Job 41:15 — Word Study
WLCגַּ֭אֲוָה אֲפִיקֵ֣י מָֽגִנִּ֑ים סָ֝ג֗וּר חוֹתָ֥ם צָֽר׃
BSArefusemappâl fleshbâsâr to cleavedâbaq to pouryâtsaq uponʻal notbal to shakemôwṭ
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| גַּ֭אֲוָה | pride | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| אֲפִיקֵ֣י | [is] rows of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| מָֽגִנִּ֑ים | shields | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| סָ֝ג֗וּר | shut up | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| חוֹתָ֥ם | a seal | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| צָֽר׃ | tight |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | His rows of scales are his pride, tightly sealed together. |
| KJV | His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. |
| ASV | His strong scales are his pride, Shut up together as with a close seal. |
| YLT | A pride — strong ones of shields, Shut up — a close seal. |
| WEB | Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal. |
| BBE | His back is made of lines of plates, joined tight together, one against the other, like a stamp. |
Translations agree on the meaning of גַּאֲוָה as pride.
The main clause describes the creature's scales, with an adverbial phrase emphasizing their tightly sealed nature.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbדָּבַק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 41:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Description of a Powerful Creaturegenerated
Job 41:15 is part of a larger discourse where God describes the might of a creature, emphasizing its formidable nature and the pride it embodies through its protective scales. This section illustrates the greatness of God's creations, contrasting human limitations with divine power.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 9:23 | This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. |
| 2 | Revelation 5:2–3 | And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גַּ֭אֲוָה, Ga.'a.vahgenerated
The word גַּאֲוָה (ga'avah) signifies pride or majesty, often associated with something impressive or arrogant. It can also refer to a physical rising or swelling, indicating strength or prominence.
In this verse, it describes the pride of the creature, emphasizing its formidable appearance and the strength conveyed through its tightly sealed scales.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the rendering of גַּאֲוָה as pride.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is סָג֗וּר, shut up, which governs the description of the subject, גַּאֲוָה, pride, and the noun phrases that follow. The structure emphasizes the pride of the creature as a key characteristic.
The Hebrew word order places the subject first, highlighting the pride associated with the creature's scales, followed by the action of being tightly sealed.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, גַּאֲוָה is translated as σώματος, meaning of the body. This choice suggests a focus on the physicality and strength of the creature, aligning with the idea of pride as a visible characteristic.
The translation indicates a narrowing of the concept, emphasizing the creature's physical attributes rather than abstract pride.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 41:15 describes a powerful creature whose scales are a source of pride, tightly sealed together. This imagery emphasizes the creature's strength and formidable nature.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The pride reflects the impressive and powerful nature of the creature, highlighting its strength and the majesty of God's creation.
The tightly sealed scales suggest a strong defense mechanism, emphasizing the creature's resilience and protective qualities.
This verse contributes to the theme of God's sovereignty and the grandeur of His creations, contrasting human limitations with divine power.
The imagery of the scales can remind us of the strength and complexity of creation, encouraging awe and respect for the natural world.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What aspects of God's creation impress you the most, and why?
- How can the imagery of pride in this verse inspire you to reflect on your own strengths?
- In what ways do you see the concept of protection in your life, similar to the creature's scales?
- How does understanding the power of creation affect your view of God's sovereignty?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights the significance of the creature's scales and their symbolic meaning in understanding God's creation.
His body as molten shields. Compacted with scales pressing each other. 49. Holy Scripture is wont to use the word 'shield,' sometimes in a favourable, sometimes in an unfavourable way.Early Church Fathers on Job 41 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 41:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible[His] scales [are his] pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
Read John Gill on Job 41 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHis scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 41 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe prides and pleaseth himself in his strong and mighty scales. Heb. His strong shields (i.e. scales) are his pride. Or, (as other, both ancient and modern, interpreters render it,) his body, (or his back, as this word is used, ; which, if meant of the crocodile, is emphatical, because his scales and strength is in his back, whereas his belly is very soft, and easily pierced) is the strength of shields, i.e. fortified with scales strong as shields. This is meant either, 1. Of the whale whose skin, though it be smooth and entire, and without scales, may be said to be as (which particle is oft understood) strong shields, because it is, as Galen reports, exceeding hard and strong, and almost…
Read Matthew Poole on Job 41 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 41:15 [His] scales [are his] pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.Ver. 15. His scales are his pride] They are like so many glistering shields, wherein he puts his confidence and takes his pride; as thinking them impenetrable. Shut up together as with a close seal] So closed and put together, like paper sealed with wax, as that nothing can part them. The Jews use to write upon the back of their sealed letters, Nun, Cheth, Shin; that is, Niddui, Cherem, and Shemmatha; all sorts of excommunication to those that open them.
Read John Trapp on Job 41 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 15. His scales are his pride] They are impenetrable, as we have already seen.
Read AdamClarke on Job 41 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12–34. Description of the parts of Leviathan.
Read Cambridge on Job 41 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHis scales are his pride - Margin, “strong pieces of shields.” The literal translation of this would be, “Pride, the strong of shields;” that is, the strong shields.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 41 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible15. Scales — Literally, strong shields, (Rosenmuller, Furst;) or, according to others, (Delitzsch, Hitzig,) furrows of the shields.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 41 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
His rows of scales are his pride, tightly sealed together.
Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal.
His rows of scales are his pride, tightly sealed together.
Its back has rows of shields, shut up closely together as with a seal;
Tyndale line
His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
His strong scales are his pride, Shut up together as with a close seal.
His strong scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
His scales are his pride, shut together as with a close seal.
His heart is as strong as a stone, and as hard as the nether milstone.
Strictly literal
The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
A pride — strong ones of shields, Shut up — a close seal.
A pride—strong ones of shields, || Shut up—a close seal.
(41:7) What pride is there in [his] strong shields; he is locked up as with a close seal.
his back is made up of rows of shields, tight together as with a close seal.
From the Latin
His heart shall be as hard as a stone, and as firm as a smith’s anvil.
Simplified
Its pride is its rows of scales, closed tightly together.
His back is made of lines of plates, joined tight together, one against the other, like a stamp.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree on the wording of this verse, with five of the six Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This consistency highlights the shared understanding of the creature's characteristics across traditions.
גַּ֭אֲוָה אֲפִיקֵ֣י מָֽגִנִּ֑ים סָ֝ג֗וּר חוֹתָ֥ם צָֽר׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 41:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
גַּאֲוָה (ga'avah) refers to concepts of majesty and pride, encompassing meanings like arrogance and haughtiness. It can also denote a physical rising or swelling, such as that of the sea. The word is built from the root associated with elevation, and its usage in the Old Testament reflects these themes of pride and exaltation.
גַּאֲוָה n.f. majesty, pride
rising up, swelling of the sea
majesty
pride, haughtiness
base
H1346 גַּאֲוָה majesty, pride
1346 ga`avah gah-av-aw'
from 1342; arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely)
ornament:--excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly,
swelling.
see HEBREW for 01342
גַּאֲוָה (ga.a.vah) — pride.
1) pride, majesty, a rising up
1a) a rising up, swelling (of the sea)
1b) majesty (of Israel)
1c) pride, haughtiness
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 18:10,11; Le 26:19; De 8:11-14,17-20; Jud 9:14,15; 1Sa 2:3-5; 1Ki 20:11; 2Ki 14:9,10; 2Ch 25:18,19; Job 11:12; 12:2,3; 13:2,5; 15:1-13; 18:3; 21:31,32; 32:9-13; 37:24; Ps 9:20; 10:2-6,11; 12:4; 18:27; 31:23; 49:11; 52:7; 73:6,8,9; 75:4-6; 101:5; 119:21,69,70,78; 138:6;
אָפִיק (aphiyq) refers to a channel or a ravine, often associated with water. It can also denote a strong object or a hero. The word is built from a root meaning to contain, and it encompasses meanings related to streams, valleys, and strength.
[אָפִיק] n.m. channel (as holding, confining water; poet.)
base
H650 [אָפִיק] channel (as holding, confining water; poet.)
650 'aphiyq aw-feek'
from 622; properly, containing, i.e. a tube; also a bed or
valley of a stream; also a strong thing or a hero:--brook,
channel, mighty, river, + scale, stream, strong piece.
see HEBREW for 0622
אָפִיק (a.phiq) — channel.
1) channel
2) ravine
3) of hollow bones (fig.)
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מָגֵן (magen) means 'shield' and can refer to both a small shield or buckler and a figurative protector. It can also denote the scaly hide of a crocodile. The word is feminine in plural form, מִגִּנָּה (mginnah), and is derived from a root meaning to cover or protect.
מָגֵן n.m. & f. shield
base
H4043 מָגֵן shield
4043 magen maw-gane'
also (in plural) feminine mginnah {meg-in-naw'}; from 1598; a
shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a
protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile:--X armed,
buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield.
see HEBREW for 01598
מָגֵן (ma.gen) — shield.
shield, buckler
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
- A part of defensive armour
Ps 115:9; 140:7
- FREQUENTLY MADE OF, OR COVERED WITH
. Gold
. Brass
- Said to belong to God
- KINDS OF
סָגַר (sagar) means to shut or close, with various applications including shutting doors, closing up breaches, and imprisoning. It can also imply delivering someone up or surrendering. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal (to shut), Niphal (to be shut up), and Piel (to deliver up). The term is associated with the concept of being tightly sealed or enclosed.
סָגַר vb. shut, close
Qal
shut door
close in upon
close up breach
Pt. pass., closed up = closely joined with tight seal
elsewhwere only Pt. pass. (gold shut up, and so prized, rare, fine?)
Niph.
subj. pers. be shut up
be shut, closed, of city gates
Pi. deliver up to (leave no other opening for one, shut one up to)
Pu.
of cities
of prisoners
of doors
Hiph.
deliver up to
shut up
base
H5462 סָגַר shut, close .. shut door
. . close in upon
. close up breach
. Pt. pass., closed up = closely joined with tight seal
. elsewhwere only Pt. pass. (gold shut up, and so prized, rare, fine?)
. . subj. pers. be shut up
. be shut, closed, of city gates
. deliver up to (leave no other opening for one, shut one up to)
. . of cities
. of prisoners
. of doors
. . deliver up to
. shut up
5462 cagar saw-gar'
a primitive root; to shut up; figuratively, to
surrender:--close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose,
X pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, X
straitly.
סָגַר (sa.gar) — to shut.
1) to shut, close
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to shut
1a2) to close, close up
1a3) closed up, closely joined, shut up
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be shut up
1b2) to be shut or closed
1c) (Piel) to shut up, deliver up
1d) (Pual) to be shut up
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to deliver up
1e2) to shut up, imprison
2) pure gold
Aramaic equivalent: se.gar (סְגַר "to shut" H5463)
HVqsmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
The Hebrew word חֹתָם (chowtham) refers to a seal or signet-ring. It is derived from a root meaning related to signatures. The entries consistently emphasize its use as a signet or seal, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
חֹתָם, חוֹתָם n.m. seal, signet-ring
base
H2368 חֹתָם, חוֹתָם seal, signet-ring
2368 chowtham kho-thawm'
or chotham {kho-thawm'}; from 2856; a signature-ring:--seal,
signet.
see HEBREW for 02856
חֹתָם (cho.tam) — signet.
seal, signet, signet-ring
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
sel (substantive chotham, "seal," "signet," Tabba`ath, "signet-ring"; Aramaic `izqa'; sphragis; verb chatham, (Aramaic chatham); (sphragizo), (katasphragizomai, "to seal"):
I. Literal Sense.
A seal is an instrument of stone, metal or other hard substance (sometimes set in a ring), on which is engraved some device or figure, and is used for making an impression on some soft substance, as clay or wax, affixed to a document or other object, in token of authenticity.
1. Prevalence in Antiquity:
The use of seals goes back to a very remote antiquity, especially in Egypt, Babylonia and Assyria. Herodotus (i.195) records the Babylonian custom of wearing signets. In Babylonia the seal generally took the form of a cylinder cut in crystal or some hard stone, which was bored through from end to end and a cord passed through it. The design, often accompanied by the owner's name, was engraved on the…
Seal
Commonly a ring engraved with some device (Gen. 38:18, 25). Jezebel “wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal” (1 Kings 21:8). Seals are frequently mentioned in Jewish history (Deut. 32:34; Neh. 9:38; 10:1; Esther 3:12; Cant. 8:6; Isa. 8:16; Jer. 22:24; 32:44, etc.). Sealing a document was equivalent to the signature of the owner of the seal. “The use of a signet-ring by the monarch has recently received a remarkable illustration by the…
The importance attached to seals in the East is so great that without one no document is regarded as authentic. Among the methods of sealing used in Egypt at a very early period were engraved stones, graved stones, pierced through their length and hung by a string or chain from the arm or neck, or set in rings for the finger. The most ancient form used for this purpose was the scarabaeus, formed of precious or common stone, or even of blue pottery or porcelain, on the flat side of which the inscription or device was engraved. In many cases the seal consisted of a lump of clay, impressed with the seal and attached to the document, whether of papyrus or other material, by strings. In other cases wax was used. In sealing a sepulchre or box, the fastening was covered with clay or wax, and the impression from a seal of one in authority was stamped upon it, so that it could not be broken open…
The Hebrew word צַר (tsar) is built from the root meaning 'narrow' or 'tight.' It encompasses a range of meanings including 'distress,' 'adversary,' and 'hard pebble' or 'flint.' The term can refer to physical tightness or metaphorical trouble, as well as an enemy or foe. It appears in contexts of anguish and tribulation, with a specific verse reference in Isaiah 5:28.
צַר adj. narrow, tight
base
צַר n.[m.] straits, distress
base
צַר 68 n.m. adversary, foe
base
צַר n.[m.] hard pebble, flint;—Is 5:28
ref
H6862a צַר narrow, tight H6862b צַר straits, distress H6862c צַר adversary, foe H6862d צַר hard pebble, flint
6862 tsar tsar
or tsar {tsawr}; from 6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place
(usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in
6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding):--adversary,
afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,
narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
see HEBREW for 06887
see HEBREW for 06864
צַר (tsar) — narrow.
narrow, tight
צַר (tsar) — distress.
straits, distress
צַר (tsar) — enemy.
adversary, foe, enemy, oppressor
צַר (tsar) — hard.
hard pebble, flint
HAamsa — HAamsa