The big picture
Job 41 opens in verse 1 with “Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.”, and closes in verse 34 with “He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.” Repeated or prominent terms include Canst, maketh, deep, face, firm. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 34Job 41:1-7
1–7: Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord…
Job 41:1–7 opens with “Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?” and reaches “Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 41 develops its own movement around Canst, maketh, deep, face, firm, with particular weight carried by Canst, hook, banquet.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 7 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Job 41:1-7
King James Version1Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
2Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
4Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
5Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
Job 41:8-14
8–14: Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
Job 41:8–14 opens with “Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.” and reaches “Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 41 develops its own movement around Canst, maketh, deep, face, firm, with particular weight carried by face, able, battle.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 5 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.” Naming Lay keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 41:8-14
King James Version8Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
Job 41:15-21
15–21: His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
Job 41:15–21 opens with “His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.” and reaches “His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 41 develops its own movement around Canst, maketh, deep, face, firm, with particular weight carried by goeth, mouth, breath.
Context that brings the passage to life
“His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 41:15-21
King James Version15His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
Job 41:22-28
22–28: In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before…
Job 41:22–28 opens with “In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.” and reaches “The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 41 develops its own movement around Canst, maketh, deep, face, firm, with particular weight carried by firm, turned, afraid.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include neck, remaineth, sorrow. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.
Job 41:22-28
King James Version22In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
27He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
Job 41:29-34
29–34: Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
Job 41:29–34 opens with “Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.” and reaches “He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 41 develops its own movement around Canst, maketh, deep, face, firm, with particular weight carried by maketh, deep, sharp.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.” Naming Darts keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 41:29-34
King James Version29Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 41:1 begins with “Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?”
Where the chapter turns
Job 41:14 forms a natural hinge: “Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.”
The final note
Job 41:34 leaves the reader with “He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Canst, maketh, deep, face, firm, goeth help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why is interpretation alone insufficient?
The warning calls for preparation, oversight and stored food before the shortage arrives.
What do the sons' names preserve?
Joseph's memory of suffering and his recognition of fruitfulness in the land of affliction.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.