Teks -- Job 41:1-7 (NET)

The Description of Leviathan

41:1 “Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook, and tie down its tongue with a rope? 41:2 Can you put a cord through its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook? 41:3 Will it make numerous supplications to you, will it speak to you with tender words? 41:4 Will it make a pact with you, so you could take it as your slave for life? 41:5 Can you play with it, like a bird, or tie it on a leash for your girls? 41:6 Will partners bargain for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants? 41:7 Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears?

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Job 41:1 - Leviathan

Several particulars in the following description, agree far better with the crocodile, than the whale. It is highly probable, that this is the creature here spoken of.

Wesley: Job 41:1 - Cord

Canst thou take him with a hook and a line, as anglers take ordinary fishes.

Wesley: Job 41:2 - Thorn

Or, with an iron hook, or instrument as sharp as a thorn; wherewith thou usest to carry little fishes.

Wesley: Job 41:3 - Supplications

Doth he dread thine anger or power? Or will he earnestly beg thy favour? It is a metaphor from men in distress, who use these means to them to whose power they are subject.

Wesley: Job 41:7 - Fill

A whale's you may: but the skin of a crocodile is so hard that an iron or spear will not pierce it.

JFB: Job 41:1

(Job 41:1-34)

JFB: Job 41:1 - leviathan

Literally, "the twisted animal," gathering itself in folds: a synonym to the Thannin (Job 3:8, Margin; see Psa 74:14; type of the Egyptian tyrant; Psa 104:26; Isa 27:1; the Babylon tyrant). A poetical generalization for all cetacean, serpentine, and saurian monsters (see on Job 40:15, hence all the description applies to no one animal); especially the crocodile; which is naturally described after the river horse, as both are found in the Nile.

JFB: Job 41:1 - tongue . . . lettest down?

The crocodile has no tongue, or a very small one cleaving to the lower jaw. But as in fishing the tongue of the fish draws the baited hook to it, God asks, Canst thou in like manner take leviathan?

JFB: Job 41:2 - hook

Rather, "a rope of rushes."

JFB: Job 41:2 - thorn

Rather, a "ring" or "hook." So wild beasts were led about when caught (Isa 37:29; Eze 29:4); fishes also were secured thus and thrown into the water to keep them alive.

JFB: Job 41:3 - soft words

That thou mayest spare his life. No: he is untamable.

JFB: Job 41:4

Can he be tamed for domestic use (so Job 39:10-12)?

JFB: Job 41:5 - a bird?

That is, tamed.

JFB: Job 41:6

Rather, "partners" (namely, in fishing).

JFB: Job 41:6 - make a banquet

The parallelism rather supports UMBREIT, "Do partners (in trade) desire to purchase him?" So the Hebrew (Deu 2:6).

JFB: Job 41:6 - merchants

Literally, "Canaanites," who were great merchants (Hos 12:7, Margin).

JFB: Job 41:7

His hide is not penetrable, as that of fishes.

Clarke: Job 41:1 - Canst thou draw out leviathan

Canst thou draw out leviathan - We come now to a subject not less perplexing than that over which we have passed, and a subject on which learned men are less agreed than on the preceding. What is leviathan? The Hebrew word לויתן livyathan is retained by the Vulgate and the Chaldee. The Septuagint have, Αξεις δε δρακοντα ; "Canst thou draw out the Dragon?"The Syriac and Arabic have the same. A species of whale has been supposed to be the creature in question; but the description suits no animal but the crocodile or alligator; and it is not necessary to seek elsewhere. The crocodile is a natural inhabitant of the Nile, and other Asiatic and African rivers. It is a creature of enormous voracity and strength, as well as fleetness in swimming. He will attack the largest animals, and even men, with the most daring impetuosity. In proportion to his size he has the largest mouth of all monsters. The upper jaw is armed with forty sharp strong teeth, and the under jaw with thirty-eight. He is clothed with such a coat of mail as cannot be pierced, and can in every direction resist a musket-ball. The Hebrew לוי levi תן ten signifies the coupled dragon; but what this is we know not, unless the crocodile be meant

Clarke: Job 41:1 - With a hook

With a hook - That crocodiles were caught with a baited hook, at least one species of crocodile, we have the testimony of Herodotus, lib. ii., c. 70: Επεαν νωτον συος δελεασῃ περι αγκιστρον, μετιει ες μεσὸ½ τον ποταμον, κ. τ. λ . "They take the back or chine of a swine, and bait a hook with it, and throw it into the midst of the river; and the fisherman stands at some distance on the shore holding a young pig, which he irritates, in order to make it squeak. When the crocodile hears this he immediately makes towards the sound; and, finding the baited hook in his way, swallows it, and is then drawn to land, when they dash mud into his eyes, and blind him; after which he is soon despatched.

In this way it seems leviathan was drawn out by a hook: but it was undoubtedly both a difficult and dangerous work, and but barely practicable In the way in which Herodotus relates the matter

Clarke: Job 41:1 - Or his tongue with a cord

Or his tongue with a cord - It is probable that, when the animal was taken, they had some method of casting a noose round his tongue, when opening his mouth; or piercing it with some barbed instrument. Thevenot says that in order to take the crocodile they dig holes on the banks of the river, and cover them with sticks. The crocodiles fall into these, and cannot get out. They leave them there for several days without food, and then let down nooses which they pitch on their jaws, and thus draw them out. This is probably what is meant here.

Clarke: Job 41:2 - Canst thou put a hook onto his nose?

Canst thou put a hook onto his nose? - Canst thou put a ring in his nose, and lead him about as thou dost thine ox? In the East they frequently lead thy oxen and buffaloes with a ring in their noses. So they do bulls and oxen in this country

Clarke: Job 41:2 - Bore his jaw through with a thorn?

Bore his jaw through with a thorn? - Some have thought that this means, Canst thou deal with him as with one of those little fish which thou stringest on a rush by means of the thorn at its end? Or perhaps it may refer to those ornaments with which they sometimes adorned their horses, mules, camels, etc.

Clarke: Job 41:3 - Will he make many supplications

Will he make many supplications - There are several allusions in these verses to matters of which we know nothing.

Clarke: Job 41:4 - Will he make a covenant

Will he make a covenant - Canst thou hire him as thou wouldst a servant, who is to be so attached to thy family as to have his ear bored, that he may abide in thy house for ever? Is not this an allusion to the law, Exo 21:1-6?

Clarke: Job 41:5 - Wilt thou play with him

Wilt thou play with him - Is he such a creature as thou canst tame; and of which thou canst make a pet, and give as a plaything to thy little girls? נערותיך naarotheycha ; probably alluding to the custom of catching birds, tying a string to their legs, and giving them to children to play with; a custom execrable as ancient, and disgraceful as modern.

Clarke: Job 41:6 - Shall thy companions make a banquet

Shall thy companions make a banquet - Canst thou and thy friends feast on him as ye were wont to do on a camel sacrificed for this purpose? Or, canst thou dispose of his flesh to the merchants - to buyers, as thou wouldst do that of a camel or an ox? It is certain, according to Herodotus, lib. ii. c. 70, that they killed and ate crocodiles at Apollonople and Elephantis, in Egypt.

Clarke: Job 41:7 - Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons?

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? - This refers to some kind of harpoon work, similar to that employed in taking whales, and which they might use for some other kinds of animals; for the skin of the crocodile could not be pierced. Herrera says that he saw a crocodile defend itself against thirty men; and that they fired six balls at it without being able to wound it. It can only be wounded under his belly.

Defender: Job 41:1 - leviathan

Leviathan was evidently the greatest of the marine reptiles, or dinosaurs, something like a plesiosaur, perhaps, although modern commentators tend to call it a crocodile. Isaiah says that leviathan was "the dragon that is in the sea" (Isa 27:1), and the psalmist said that leviathan "played" in the "great and wide sea" (Psa 104:25, Psa 104:26)."

TSK: Job 41:1 - leviathan // lettest down

Job 3:8 *marg. Psa 74:14, Psa 104:26; Isa 27:1

leviathan : [Strong’ s H3882]

lettest down : Heb. drownest

TSK: Job 41:2

Isa 27:1, Isa 37:29; Eze 29:4, Eze 29:5

TSK: Job 41:3

Psa 55:21; Pro 15:1, Pro 18:23, Pro 25:15; Isa 30:10

TSK: Job 41:4 - Will he // wilt thou // a servant

Will he : 1Ki 20:31-34

wilt thou : Gen 1:28; Psa 8:5, Psa 8:6

a servant : Exo 21:6; Deu 15:17

TSK: Job 41:5 - play // bind

play : Jdg 16:25-30

bind : Job 28:11

TSK: Job 41:6

Jdg 14:11

TSK: Job 41:7 - Canst // fish

Canst : The Leviathan, לויתן [Strong’ s H3882],

fish : Job 41:26-29

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Job 41:1 - Quest // leviathan? // Answ

Quest. What is this

leviathan?

Answ This is granted on all hands, that it is a great and terrible monster, living in the sea or rivers, as behemoth is a land monster. It is the general and received opinion that it is the whale, which is unquestionably called the leviathan, Psa 104:25,26 ; which having been discovered in the seas next bordering upon Arabia, probably was not unknown to Job, who was a very inquisitive person, and well studied in the works of God, as this book manifests. But some later and very learned interpreters conceive that it is the crocodile; which was very well known in Egypt, and all the parts adjacent to it. And this is evident, that the Hebrew thannin (which is parallel to this word leviathan , these two words being synonymous, and the one promiscuously used for the other, as appears from Psa 74:13,14 Isa 27:1 Eze 32:2 ) is used of the crocodile, Eze 29:3,4 32:2,3 . But I shall not positively determine this controversy, but only show how far the text may be understood of both of them, and then submit it to the reader’ s judgment; this being a matter of no great moment, wherein Christians may vary without any hazard. Only this I will say, that whatever becomes of the behemoth of the former chapter, whether that be the elephant, or the hippopotamus, that doth not at all determine the sense of this leviathan; but leaves it indifferent to the whale or the crocodile, as the context shall determine, which I confess seems to me to favour the latter more than the former. To which may be added, that it seems more probable that God would speak of such creatures as were very well known to Job and his friends, as the crocodile was, than of such as it is very uncertain whether they were known in those parts, and in Job’ s time. This verse, noting either the impossibility, or rather the great and terrible difficulty, of taking this monster with his hook or line, or such-like instruments, may agree to either of them. For the whale there is no doubt; nor much doubt as to the crocodile; the taking whereof was generally esteemed by the ancients to be very difficult and perilous, whatsoever peculiar virtue or power from nature or art the Tentyritae had against them, as the Psylli were said to have against serpents. Some indeed object, that the last clause cannot agree to the crocodile, because that hath no tongue, as is affirmed by Aristotle, Pliny, and other ancient authors. But that is a mistake, and the ground of it is plain, because their tongues are but small in proportion to their vast bodies, and withal fastened to their under jaws, as the selfsame authors note. And that the crocodile hath a tongue is positively affirmed by the said ancient authors, and by the Hebrew writers, and by the Arabians, to whom this creature was best known, and by later authors.

Poole: Job 41:2 - An hook // Into his nose // With a thorn

An hook Heb. a bulrush , i.e. a hook like a bulrush, with its head hanging down, as is expressed, Isa 58:5 .

Into his nose to hang him up by it for sale, or to carry him home for use, after thou hast drawn him out of the sea or river, of which he spake in the former verse.

With a thorn or, with an iron hook or instrument as sharp as a thorn, wherewith thou usest to carry little fishes.

Poole: Job 41:3

Doth he dread thine anger or power? or will he humbly and earnestly beg thy favour, that thou wouldst spare him, and not pursue him, or release him out of prison? It is a metaphor from men in distress and misery, who use these means to them to whose power they are subject.

Poole: Job 41:4 - A covenant

A covenant to wit, to do thee faithful service, as the next words explain it. Canst thou bring him into bondage, and force him to serve thee?

Poole: Job 41:5 - As with a bird // For thy maidens

As with a bird as children play with little birds kept in cages, or tied with strings, which they do at their pleasure, and without any fear?

For thy maidens for thy little daughters; which he mentions rather than little sons, because such are most subject to fear.

Poole: Job 41:6 - Thy companions // Make a banquet of him // Shall they part him among the merchants?

Thy companions thy friends or assistants in the taking of him.

Make a banquet of him i.e. feed upon him. Or, for him , i.e. for joy that thou hast taken him.

Shall they part him among the merchants? as is usual in such cases, that all who are partners in the labour amid hazard may partake of the profit also, and divide the spoil.

Poole: Job 41:7

This may be understood, either,

1. Of the whale. And whereas it is objected that the whales at this day are taken in this manner, and therefore this cannot be understood of them; it may be replied, both that this art and way of taking whales is a late invention, and was not known in Job’ s time; and that he doth not speak of the absolute impossibility, but of the great difficulty of taking them. Or,

2. Of the crocodile, whose skin is so hard that an iron or spear will not pierce it, as we shall see hereafter.

Haydock: Job 41:1 - I // Cruel // Countenance

I. Hebrew, "None is so fierce that dare stir it up." (Haydock) ---

Cruel, or rash, like those to Tentyra, chap. iii. 8. (Calmet) ---

This monster is terrible to those that flee, while it retires from the pursuer. ---

But only these people dare to attack it. (Pliny, [Natural History?] viii. 25.) ---

"I will not ask the crocodile to revenge me of my enemies," as some might do in a rage, through impotence. (Haydock) (Sanchez) (Menochius) ---

Countenance, even though they might overcome the crocodile. God is here speaking. Septuagint, "Dost thou not fear, since it is ready for thee, (Grabe substitutes, "me," for who will resist me?" or, "who shall stand against me, and live? All," &c., ver. 2. (Haydock) ---

God ruleth not with cruelty, like a tyrant, but with justice, ease, and power. (Worthington)

Haydock: Job 41:3 - Supposition

Supposition. This is explained by the Fathers as spoken of the devil. (Amama) ---

But the Hebrew may signify, that God will reward each one according to his deserts, and that Job had consequently no reason to complain; or it means, that the strength and beauty of the crocodile should be made known. (Calmet) ---

Protestants, "I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion." Theo.[Theodotion?] in Septuagint, "I will not keep silence on his account, and the word of power shall take pity on his equal." (Haydock)

Haydock: Job 41:4 - Garment // Mouth

Garment, or the skin. (Menochius) ---

Who shall look steadfastly, or dare to take off its skin? ---

Mouth. Protestants, "Who can come to him with his double bridle?" (Haydock) though it be of the greatest strength; or, who will enter its jaws, or put bits in them? It is reported that the Tentyrites jump on the crocodile's back, and having thrown a piece of wood into its open mouth, like bits, which they hold with both hands, they conduct it to the river side, and kill it. (Pliny viii. 25.) ---

Septuagint, "Who would enter the wrinkles of his breast, (Calmet) or the folds of its coat of arms?" which may allude to the almost impenetrable scales of the leviathan. (Haydock) ---

Symmachus, "Who will enter the folds of its scales?" The crocodile can open its mouth so wide as to swallow a heifer, or to let a man stand upright. (Calmet) ---

Each jaw is furnished with thirty-six teeth. (Vansleb.)

Haydock: Job 41:6 - Body

Body. Septuagint, "entrails are like brazen shields." Protestants, " His scales are his pride shut up together, as with a close seal." (Haydock)

Gill: Job 41:1 - Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook // or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down

Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook?.... That is, draw it out of the sea or river as anglers draw out smaller fishes with a line or hook? the question suggests it cannot be done; whether by the "leviathan" is meant the whale, which was the most generally received notion; or the crocodile, as Bochart, who has been followed by many; or the "orca", a large fish of the whale kind with many teeth, as Hasaeus, it is not easy to say "Leviathan" is a compound word of than the first syllable of "thanni", rendered either a whale, or a dragon, or a serpent, and of "levi", which signifies conjunction, from the close joining of its scales, Job 41:15; the patriarch Levi had his name from the same word; see Gen 29:34; and the name bids fairest for the crocodile, and which is called "thannin", Eze 29:3. Could the crocodile be established as the "leviathan", and the behemoth as the river horse, the transition from the one to the other would appear very easy; since, as Pliny says ^a, there is a sort of a kindred between them, being of the same river, the river Nile, and so may be thought to be better known to Job than the whale; though it is not to be concealed what Pliny says ^b, that whales have been seen in the Arabian seas; he speaks of one that came into the river of Arabia, six hundred feet long, and three hundred and sixty broad. There are some things in the description of this creature that seem to agree best with the crocodile, and others that suit better with the whale, and some with neither;

or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? into the river or sea, as anglers do, with lead to it to make it sink below the surface of the water, and a quill or cork that it may not sink too deep; but this creature is not to be taken in this manner; and which may be objected to the crocodile being meant, since that has no tongue ^c, or at least so small that it is not seen, and cleaves close to its lower jaw, which never moves; and is taken with hooks and cords, as Herodotus ^d, Diodorus Siculus ^e, and Leo Africanus ^f, testify; but not so the whale.

(See definition for 03882. Editor.)

Gill: Job 41:2 - Canst thou put an hook into his nose // or bore his jaw through with a thorn

Canst thou put an hook into his nose?.... Or a rush, that is, a rope made of rushes; for of such ropes were made, as Pliny ^g affirms;

or bore his jaw through with a thorn? as men do herrings, or such like small fish, for the convenience of carrying them, or hanging them up to dry; the whale is not to be used in such a manner: but the Tentyritae, a people in Egypt, great enemies to crocodiles, had methods of taking thorn in nets, and of binding and bridling them, and carrying them as they pleased ^h.

Gill: Job 41:3 - Will he make many supplications unto thee // will he speak soft words unto thee

Will he make many supplications unto thee?.... To cease pursuing him, or to let him go when taken, or to use him well and not take away his life; no, he is too spirited and stouthearted to ask any favour, it is below him;

will he speak soft words unto thee? smooth and flattering ones, for the above purposes? he will not: this is a figurative way of speaking.

Gill: Job 41:4 - Will he make a covenant with thee // wilt thou take him for a servant for ever

Will he make a covenant with thee?.... To live in friendship or servitude, as follows;

wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? oblige him to serve thee for life, or reduce him to perpetual bondage; signifying, that he is not to be tamed or brought into subjection; which is true of the whale, but not of the crocodile; for several authors ⁱ speak of them as making a sort of a truce with the priests of Egypt for a certain time, and of their being tamed so as to be handled, and fed, and brought up in the house.

Gill: Job 41:5 - Wilt thou play with him as with a bird // or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird?.... In the hand or cage: leviathan plays in the sea, but there is no playing with him by land, Psa 104:26;

or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? or young girls, as Mr. Broughton renders it; tie him in a string, as birds are for children to play with? Now, though crocodiles are very pernicious to children, and often make a prey of them when they approach too near the banks of the Nile, or whenever they have an opportunity of seizing them ^k; yet there is an instance of the child of an Egyptian woman that was brought up with one, and used to play with it ^l, though, when grown up, was killed by it; but no such instance can be given of the whale of any sort.

Gill: Job 41:6 - Shall thy companions make a banquet of him // shall they part him among the merchants

Shall thy companions make a banquet of him?.... The fishermen that join together in catching fish, shall they make a feast for joy at taking the leviathan? which suggests that he is not to be taken by them, and so they have no opportunity or occasion for a feast: or will they feed on him? the flesh of crocodiles is by some eaten, and said ^m to be very savoury, but not the flesh of the whale;

shall they part him among the merchants? this seems to favour the crocodile, which is no part of merchandise, and to be against the whale, which, at least in our age, occasions a considerable trade for the sake of the bone and oil: but perhaps, in those times and countries in which Job lived, the use of them might not be known.

Gill: Job 41:7 - Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? This seems not so well to agree with the whale; whose skin, and the several parts of his body, are to be pierced with harpoons and lances, such as fishermen use in taking whales; and their flesh to be cut in pieces with their knives: but better with the crocodile, whose skin is so hard, and so closely set with scales, that it is impenetrable; See Gill on Eze 29:4. Or if the words are rendered, as by some, "wilt thou fill ships with his skin? and the fishermen's boat with his head" ⁿ? it makes also against the whale; for this is done continually, ships of different nations are loaded every year with its skin, flesh, and the bones of its head.