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Chapter 41
Verse 41

Job 41:7

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

American Standard Version (1901)

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?

Bible in Basic English

Will you put sharp-pointed irons into his skin, or fish-spears into his head?

Free Bible Version

Can you pierce his skin with many harpoons, its head with fishing spears?

King James (Authorized) Version

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Translation for Translators

Can you pierce their skins by throwing fishing spears at them? Can you pierce their heads with a harpoon?

Unlocked Literal Bible

Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

Noah Webster Bible

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

World English Bible

Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears?

Young's Literal Translation

Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head?

Context

The LORD’s Power Shown in Leviathan

⁶Will traders barter for him or divide him among the merchants? ⁷Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? ⁸If you lay a hand on him, you will remember the battle and never repeat it!

Summary

In this verse, God questions Job about whether he can fill Leviathan's hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears. This imagery showcases the immense power and strength of Leviathan, a creature often symbolizing chaos and evil in ancient Near Eastern literature. God's rhetorical questions serve to emphasize His sovereignty and omnipotence, highlighting the limitations of human understanding and ability compared to His divine wisdom and might.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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

Job 41:7

The LORD’s Power Shown in Leviathan

⁶Will traders barter for him or divide him among the merchants? ⁷Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? ⁸If you lay a hand on him, you will remember the battle and never repeat it!

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

American Standard Version (1901)

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?

Bible in Basic English

Will you put sharp-pointed irons into his skin, or fish-spears into his head?

Free Bible Version

Can you pierce his skin with many harpoons, its head with fishing spears?

King James (Authorized) Version

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Translation for Translators

Can you pierce their skins by throwing fishing spears at them? Can you pierce their heads with a harpoon?

Unlocked Literal Bible

Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

Noah Webster Bible

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

World English Bible

Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears?

Young's Literal Translation

Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head?