Job 41:1–34

Leviathan was a water creature. He appears to be the crocodile, the most fearsome of all water animals — unless he was some similar animal that is now extinct. Job could use a hook to catch fish, but how futile the thought of a hook for a crocodile! No attack can get through his jaws or his nose. Could Job persuade him to answer softly and give in? The very appearance of the crocodile is hostile and intimidating. No one could ever tame him for play, as people tame some birds and animals, and certainly not as a pet for girls!

In Job 41 comes a still longer description of "leviathan," and I understand that to be the crocodile. The crocodile is a very dangerous beast. It is not so shy of people; on the contrary, it preys on men, women, and children, if it can get hold of them.

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?" You who can do such wonders! You can talk about God. You can judge for God. You can find fault with God! Well, can you catch Leviathan with a hook? You ought to be able to do that. "Or press down his tongue with a cord?" Stay away from him! Do not fight him. "Behold, the hope of a man is false." Spears and arrows are nothing to him. Even a musket ball cannot pierce the skin of a crocodile.

Can a net or hook take him, or a line pressing down on his tongue? Can you tie him up like an ordinary fish, with a reed rope through the gills? Is he shy and eager to please, or loyal and obedient? Will he become a plaything, like a pet bird, to amuse the household? Is he a regular item in the markets, bought and sold? If he cannot be caught as a fish, can darts and weapons bring him down? Anyone who has tried it will remember the terrible fight, and never try it again.

If this is so with this mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? Who has first given to the LORD, that he can demand it back again? Or, as the apostle asks, "Who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?" (Rom. 11:35).

Job however could not tackle Leviathan or behemoth, nor could he subdue proud man. How then could he contend with God? This was powerfully driven home into his heart.

This creature comes up out of the water, and so suggests the first Beast of Revelation 13, the great world-power. In behemoth we see the spirit of falling away from revealed truth in religion; in leviathan we see the same spirit in civil government. And it is not limited to nations wanting to be first. The same strong self-will, which puts up with no contradiction, shows up in the single person too — a refusal to be tamed or to submit to authority. Who has ever tied down and held the proud will of man?

Both the behemoth and the leviathan picture Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride. Now see the conclusion Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. The LORD has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out the depths of it. Job has cherished pride, the Devil's crime.

You who can do such wonders; you can talk about God, and judge for God, and find fault with God! Well, can you catch Leviathan with a hook? You ought to be able to do that. … Be off with you! Do not fight him.

Can he be captured with a net or hook, by a line pressing down on his tongue? Can he be tied up like an ordinary fish, with a rush rope passed through the gills? Is he timid and fawning, or loyal and obedient? Can he be made into a plaything, like a bird, to amuse the household?

Job could use a hook to catch fish, but how pointless the thought of a hook for a crocodile! No attack of any kind can get through his jaws or his nose.

If this is true of a mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? Who has first given to the Lord, that he can demand it back again?

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us before Himself. For if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God? … Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with Leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

God now shows Job, under the figure of Leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one this king over all the children of pride is. … But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself.

If in behemoth we have the spirit of turning away from revealed truth in religion, in Leviathan we see that spirit in civil government. … This is not limited to nations. The same spirit of strong self-will, which will take no contradiction, shows itself in the individual too. It is an untamable refusal to submit to authority. Who has ever bound and held the proud will of man?

God's answer is, "Because you have raged against me and your complacency has come into my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came" (Isaiah 37:29). Compare these words with God's words to Gog in Ezekiel 38:4, "I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out."

Do you put a rush rope in his nose, or pierce his jaw with a thorn? Will he beg you again and again? Will he speak tender words to you? Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a slave forever? Will you play with him like a pet bird, or tie him up for your girls?

Job could use a hook to catch fish, but how useless the thought of a hook for a crocodile! (v.1). No attack can get through his jaws or his nose (v.2). Could Job persuade him to answer softly and so submit to him? (v.4). The very look of the crocodile is hostile and frightening.

Is he timid and cringing, or loyal and obedient? If he cannot be caught as a fish, can he be attacked with darts or weapons? Anyone who has tried it will remember the terrible battle, and never try again. Everyone who opposes him gives up in despair; no one dares stir him up or stand before him.

Like the behemoth, the leviathan is a strong beast that cannot be tamed… Then He declares that he is fierce, and that the very sight of him overwhelms a man. And if a creature is so mighty and strong, what must the One be who called this creature into existence? Verses 10 and 11 should be read: "Who then is able to stand before Me (the Creator)?… all beneath the heavens is Mine."

Men talk as if God's object was only to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that did the work? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God?… He would turn us away from ourselves to trust in Himself. Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

Well now, in Job 41, comes a still longer description of "leviathan," and I understand that to be the crocodile. The crocodile is a very formidable beast. It is not so shy of the human kind; on the contrary, it preys upon men, women, and children, if it can get hold of them.

God now shows to Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one he is — this king over all the children of pride… But what could be God's purpose in describing the power of the enemy like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself.

Now what a relief this is. Looked at in himself, the believer has no power to overcome Satan… Independence from God is what opened the door to Satan at the start. Simple dependence on God alone is what can shut it… It is very gracious of God to tell us how great the power of the enemy is. He does it so that we may know that our only resource is a firm trust in Himself.

The leviathan has generally been identified with the crocodile. Like the behemoth, the leviathan is a strong and untamable beast. Jehovah asks, Can you draw up leviathan with a hook? Can you pierce his jaw with a reed? Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him for a servant forever? Then He declares that he is fierce, and even at the sight of him one is cast down. And if a creature is so mighty and strong, what must the One be who called this creature into existence?

But suppose he is caught. Is he soft and yielding, ready to serve forever? Can you play with him as you would with a bird or a deer, a toy for girls? No, he is no commodity for traders, no game for the hunter, no safe opponent in battle. The very sight of him might knock a man flat, and the man who would provoke him is reckless. Yet what is that compared with standing before God? Who has ever given anything to Him that He should repay it, when all under heaven is His?

Could Job persuade him to respond softly to him in order to bring about his submission? (v.4). The very appearance of the crocodile is hostile and intimidating. He would certainly never be tamed to engage in play like some birds or animals, and certainly not as a pet for girls! (v.5).

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. For if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God?

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one he is — this king over all the children of pride! This world has rejected the King of Righteousness. It has preferred the horrible slavery of Satan. But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Him.

But let us remember it is God who made this beast: who then could possibly stand against God? This shows the fearful, untamable character of leviathan, as wild and unapproachable as behemoth, and it reminds us of the first beast of Revelation 13, the beast who rises out of the sea. … This Beast, along with the Antichrist, will form a powerful union of such strength that they will not be afraid to challenge their own Creator! While no man can stand before them, however, the Lord will bring them down to a crushing, humiliating defeat.

"I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you." It was nothing external now, no mere distant rumour. … Do you think that searching into the structure or habits of behemoth and leviathan would have led to anything of the sort? Certainly not. He had to do with God Himself, who used them for this very purpose, and had by them turned Job away from everything to Himself.

The very appearance of the crocodile is hostile and intimidating. He would certainly never be tamed to engage in play like some birds or animals, and certainly not as a pet for girls!

But if he is caught, is he soft and yielding, ready to give lifelong service? Or can you play with him like a bird or a deer, as a plaything for girls? No — he is no commodity for traders, no game for the hunter, no safe opponent in battle. The very sight of him could knock a man flat, and anyone who would provoke him is a fool.

"Can you draw out leviathan with a hook?" You who can do such wonders! You can talk about God. You can judge on God's behalf, and you can find fault with God! Well, can you catch leviathan with a hook? You ought to be able to do that. "Or press down his tongue with a cord?" Off with you! Don't you fight him.

If this is true of a mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? (That is how verse 10 should be translated. It leads into verse 11: "Who will stand before Me?") Who has first given to the Lord, so that he can demand it back again?

Nothing could be more vivid than these two accounts, or more forceful than the conclusion for Job and anyone else. These are mere animals, made by God's creative will. If their might is so great, how foolish it is to resist, criticise, or even judge His ways!

This spirit is not only national. The same strong self-will, which puts up with no contradiction, shows itself in individuals too — an untamable refusal to submit to authority. Who has ever bound and held the proud will of man?

So he is untamable and uncontrollable. Man could do nothing with him as he does with an ox or a horse. He was also completely selfish: he was of no use to any man or animal. Would Job want to be like this — strong and self-confident, with no real aim of being a help to others?

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one this king over all the children of pride is... But what could God's aim be in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do everything."

Can you catch him with a net or a hook, or with a line pressing down on his tongue? Can you tie him up like an ordinary fish, with a rope of reeds through his gills? Is he timid and eager to please, or loyal and obedient? Can you make him a plaything, like a bird, to amuse the household? Is he a regular item in the markets, bought and sold? If he cannot be caught like a fish, can you attack him with darts and weapons?

If secured, is he soft and yielding, ready to do perpetual service? Or can you play with him as you would with a bird or a deer, a toy for girls? No — he is no commodity for traders, no game for the hunter, no safe opponent in a fight. The very sight of him might knock you flat, and the man who would provoke him is a fool.

The same Hebrew word is translated "merchant" in Job 41:6, Proverbs 31:24 and Isaiah 23:8. So Zechariah 14:21 may mean, "there shall no more be the merchant in the house of the LORD of hosts."

Who would think of trying to get his flesh and make a dinner of him? Harpoons were useless against him, because they could not pierce his outer covering.

If this is so with a mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? Who has first given to the LORD, that he can demand it back again? Or, as the apostle asks, "Who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?" (Romans 11:35).

They had brute strength but no human intelligence. It would be easier to subdue them than to bring down proud man. In Job's day human inventions had hardly begun. So this was probably not as clear then as it is now, when we subdue these mighty creatures with ease — but not proud man!

The description is not only of a mighty power, but of a power for evil. So Satan is called the dragon (Revelation 20:2). He rules the earth through his instrument, the ruler of Egypt, and of him it is said, "In that day the LORD with His hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea" (Isaiah 27:1).

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one this king over all the children of pride is. But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into entire dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

Leviathan was a water creature. He appears to be the crocodile, the most fearsome of all water animals, unless he was another animal like it that is now extinct... Harpoons were useless against him, because they could not get through his outer covering (v.7). If anyone was bold enough to lay a hand on him, let him remember the fight that came of any such attempt, and never do it again! (v.8).

Irons shaped like a harpoon, which go into the flesh easily but cannot be pulled out again. God, to show His wisdom and power to Job, speaks of the leviathan, or crocodile, which barbed irons cannot enter. Job 41:7.

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?" You who can do such wonders; you can talk about God; and you can judge for God, and you can find fault with God! Well, can you catch leviathan with a hook?... Do not fight him. "Behold, the hope of him is in vain." Spears or arrows are nothing to him. Even a musket ball cannot pierce the skin of a crocodile. "His scales are his pride." It is not only that he has enormous strength, and that no ordinary weapon can wound him; he is also so confident in it himself.

People talk as if God's only purpose was to occupy us with His works. God does the opposite. He brings forward His works to turn us away from our thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that did the work? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God?... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

In all this first part of the description, we see the fierce, unapproachable, untameable character of this creature. The clear conclusion is the one already pointed out: if the creature is so mighty, what must the Creator be? But, as I have said, we should expect something more here than a declaration of God's greatness and power. This is not only a mighty power; it is a power for evil. So Satan is spoken of as the dragon (Revelation 20:2)... "In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea" (Isaiah 27:1).

Leviathan is a water creature. He plainly pictures the non-Jewish power that will rise during the Tribulation, a revival of the Roman Empire... Of him people will say, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (Revelation 13:4)... While no man can stand before them, however, the Lord will bring them down to a defeat of abject humiliation.

Now what a relief this is. The believer looked at in himself has no power to overcome Satan. Man failed before him while he was still innocent. How much less can he stand now that he has fallen. It was independence of God that opened the door for Satan at first; and it is simple dependence on God alone that can shut it... It is very gracious of God to tell us how great the power of the enemy is. He does it so we may know that our only resource is a firm trust in Himself.

"Can you draw out leviathan with a hook?" You who can do such wonders; you can talk about God, and you can judge for God, and you can find fault with God! Well, can you catch leviathan with a hook? You ought to be able to do that. "Or press down his tongue with a cord?" (vv. 1–8). Be off with you! Do not fight him. "Behold, the hope of him is in vain." Spears or arrows are nothing to him, and even a musket ball has no power to pierce the skin of a crocodile.

Can he be captured with a net or hook, by a line pressing down on his tongue? Can he be bound like an ordinary fish with a rush rope passed through the gills? Is he timid and fawning, or loyal and obedient? Can he be made into a plaything, like a bird, for the amusement of the household? Is he a regular item in the markets, bought and sold? If he cannot be caught as a fish, can he be attacked with darts, with weapons? Whoever has tried this will surely remember the fearful battle, and will never try again. He is the despair of all opposition; none dare stir him up or stand before him.

Do you fill his skin with pikes, or his head with fish-spears? Put your hand on him — remember the battle — you will not do it again: Behold, his hope proves false.

If such is the might of mere brutes, the effect of God's creative will, what folly to resist, censure, or even judge His ways!

In all this first part of the description we see how fierce, unapproachable and untamable this creature is. The obvious conclusion is the one already drawn: if the creature is so mighty, what must the Creator be? But, as already said, we should expect something more here than this declaration of God's greatness and power. This is not only a mighty power; it is a power for evil. So Scripture calls Satan the dragon (Rev. 20:2).

Man's rule, as opposed to God's — how common it has been! In Nebuchadnezzar we have this pride displayed at the very summit of Babylon's greatness. And ever since his day, how kings have dreamed of world-empire — Median, Grecian, Roman, and all the lesser Caesars since that day. How fierce and cruel they have been — how intractable, how untamable. Who could dispute with them at the height of their power — "remember the battle, do so no more."

Now what a relief this is. The believer, looked at in himself, has no power to overcome Satan. Man failed before him when innocent; much less, then, now that he is fallen, is he able to stand. It was independence of God that opened the door to Satan at first, and it is simple dependence on God alone that can shut it. May God give us a deep sense of dependence on Himself. It is very gracious of God to tell us what the power of the enemy is, so that we may know that our only resource is a firm trust in Himself.

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?" You who can do such wonders; you can talk about God; and you can judge for God, and you can find fault with God! "Or press down his tongue with a cord?" (vv. 1-8). Be off with you! Do not fight him. "Behold, the hope of a man is false." Spears or arrows are nothing to him, and even a musket ball has no power to pierce the skin of a crocodile.

Anyone who has tried this will remember the terrible battle, and will never try again. He is the despair of all who oppose him. No one dares stir him up or stand before him.

The leviathan described here seems beyond doubt to be the crocodile, not the dolphin or the whale, as some learned men have argued. Nothing could be more vivid than these descriptions, and nothing more forceful than the conclusion they press on Job and on everyone else. If mere animals are this mighty, and God made them by His will, what folly it is to resist His ways, or criticise them, or even judge them!

If this is true of a mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? (That is how we should translate verse 10, and it leads on to verse 11: "Who will stand before Me?") Who has first given to the Lord, so that he can demand it back again? Or, as the apostle asks, "Who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?" (Rom. 11:35).

The chapter describes not only a mighty power, but a power for evil. So Scripture calls Satan the dragon (Rev. 20:2). And as ruler of the earth, acting through his instrument the ruler of Egypt, he is the one spoken of here: "In that day the LORD with His hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea" (Isa. 27:1).

The Lord assures Job that any hope of overcoming Leviathan is futile: the very sight of the beast should overwhelm his would-be attacker. No human is so fierce that he would dare to stir up such a creature (v.10). But let us remember it is God who made this beast: who then could possibly stand against God? … This Beast, along with the Antichrist, will form a union so strong that they will not be afraid to challenge their own Creator! While no man can stand before them, however, the Lord will bring them down to a defeat of abject humiliation.

The believer looked at in himself has no power to overcome Satan. Man failed before him while still innocent. Now that he has fallen, he is even less able to stand. It was independence of God that opened the door for Satan at first; and it is simple dependence on God alone that can shut it. It is very gracious of God to tell us how strong the enemy is. Then we know that our only resource is a firm trust in Himself.

Most identify leviathan with the crocodile. Like behemoth, leviathan is a strong and untamable beast. Jehovah asks: Can you draw out leviathan with a hook? Can you pierce his jaw with a reed? Will you take him for a servant forever? Then He declares that he is fierce, and even the sight of him casts a man down. And if a creature is so mighty and strong, what must the One be who called this creature into existence? Verses 10 and 11 should read: "Who then is able to stand before Me (the Creator)? Who gave to Me first, that I should repay him? Since all beneath the heavens is Mine."

Can you play with him like a bird or a deer, a toy for girls? He is no commodity for traders, no game for the hunter, no safe opponent in battle. The very sight of him might knock you flat, and the man who would provoke him is a fool. Yet what is that compared with making a stand before God?

If this is true of a mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? (This is how verse 10 should read. It leads up to verse 11, "Who will stand before Me?") Who has ever given to Jehovah first, so that he can demand it back? Or, as the apostle asks, "Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" (Romans 11:35).

This describes not only a mighty power, but a power for evil. Scripture calls Satan the dragon (Revelation 20:2). As ruler of the earth, working through his instrument the ruler of Egypt, he is the one spoken of here: "In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea" (Isaiah 27:1).

No human is so fierce that he would dare to stir up such a creature (v.10). But let us remember it is God who made this beast. Who then could stand against God?… Of him people will say, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (Revelation 13:4). No man can stand before the beast and the Antichrist. Yet the Lord will bring them down to a humiliating defeat.

Under the figure of leviathan, God now shows Job that the power of Satan is too great for him. … But what could be God's purpose in describing the power of the enemy? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Him. "I know," says Job, "that you can do all things." … It was independence of God that opened the door to Satan at first, and simple dependence on God alone can shut it.

God brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He who made them, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God?… "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you." It was nothing external now, no distant rumour… "Therefore I despise myself." Do you think that studying the build or habits of behemoth and leviathan would have led to anything like that? Certainly not. He was dealing with God Himself. God used those creatures for that very purpose, and through them turned Job away from everything else to Himself.

If this is true of a mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? (For this is how verse 10 should be rendered — "Who will stand before Me?" — leading up to verse 11.) Who has first given to Jehovah, that he can demand it back again? Or, as the apostle asks, "Who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid to him again?" (Rom. 11:35).

He is no commodity for traders, no game for the hunter, no safe opponent for battle. The very sight of him might knock a man flat, and the man who provokes him is reckless. Yet what is that compared to making a stand before God? And who ever gave to Him that He should repay, since all under heaven is His?

The principle — independence of God, seeking to make a name for itself — has been visible since the days of Cain, who built a city, and of Nimrod, who founded the first great world-empire (Gen. 10:8-10). This is not limited to national greatness. The same spirit of strong self-will, which puts up with no contradiction, shows up in the individual too — an untamable refusal to be under authority. Who has ever bound and held the proud will of man?

Man would gladly make God a receiver instead of a giver. But this cannot be. "It is more blessed to give than to receive," and God must have the more blessed place. God can accept the smallest gift from a heart that has learned the deep truth in those words, "Of your own have we given you." But the moment a man dares to take the place of the first giver, God's reply is, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you." For "He is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life and breath and everything." Praise is all that we can offer to God. But we can only offer it when we know clearly that our sins are all put away, and that comes only through faith in the accomplished atonement.

We have neither known His mind, nor had anything to do with His counsel. Still less have we given to Him first, so that He should be in debt to repay us. This has been Israel's folly, and the folly of many more. They would gladly make themselves creditors of God, as though their good works and assumed righteousness were a claim upon Him! Elihu rightly demanded of Job, "If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?" (Job 35:7).

How seldom those who talk of rights seem to think that God has any! They are absorbed in themselves, in man; God is in none of their thoughts. Yet if any rights are to be respected at all, His must come first — the One whose sovereign will gave us being and everything else. If we think ourselves entitled to do what we like with what is ours, what shall we say of Him? We ourselves and all that we have belong to Him.

If such is the strength of mere animals, made by God's creative will, what folly to resist, criticise, or even judge His ways!

But the Lord says of Leviathan, "I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame" (v.12). The Lord would not hesitate to describe him exactly as he is. He describes him so we would know that He knew him perfectly and took full account of his strength.

Details are then given, from verse 12 to the end. … Then what majesty the curved shields have! They close as tight as a seal, so no breath can get in, and every part holds together and cannot be pulled apart.

A more detailed description of the leviathan follows. His frame is strong; his outer garment is so invulnerable — who can strip it off? His teeth are terrible; who can open the doors of his face, that is, his mouth? His scales, his armour, are his pride.

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our thoughts and bow us to Himself; for if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that did the work, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God?

In all this first part of the description, we have the fierce, unapproachable, untamable character of this creature. The conclusion is clear, as already shown: if the creature is so mighty, what must the Creator be? But, as we said, we should expect something more than this declaration of God's greatness and power. This is not only a mighty power; it is a power for evil.

Both beasts typify power and pride. So we must admit that Wordsworth's comment does not seem entirely far-fetched: "It seems probable that behemoth represents the Evil One acting in the animal and fleshly parts of man's own makeup. Leviathan symbolises the Evil One working as his enemy from outside. Behemoth is the enemy within us; leviathan is the enemy outside us."

He is king over all the sons of pride. … And now the conclusion which Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. He had cherished pride, the Devil's crime.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. … But what could God's object be in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

A more detailed description of the leviathan follows. His body is strong. His outer garment cannot be pierced — who can strip it off? His teeth are terrible — who can open the doors of his face (his mouth)? His scales, his armour, are his pride. This is a good description of the crocodile's hide.

The Lord would not hesitate to describe him exactly as he is. He wanted us to know that He knew this creature through and through, and took full account of his strength… Men have caught crocodiles and kept them in large pools of water. But who would dare get into the same pool, as some people do with dolphins?

The scales on his head and body are an armour nothing can get through, and so is pride — each scale linked to the next, with no gap in the armour where an arrow could pierce.

The principle (independence from God), trying to make a name for itself, has been on show since the days of Cain, who built a city, and of Nimrod, who founded the first great world empire (Gen. 10:8-10). It is not limited to nations that want to be first. The same spirit of strong self-will, which allows no contradiction, shows up in the individual as well — a refusal to bow to authority that no one can tame. Who has ever tied down and held the proud will of man?

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him… Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself.

People talk as if God's aim was just to keep us busy with His works. God does the opposite. He brings His works forward to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us before Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He who made them? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God?

Is it cruel of the Lord to treat a poor, broken-hearted man like this? Ask instead: would it have been kind to leave him wrapped in his pride like a garment, shouting against the Almighty? Pride can only be brought low one way — by standing face to face with its own nothingness before the majesty and boundless goodness of God.

A more detailed description of the leviathan follows. His body is strong. His outer covering cannot be pierced — who can strip it off? His teeth are terrible. Who can open the doors of his face (his mouth)? His scales, his armour, are his pride.

Who has uncovered the face of his garment? Into his double jaws who enters in? The doors of his face, who has opened? Round about his teeth is terror.

Men have captured crocodiles and put them in large pools of water. But who would dare to get into the same pool, as some do with dolphins?

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God does the opposite. He brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God? ... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

It is not only a mighty power that is described, but a power for evil. So Satan is spoken of as the dragon (Revelation 20:2). And as ruler of the earth, through his instrument the ruler of Egypt, it is said of him, "In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea" (Isaiah 27:1).

Both the behemoth and the leviathan typify Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride... And now the deduction which Job could easily make. If he is proud then he belongs to leviathan the king who rules over the sons of pride. The LORD has touched the secret in Job's heart.

Applied to each person, this "crooked serpent" is a picture of the perverted will of man. All sin has its roots in disobedience. Men may smile at it, but what more terrible thing is there than this self-will — the carnal mind... What use is the effort to reform the world, to tame the crocodile? Men may dream and plan, and try to drive misery off the earth. But even while it groans, creation mocks at human efforts to subdue its own perverted will.

God now shows to Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him... But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary in this way? Surely it was to lead Job into entire dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that you can do all things."

Could Joshua's or David's sword have won such victories as these? Would the principalities of darkness have yielded to them? Would death and hell have submitted themselves? "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?" But "He who made him can bring near His sword."

His frame is strong. His outer garment cannot be pierced — who can strip it off? His scales, his armour, are his pride. Here is a good description of the crocodile's hide. The scales are so close to each other that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another and stick together, so that they cannot be pulled apart.

"His scales are his pride." It is not only his enormous strength, and the fact that no ordinary weapon can pierce him. He is also so confident in that armour himself.

A second idea connected with it is the closing up for safety of something important and vital... Job 41:15-17 gives a remarkable illustration: the scales of "leviathan" are like a close seal, and not even air can get through them.

The scales on his head and body are, like pride, an armour nothing can get through — each scale linked to the next, with no gap in the armour where an arrow could pierce.

Coming to how this applies to each person, we see in this "crooked serpent" a picture of the twisted will of man. All sin has its roots in disobedience. Men may smile at it, but what is more terrible than this self-will — the mind of the flesh... What use is the effort to reform the world, to tame the crocodile? Men may dream and plan, and try to drive misery off the earth. But even while it groans, creation mocks at human efforts to subdue its own twisted will.

Both the behemoth and the leviathan picture Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride... And now comes the conclusion Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. God has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. Job has cherished pride, the Devil's own sin.

These rows of scales are shut up tightly as with a seal, so that he is protected as by a coat of armour. The Roman Beast too will use every means of protecting himself against the attacks of any enemy.

Men talk as if God's aim was only to occupy us with His works. God does the opposite. He brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. For if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God?... Do you think that after this Job was taken up with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God. That was the design of it all.

Then what majesty (or pride) in those curved shields! They close like a seal, so that breath cannot enter, and every part holds to the next so that nothing can pull them apart. ... No wonder the mightiest tremble when he rises. They miss their mark through fear. If one of them does reach him, the sword does not hold, nor spear, mace, nor lance, for he counts iron as straw and copper as rotten wood.

The scales on his head and body are, like pride, an armour nothing can get through — each scale linked to the next, and no joint in the armour where an arrow could pierce.

If a creature is so mighty and strong, what must the One be who called this creature into existence? ... Here is a good description of the crocodile's hide. The scales are so near each other that no air can come between them; they are joined one to another, they stick together, so that they cannot be pulled apart. ... The final statement about leviathan is that he is king over all the sons of pride.

So he is protected as if by a coat of armour. The Roman Beast too will use every means to protect himself against the attacks of any enemy.

Men talk as if God's object was only to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our thoughts and bow us to Himself. For if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that did the work? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God? ... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. ... But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

A second idea connected with sealing is the closing up for safety of something important and vital... Job 41:15-17 gives a remarkable illustration: there the scales of "leviathan" are like a close seal, so tight that not even air can pass through.

Long ago there were creatures the people of Israel were not allowed to eat, because they were unclean; others were clean. A clean fish was known by two marks: it had to have both fins and scales. The fins let it swim against the stream... There are times when a fish must swim through filthy water, and to protect it God has given it scales... Fitted with this armour, the fish can pass safely through the filth. So God has provided a way for His own to pass unharmed through all the filth around us, as well as the power to go against the stream.

Commentators have generally identified the leviathan with the crocodile. Like the behemoth, the leviathan is a strong and untameable beast... And if a creature is so mighty and strong, what must the One be who called this creature into existence? Verses 10 and 11 should read: "Who then is able to stand before Me (the Creator)? Who gave to Me first, that I should repay him? Since all beneath the heavens is Mine."

One of the meanings of sealing in Scripture is the closing up for safety of something important and vital. Job 41:15-17 gives a remarkable illustration: it compares the scales of "leviathan" to a close seal and describes them as so tight that not even air can get through.

"His scales are his pride." It is not only his enormous strength, and the fact that no ordinary weapon can pierce him. He is also completely confident in that strength himself.

The scales on his head and body are, like pride, an armour nothing can get through — each scale linked to the next, with no gap in the armour where an arrow could pierce... In most animals the flanks are a weak spot, since the ribs do not cover them; his flanks are solid and cannot be pierced. Within is a heart like stone, indifferent to all fear.

In Isaiah 27:1 we read: "In that day the LORD ... will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea." Here leviathan stands for the power of darkness... And now the deduction which Job could easily make. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart.

So he is protected as if by a coat of armour. The Roman Beast too will use every means to protect himself against the attacks of any enemy.

So God's purpose in describing them in such grand language is not at all to make us stop there, turning them into a study that fills our minds and holds our souls. His purpose is the opposite. He would turn us away from ourselves to trust in Himself. Do you think Job spent his time on behemoth or leviathan after this? Not at all — his thoughts were on God, and that was the design of it all.

God now shows to Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him... But what could be God's object in thus describing the power of the adversary? Surely it was to lead Job into entire dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

In the last two chapters of Jehovah's answer (Job 40, Job 41), which I must cover very briefly, God surveys not the whole realm of nature, but quite enough — more than enough — to prove Job ignorant and unable to speak before God. Job needed to learn this, so that he would distrust himself and trust God.

Most interpreters agree that the "leviathan" here is the crocodile of Egypt, and it is described in great detail… There seem to be three parts: (1) His fierceness that nothing can tame (verses 1-11). (2) An analysis of his various parts (verses 12-24). (3) His outstanding strength (verses 25-34).

"Sneezings." Job 41:18.

His scales, his armour, are his pride. This is a good description of the crocodile's hide. The scales sit so close together that no air can get between them. They are joined to one another and stick together, so that they cannot be pulled apart. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. You can see a crocodile's eyes from quite a distance under water. So the Egyptians used the crocodile's eyes in their picture-writing as the sign for daybreak.

Coming to the details, Jehovah shows that the beast is not only irresistible when you look at him as a whole. Each of his parts declares the same all-conquering power… The very sneezing of such a creature is like a flash of burning sulphur from hidden fires inside him (verses 18-21); his eyes flash out like rays of the rising sun.

"His scales are his pride." He has enormous strength, and no ordinary weapon can pierce him. More than that, he is sure of it himself.

Of course this is figurative language. It speaks of the vicious words that come out of the mouth of the Beast, as Revelation 13:5-6 tells us about him… But the appearance of light, as though the beast brought light and wisdom with him, is a false show. Leviathan pictures this man's boastful pride and his frightening threats.

Nothing could be more vivid than the account of each creature, and nothing could press the conclusion home more forcefully for Job, or for anyone else. If mere animals have such might, and they are only the result of God's creative will, how foolish it is to resist God's ways, to find fault with them, or even to judge them!

And, after all, what was God speaking about? Earthly things. Every one of these things belongs to the natural world, and has to do with what we can see, with what is visible and temporary… still, if that is true of earthly things, what about the heavenly things? What about the eternal things? There we depend on God completely.

Coming to details, Jehovah shows that the beast is not only irresistible as a whole; each of its parts declares the same all-conquering power. The Lord starts with its dreadful mouth, ringed with sharp, cruel teeth, and points out that everything about the beast has the same character. The very sneezing of such a creature is like sulphurous light from hidden fires within (verses 18-21); his eyes flash out like rays of the rising sun.

Again, the leviathan described here (Job 41) seems to be beyond doubt, not the dolphin or the whale, as some learned men have argued, but the crocodile. Nothing could be more vivid than these descriptions, and nothing more forceful than the lesson they press on Job or on anyone else. If mere animals have such might, and they exist only because God willed to create them, what folly it is to resist, criticise, or even judge His ways!

Of course this is figurative language, and speaks of the vicious words that come out of the mouth of the Beast, as Revelation 13:5-6 tells us about him. But the appearance of light, as though the beast brought light and wisdom with him, is a false show. Leviathan's character gives a vivid picture of this man's boastful pride and his frightening threats.

This is not only a mighty power; it is a power for evil. So Satan is called the dragon (Revelation 20:2). And as ruler of the earth, working through his instrument the ruler of Egypt, he is the one described here: "In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea" (Isaiah 27:1). How remarkable that the world-ruler should be spoken of in this way.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one he is, this king over all the children of pride! This world has rejected the King of Righteousness and chosen the horrible slavery of Satan instead. But why would God describe the enemy's power like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that you can do all things."

There was clearly divine design in the detailed description of the hippopotamus on one side, and in the still more detailed picture of the crocodile on the other. To an upright mind like Job's, they were fitted to overwhelm him with one thought. He who could do everything stooped to make man the object of His ways on earth. He ordered all things to bring man's heart into submission to Himself... So Job should be ashamed of his self-sufficiency.

What light in his sneezing! Eyes and mouth give off brightness, or sparks of fire, and smoke out of his nostrils as from a cauldron.

The leviathan described here seems beyond doubt to be the crocodile, not the dolphin or the whale, as some learned men have argued… Nothing could be more graphic than these descriptions. Nothing could be more forceful than the conclusion for Job, or for anyone else. Mere animals have such might, and they are the effect of God's creative will. What folly, then, to resist, criticise, or even judge His ways!

Men talk as if God's object was simply to occupy us with His works. God does the opposite. He brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them? And what is man if he dares to judge such a God?… Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God. This was the design of it all.

The very sneezing of such a creature is like sulphurous light from hidden fires within (vv. 18-21). His eyes flash out like rays of the rising sun. Like the horses of the sixth trumpet, his mouth belches out "fire and smoke and sulfur" (Revelation 9:17). His neck is strength itself. It makes despair, not joy, dance before him — he is the herald of misery.

Of course this is figurative language. It speaks of the vicious words that come out of the mouth of the Beast, as we are told of him in Revelation 13:5-6… But the appearance of light, as though the beast brought light and wisdom with him, is a false show. Leviathan's character is a striking picture of this man's boastful pride and his ominous threats.

Both the behemoth and the leviathan represent Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride… And now the conclusion which Job could easily draw. If he is proud then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. Pride, the Devil's sin, has been cherished by him.

What could God's purpose be in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that you can do all things."… Looked at in himself, the believer has no power to overcome Satan. Independence of God opened the door to Satan at first. Simple dependence on God alone can shut it.

What light flashes when he sneezes! His eyes and mouth give off brightness, or sparks of fire, and smoke pours from his nostrils as from a boiling pot. Strength lives in his neck, and dread marks everything in front of him. The rest of him is firm and cannot be moved, his heart as solid as stone, as hard as the lower millstone. No wonder the strongest men tremble when he rises up. If one of them does reach him, the sword does not hold, nor spear, club, or lance; for he counts iron as straw and copper as rotten wood.

Now, in Job 41, comes a still longer description of "leviathan," and I understand that to be the crocodile. The crocodile is a very dangerous beast. It is not shy of people; on the contrary, it preys on men, women, and children, if it can get hold of them.

Of course this is figurative language. It speaks of the vicious words that come out of the mouth of the Beast. Revelation 13:5-6 tells us of him: "The beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words… It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming His name and His dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven." But the appearance of light, as though the beast brought light and wisdom with him, is a false show.

Some have thought this creature must picture Satan, as the chief of God's creatures (Ezek. 28), standing out in strength and pride. The same would be true of leviathan, in the next chapter. Both beasts picture power and pride. So it does not seem far-fetched to say with Wordsworth, "It seems probable that behemoth stands for the Evil One at work in the animal and fleshly parts of man's own make-up, and that leviathan pictures the Evil One at work as man's enemy from outside. Behemoth is the enemy within us; leviathan is the enemy outside us." But we may think of these creatures as pictures of evil men driven and controlled by Satan, rather than Satan himself.

If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret Job kept hidden inside. He has searched out the depths of his heart. Job has cherished pride, the Devil's own crime.

Turning to what this means for each of us, we see in this "crooked serpent" a picture of the twisted will of man. All sin has its roots in disobedience. People may smile at it, but what is more terrible than this self-will — the mind set on the flesh? The mind of the flesh "is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot" (Rom. 8:7). What use is the effort to reform the world, to tame the crocodile?

Men talk as if God's aim was only to occupy us with His works. God does the opposite. He brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God?… Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

The Leviathan described here seems beyond doubt to be the crocodile, not the dolphin or the whale, as some learned men have argued... Nothing could be more vivid than these accounts, and nothing more forcible than the conclusion for Job or anyone else. If such is the might of mere animals, the effect of God's creative will, what folly it is to resist, criticise, or even judge His ways!

Strength lodges in his neck, and terror marks everything in front of him. The rest of him is firm and immovable, his heart solid as stone, hard as the lower millstone.

"Strength dwells in his neck" (v.22), for his neck is stiffened in rebellion against God. "And sorrow dances before him" — as though sorrow was trying to dress itself in false joy, but it only brings misery and wretchedness.

His neck is the embodiment of strength, causing despair, not joy, to dance before him — he is the herald of misery. Within is a heart like stone, indifferent to all fear.

In Isaiah 27:1 we read: "In that day the LORD with His hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent... and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea." Here leviathan typifies the power of darkness... And now the deduction which Job could easily make. If he is proud then he belongs to leviathan the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out the depths of it. Pride, the Devil's crime, had been cherished by him.

What an unbroken stiffness of neck! It makes everyone bend before it, and it fills the earth with ruin and men's hearts with grief. A riot of misery, a carnival of despair dances before him with glee — sword and plague and death, the unavoidable companions of absolute, Satanic power. The Beast will have no weak side, and he will know no pity. From his unyielding heart come hatred, scorn, death.

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them? And what is man if he dares to judge such a God?... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

God now shows to Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him... But what could be God's object in thus describing the power of the adversary? Surely it was to lead Job into entire dependence on Himself.

No one can doubt that there was divine design in the detailed description of the river-horse (or ox), and in the even finer details of the crocodile. To an upright mind like Job's, these details struck straight home. They were suited to overwhelm him with one thought. He who could do everything chose to make man the object of His ways on earth. He ordered all things to shape man's heart into submission to Himself. … Job therefore should be deeply ashamed of his self-sufficiency.

Jehovah now comes to the details. The beast is irresistible as a whole, and each of its parts declares the same all-conquering power. … The scales on his head and body are an armour nothing can pierce, like pride — each scale linked to the next, with no gap where an arrow could get through. … His flanks are usually a weak spot in animals, since the ribs do not cover them. Here they are compact and impossible to pierce. Within is a heart like stone that knows no fear.

"The folds of his flesh" are so joined as to make him invulnerable to attack (v.23), and underneath his heart is as hard as a stone. What a picture of the great champion of unbelief! He will arise because the world has rejected the faithful, gracious Lord of glory, and he will think of himself as the saviour of the world.

It seems probable that behemoth represents the Evil One at work in the animal and fleshly parts of man's own nature. Leviathan then pictures the Evil One at work as man's enemy from outside. Behemoth is the enemy within us; leviathan is the enemy without us.

He is king over all the sons of pride. … And now the deduction which Job could easily make. If he is proud then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out the depths of that heart. Job has cherished pride, the Devil's crime.

And will Job harbour in his heart even the seed of all this horror? Shall independence, self-will and pride find a home in him, and hatch out such offspring of hell? Such is self-will in its essence, and such is its full development. … Beneath the fair exterior of man such possibilities lie hidden. Even in a child of God there lurks a nature with these features.

God brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them? And what is man if he dares to judge such a God? … Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

The scales on his head and body are, like pride, an armour nothing can get through. Each scale is linked to the next, and there is no "joint of the harness" where an arrow could pierce... In most animals the flanks are a weak point, since the ribs do not cover them. His flanks are compact and impenetrable. Within is a heart like stone, indifferent to all fear.

Now in Job 41 comes a still longer description of "leviathan," and I understand that to be the crocodile. The crocodile is a very formidable beast. It is not so shy of humans; on the contrary, it preys on men, women and children, if it can get hold of them.

"The folds of his flesh" are so joined as to make him invulnerable to attack (v.23), and underneath his heart is as hard as a stone. What a picture of the great champion of unbelief! He will arise because the world has rejected the faithful, gracious Lord of glory — and this beast will think of himself as the saviour of the world!

"The Beast" will have no weak "flanks" to be turned, as an army's flanks are turned. He will not know pity. From his stone-hard heart come hatred, scorn, death. Some have refused the tender pleading of the Heart of Love — of Him who said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." They will be crushed by the hard heart of the world-conqueror, who knows neither love nor pity.

What would you think of a man hoping to get into heaven by offering his corn and his wine to God? He supposes, like Simon Magus in Acts 8, that the gift of God can be bought. It would show that his conscience was as hard as the lower millstone. He would be completely insensible to the condition he was in, and to the character of God. The very worship of Cain proved the desperate, utter insensibility of his heart to the judgment of God against sin...

And will Job keep in his own heart even the seed of all this horror? Shall independence, self-will and pride find a resting place in him, to hatch out such offspring of hell?... Beneath the fair exterior of man such possibilities lie hidden. Even in the child of God a nature lurks which has these features.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him... But what could be God's purpose in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that you can do all things."

For this, the heart of stone must be taken out of the flesh, so that they may have a heart of flesh — a truly feeling and tender heart. To this is added the blessed assurance: "I will put my Spirit within you."

Going back in part to the style of the first section, Jehovah dwells on how this beast cannot be wounded. Strong men are afraid of him. Terror and wounds make their hand tremble, so it misses its aim (verse 25, literally). Even if a sword should touch him, it fails to wound. No weapon can reach a vital spot, thrown from a distance or used close at hand. Iron is trampled down as straw, brass as rotten wood.

Like the behemoth, the leviathan is a strong and untamable beast... Then He declares that he is fierce, and even at the sight of him one is cast down. And if a creature is so mighty and strong, what must the One be who called this creature into existence? Verses 10 and 11 should be read: "Who then is he who can stand before Me (the Creator)? Who has first given to Me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine."

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that did the work? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God?... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one this king over all the sons of pride is... But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

The mighty men of earth will be afraid when this man asserts himself (v.25). Neither the sword, spear, dart nor javelin can penetrate Leviathan's armour (v.26), and all men's efforts to defeat the Beast will be to no avail.

Now for the conclusion Job could easily draw: if he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out the depths of it. He had cherished pride, the Devil's crime.

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our thoughts and bow us to Himself; for if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made the work, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God? ... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

Saul put a coat of mail, shiryon, on David (1 Samuel 17:5, 38). This word is translated "habergeon" in 2 Chronicles 26:14 and Nehemiah 4:16, which also means "coat of mail," and there is a similar word in Job 41:26. It was made of brass scales fastened together.

Strong men are afraid of him; through terror and wounds their trembling hand misses its aim. Even if a sword should touch him, it fails to wound. No weapon, from far off or close at hand, can reach a vital spot. Iron is trampled down like straw, brass like rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee. The flying sling-stone is like harmless chaff, and he mocks darts and spears.

If this is so with a mere creature, who can stand before the Creator? (Verse 10 should be rendered that way, leading up to verse 11: "Who will stand before Me?") Who has first given to Jehovah, that he can demand it back again?

...this reminds us of the first beast of Revelation 13, the beast who rises out of the sea. Leviathan lives in water, so he clearly stands for the Gentile power that will rise during the Tribulation... Of him people will say, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" ... While no man can stand before them, however, the Lord will bring them down to a defeat of abject humiliation.

So we have to admit that it does not seem far-fetched to agree with Wordsworth: "It seems likely that behemoth stands for the Evil One at work in the animal and fleshly side of man's own make-up. Leviathan stands for the Evil One working as his enemy from outside. Behemoth is the enemy within us; leviathan is the enemy without us."

The final statement about leviathan is "he is king over all the sons of pride." That last word is significant, and it has a deeper meaning. In Isaiah 27:1 we read: "In that day the LORD with His hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea." Here leviathan represents the power of darkness... And now the conclusion Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him... But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

No wonder the mightiest tremble when he rises up, and miss their mark through fear. If one does overtake him, the sword does not hold, and neither does spear, mace, or lance. He counts iron as straw and copper as rotten wood, and he pays no heed to arrows, sling-stones, clubs, or javelins.

Even if a sword should touch him, it fails to wound — no weapon, whether from a distance or close at hand, can reach a vital spot. Iron is trampled down as straw, brass as rotten wood.

Spears or arrows are nothing to him, and even a musket ball has no power to pierce the skin of a crocodile. "His scales are his pride" — not only because of his enormous strength, and because no ordinary weapon can wound him, but because he is so confident in it himself.

God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our thoughts and bow us before Himself. If God's works are so wonderful, who is He who made them? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God? … Do you think that after this Job's mind was on behemoth or leviathan? Not at all — it was on God. This was the design of it all.

This describes not only a mighty power, but a power for evil. So Scripture speaks of Satan as the dragon (Revelation 20:2). As ruler of the earth, working through his instrument the ruler of Egypt, Isaiah says of him, "In that day the Lord with His hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea" (Isaiah 27:1).

And now comes the conclusion Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's bosom. He has searched out the depths of his heart. He has cherished pride, the Devil's crime.

The believer looked at in himself has no power to overcome Satan. Man failed before him even when he was innocent. Now that man is fallen, he is even less able to stand. Independence from God opened the door to Satan at first. Only simple dependence on God can shut it. … It is very gracious of God to tell us how strong the enemy is. Then we know that our only resource is a firm trust in Himself.

Here Jehovah dwells on how impossible this beast is to wound. Strong men are afraid of him; through terror and wounds their trembling hand misses its aim. Even if a sword should touch him, it fails to wound. No weapon can reach a vital spot, whether thrown from a distance or used close at hand. He tramples iron down like straw, bronze like rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee. The hurtling sling-stone is like harmless chaff. He mocks darts and spears.

No wonder the mightiest tremble when he rises up — that they miss their mark through fear — that, if one does reach him, the sword does not hold, nor spear, mace, nor lance; for he counts iron as straw, copper as rotten wood, and pays no attention to arrows, sling-stones, clubs, or javelins.

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. For if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them? And what is man if he dares to judge such a God? ... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

Job, however, could not tackle leviathan or behemoth, nor could he subdue proud man. How then could he contend with God? This was powerfully driven home into his heart.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one he is — this king over all the sons of pride. This world has rejected the King of righteousness and preferred the horrible slavery of Satan. But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Him. "I know," says Job, "that you can do all things." ... It was independence of God that opened the door for Satan at first, and it is simple dependence on God alone that can shut it.

This is God's own picture of the creature. Can we doubt that He would also draw from it the more dreadful description of "the Beast," and of the self-will that makes him what he is? "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (Rev. 13:4). The deadly wound that has been healed is only a fresh declaration that he cannot be harmed. ... As the crocodile is king over all proud beasts, so this beast is king over all the sons of pride.

When the Beast arises, the Antichrist will join him and set up an image to be worshipped in the temple area in Jerusalem, in honour of the Beast (Rev. 13:14-15). This will be the ultimate peak of man's pride, an arrogant challenge against God. Then the Lord Jesus will meet this challenge in awesome power. Both of these enemies of God will be "thrown alive into the lake of fire" (Rev. 19:19-20). Such will be the fearful end of him who "is king over all the sons of pride." What a lesson for us — to learn now to judge our own pride!

And will Job keep in his heart even the seed of all this horror? Will independence, self-will and pride find a resting place in him, to hatch out such offspring of hell? ... Beneath the fine outward look of man such possibilities lie hidden. Even in the child of God a nature lurks that has these features.

Strong men are afraid of him; through terror and wounds their trembling hand misses its aim. Even if a sword touches him, it fails to wound. No weapon can reach a vital spot, whether thrown from far off or used close at hand. He tramples iron down like straw, and brass like rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee. The flying sling-stone is like harmless chaff, and he mocks darts and spears.

Spears or arrows are nothing to him, and even a musket ball has no power to pierce the skin of a crocodile. "His scales are his pride." That is not only because of his enormous strength, and because no ordinary weapon can really hurt him. He is also so confident in it himself.

Arrow, short spear, javelin. 2 Samuel 18:14; 2 Chronicles 32:5; Job 41:26, 29; Proverbs 7:23.

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. For if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that made them, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God? … He would turn us away from ourselves to trust in Himself. … Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one this king over all the children of pride is. … But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into entire dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

This is the divine picture of the creature. Can we doubt that He would also draw from it the more dreadful description of "the beast," and of the self-will that makes him what he is? "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (Revelation 13:4). The healed "deadly wound" is just one more announcement that nothing can wound him.

He is king over all the sons of pride. … And now comes the conclusion Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. He has cherished pride, the devil's crime.

Is such a sword not alone in its glory? Could Joshua's or David's have won conquests like these? Would the principalities of darkness have yielded to them? Would death and hell have submitted themselves? "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?" But He who made him can bring His sword near to him.

Leviathan was a water creature. He appears to be the crocodile, the most fearsome of all water animals — unless it was another similar animal, now extinct.

No account could be shorter or more expressive than the one of his lower parts. The underside is like the sharpest broken pottery, as he rolls it like a sledge over the rivers.

Even if a sword should touch him, it fails to wound. No weapon, from a distance or close at hand, can reach a vital spot. He tramples iron down like straw, brass like rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee, and the flying sling-stone is like harmless chaff. He mocks darts and spears. His under parts, lying flat on the earth, are not weak, but like strong pieces of broken pottery.

This is God's picture of the creature. Can we doubt that He would also draw from it the more dreadful description of "the Beast," and of the self-will that makes him what he is? "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (Revelation 13:4)... The very "mire" of the people, for the time at least, protects him. The turmoil he creates in the earth, marking it with ruin, shows his pathway. He has no equal upon earth. As the crocodile is king over all proud beasts, so this beast is king over all the children of pride. Shall Job, shall we, do him reverence and help on his kingdom?

Iron and bronze weapons, arrows, darts, slingstones and javelins are useless against him (vv.27-29). Underneath too he is equipped to resist attack (v.30).

Here leviathan typifies the power of darkness. Both the behemoth and the leviathan typify Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride... And here is the conclusion Job could easily draw. If he is proud then he belongs to leviathan the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. Job has cherished pride, the Devil's crime.

Coming to the individual application, we see in this "crooked serpent" a figure of the perverted will of man. All sin has its roots in disobedience... What good is the effort to reform the world, to tame the crocodile? Men may dream and plan, and try to drive misery off the earth. But creation, groaning as it is, mocks human efforts to subdue its own perverted will.

People talk as if God's aim was only to occupy us with His works. God does the opposite. He brings forward His works to turn us away from our own thoughts and bow us to Himself. If the works of God are so wonderful, who is the One who made them? And what is man, if he dares to judge such a God?... Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

From verse 15 to the end of Job 41, the Lord makes further reference to the wonders of His creation. He called Job's attention to behemoth and to leviathan — probably the hippopotamus and the crocodile. They had brute strength but no human intelligence. It would be easier to subdue them than to bring down proud man.

His under parts are the sharpest of shards; He spreads a threshing-roller on the mire, He makes the deep boil as a pot, He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

As Leviathan stirs up the water, so the Roman Beast will stir up the nations (the sea) in tumultuous trouble. The "shining wake" he leaves behind him tells us that there will be marked results from the Beast's activity.

I have already said that nothing the Lord says there lies outside the life of men and animals and the creation as we know it. Some see a hidden picture in these creatures, but I do not believe there is the slightest justification for this... He was displaying the immense greatness of God. If one of God's creatures terrifies the man who looks at him, how wrong it was of Job to keep on questioning God.

Isaiah 27:1 says that in that day the LORD will punish leviathan the piercing serpent with His fierce and strong sword. He will punish leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon in the sea. Here leviathan is a picture of the power of darkness. Both behemoth and leviathan picture Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride. And now the conclusion Job could easily draw: if he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride.

God now shows to Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him... But why would God describe the enemy's power like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do everything."

Applied to each person, we see in this "crooked serpent" a picture of the perverted will of man. All sin has its roots in disobedience... What use is the effort to reform the world, to tame the crocodile? Men may dream and plan, and try to drive misery off the earth. But even while it groans, creation mocks human efforts to subdue its own perverted will.

The believer looked at in himself has no power to overcome Satan... It was independence of God that opened the door to Satan at the start, and simple dependence on God alone can shut it. It is very gracious of God to tell us how strong the enemy is, so that we may know that our only resource is a firm trust in Himself.

He is still more at ease in the water, making the deep boil like a pot, and the sea like a mixture of ointment. A ship does not more clearly make its path shine after it with its white, foaming wake.

Men talk as if God's object was merely to occupy us with His works. God, on the contrary, brings forward His works to turn us away from our thoughts and bow us to Himself. For if the works of God are so wonderful, who is He that did the work, and what is man if he dares to judge such a God? … Do you think that after this Job was occupied with behemoth or with leviathan? Not at all, but with God; and this was the design of it all.

He is no commodity for traders, no game for the hunter, no safe opponent in battle. The very sight of him might knock a man flat. Only a reckless man would provoke him. Yet what is that compared with making a stand before God? And who ever gave to Him, that He should repay, since everything under heaven is His?

"He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment" (v. 31). As Leviathan stirs up the water, so the Roman Beast will stir up the nations (the sea) into violent turmoil. The "shining wake" he leaves behind him tells us that there will be clear results from the Beast's activity.

The turmoil he creates in the earth, marking it with ruin, shows his pathway. He has no equal upon earth. As the crocodile is king over all proud beasts, so this beast is king over all the children of pride. Shall Job, shall we, do him reverence and help on his kingdom?

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible king he is over all the children of pride! … But what could be God's object in describing the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

Now comes the conclusion that Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. Pride, the Devil's crime, has been cherished by him. And now, with the heart laid bare by Jehovah's dealing, we shall hear Job's voice once more.

The leviathan described here seems beyond doubt to be the crocodile, not the dolphin or the whale, as some learned men have argued… Nothing could be more vivid than these accounts. Nothing could be more forceful than the lesson for Job or anyone else. If such is the might of mere brutes, the product of God's creative will, what folly to resist, criticise, or even judge His ways!

Strong men are afraid of him; through terror and wounds their trembling hand misses its aim. Even if a sword should touch him, it fails to wound. No weapon can reach a vital spot, whether from a distance or close at hand. Iron is trampled down like straw, brass like rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee. The hurtling sling-stone is like harmless chaff. He mocks darts and spears… "Upon the earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholds all high things; he is a king over all the children of pride."

He called Job's attention to behemoth and to leviathan — probably the hippopotamus and the crocodile. They had brute strength but no human intelligence. It would be easier to subdue them than to bring down proud man. In Job's day human inventions had hardly begun. So this was probably not as obvious then as it is now, when people subdue these mighty creatures with ease — but not so, proud man!

Here the lesson is His control of creatures whose strength defies man. In that way they picture pride and unstoppable strength. They stand at the highest point of creature power. Can Job subdue or control these? No — does he not find himself morally in their company, since he has lifted himself up against God?

Both the behemoth and the leviathan picture Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride… And now the conclusion which Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. He had cherished pride, the Devil's crime.

Man's pride will reach its ultimate peak in an arrogant challenge against God. Then the Lord Jesus will meet this challenge in awesome power… This will be the fearful end of the one who "is king over all the children of pride." What a lesson for us to learn now to judge our own pride!

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him… But why would God describe the power of the adversary like this? Surely it was to lead Job into entire dependence on Himself. "I know," says Job, "that You can do all things."

The leviathan described here seems beyond doubt to be the crocodile, not the dolphin or the whale that some learned men have argued for... Nothing could be more vivid than the accounts of each. Nothing could be more forceful than the conclusion for Job or anyone else. If such is the might of mere animals, the result of God's creative will, what folly it is to resist, criticise, or even judge His ways!

If in behemoth we see the spirit of falling away from revealed truth in religion, in leviathan we see it in civil government... But this is looking ahead to how it comes to a head in the last days. The principle is independence of God, trying to make a name for itself. It has been visible since the days of Cain, who built a city, and of Nimrod, who founded the first great world-empire. This is not limited to whole nations. The same spirit of strong self-will shows itself in the individual too. It tolerates no contradiction. It refuses to be under authority, and nothing can tame it. Who has ever bound and held the proud will of man?

God now shows Job, under the figure of leviathan, that the power of Satan is too great for him. What a terrible one this king over all the sons of pride is. This world has rejected the King of Righteousness and chosen the horrible slavery of Satan instead. But what could God's purpose be in describing the power of the adversary this way? Surely it was to lead Job into complete dependence on Himself.

When this Roman Beast arises, he will be in league with the Antichrist. The Antichrist will set up an idolatrous image in the temple area of Jerusalem in honour of the Beast (Rev. 13:14-15). This will be the ultimate peak of man's pride, an arrogant challenge against God. Then the Lord Jesus will meet this challenge in awesome power. Both of these enemies of God will be "thrown alive into the lake of fire" (Rev. 19:19-20). Such will be the fearful end of him who "is king over all the sons of pride." What a lesson for us! We should learn to judge our own pride now.

Both the behemoth and the leviathan represent Satan, his character and his rule. He is king over all the sons of pride... And now comes the conclusion Job could easily draw. If he is proud, then he belongs to leviathan, the king who rules over the sons of pride. Jehovah has touched the secret in Job's heart. He has searched out its depths. He had cherished pride, the Devil's crime. And now, with his heart laid bare by Jehovah's dealing, we shall hear Job's voice once more.

As the crocodile is king over all proud beasts, so this beast is king over all the sons of pride. Shall Job — shall we — bow to him and help his kingdom along? If not, only one path was open for him, and for us.

"Now my eye sees You." It was nothing external now, no distant rumour... Do you think that investigating the structure or habits of behemoth and leviathan would have led to anything like this? Certainly not. He had to do with God Himself, who used them for that very purpose, and had by them turned Job away from everything to Himself.