire.

[23] “The deep as growing old”: Growing hoary, as it were with the froth which he leaves behind him.

[25] “He is king”: He is superior in strength to all that are great and strong amongst living creatures: mystically it is understood of the devil, who is king over all the proud.