Job 41

A further description of the leviathan.

1 I will not rouse him, as the cruel would do, for who is able to withstand my countenance? 2 Who has given to me beforehand, so that I should repay him? All things that are under heaven are mine. 3 I will not spare him, nor his powerful words and counterfeit attempts at supplication. ^{▼▼41:3Or, ‘I will not be lenient to him, nor to his strong words and fabrications aimed at appeasement.’ Or, ‘I will not spare him, nor his powerful words and contrived attempts to appease me.’(Conte)} 4 Who can reveal the beauty of his garment? And who can enter the middle of his mouth? 5 Who can open the doors of his face? I gave fear to the circle of his teeth. ^{▼▼41:5This last phrase seems, if translated in an overly-literal manner, to say, ‘I am afraid of the circle of his teeth.’ But the context is that of God speaking about his creation. Therefore, the correct translation is that God has ‘placed fear in the circle of his teeth,’ or, ‘given dread to the circle of his teeth,’ or, ‘gave fear to the circle of his teeth.’(Conte)} 6 His body is like shields fused together, like dense scales pressed over one another. 7 One is joined to another, and not even air can pass between them. 8 They adhere to one another, and they hold themselves in place and will not be separated. 9 His sneezing has the brilliance of fire, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 10 Lamps proceed from his mouth, like torches of fire burning brightly. 11 Smoke passes out of his nostrils, like a pot that is heated and boiling. 12 His breath causes coal to burn, and a flame comes forth from his mouth. 13 Strength dwells in his neck, and destitution goes before his presence. ^{▼▼41:13Or, ‘In his neck strength will dwell, and extreme poverty precedes his face.’ Notice that ‘morabitur’ is future tense but can be translated just as well in the present tense in English.(Conte)} 14 The parts of his body work in harmony together. He will send lightning bolts against him, and they will not be carried to another place. ^{▼▼41:14This first phrase could be translated as, ‘The parts of his body cling together.’ This refers to the different parts of the ‘body’ which is the Antichrist’s kingdom. The other possible translation, ‘The parts of his body work in harmony together,’ is more meaningful, both in the literal and the figurative connotations.(Conte)} 15 His heart will be as hard as a stone and as dense as a blacksmith’s anvil. 16 When he will be raised up, the angels will be afraid, and, because they are terrified, they will purify themselves. ^{▼▼41:16Literally, the phrase is “being terrified,” but English is more likely to phrase it something like “because they are terrified.” This verse could refer to the attempted false ascension by the Antichrist near the end of his reign.(Conte)
,} ^{▼▼41:16 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.(Challoner)} 17 When a sword catches up with him, it will not be able to settle in, nor a spear, nor a breastplate. 18 For he will consider iron as if it were chaff, and brass as if it were rotten wood. 19 The archer will not cause him to flee; the stones of the sling have been turned into stubble for him. 20 He will treat the hammer as if it were stubble, and he will ridicule those who brandish the spear. 21 The beams of the sun will be under him, and he will dispense gold to them as if it were clay. ^{▼▼41:21 Under him: He shall not value the beams of the sun; and gold to him shall be like mire.(Challoner)} 22 He will make the depths of the sea boil like a pot, and he will set it to bubble just as ointments do. 23 A path will shine after him; he will esteem the abyss as if it were weakening with age. ^{▼▼41:23 The deep as growing old: Growing hoary, as it were with the froth which he leaves behind him.(Challoner)} 24 There is no power on the earth that is being compared to him, who has been made so that he fears no one. ^{▼▼41:24Here again Scripture is referring to the Antichrist. The translation of ‘quæ comparetur ei’ should therefore be ‘that is being compared to him,’ rather than ‘can be compared to him.’ For Christ still dwells, even during that future evil time, in the world in the form of the Eucharist (rare though it is on earth at that time). So, the statement that nothing on earth is being compared to the Antichrist is a true statement, but the statement that nothing on earth can be compared to the Antichrist would be a false statement.(Conte)} 25 He sees every prominent thing; he is king over all the sons of arrogance. ^{▼▼41:25He is king over the entire group of arrogant persons, but he does not have power of kingship over each and every one individually. His power has its limits. He sees prominent things, but not lowly things.(Conte)
,} ^{▼▼41:25 He is king, etc: 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.(Challoner)}