A Look At Leviathan
Job 41:1-34
Introduction
!In this chapter the Lord invites Job to consider another creature; called Leviathan.
!Whatever this creature is—it is too strong for hooks, ropes, cords or spikes (vv.1-2); the animal is
dangerous—it will not beg for mercy or go quietly with you; it will not serve as a work animal or
domesticated animal; it will not play with you or be turned into a pet. You will not find it for sale in the
market places; it cannot be captured and the mere sight of the creature is overpowering.
!If all of this is true of God’s creature; and the Lord is the Creator; who can stand against God (v.10)?
!In the chapter Leviathan is described; a strong creature with powerful limbs; a tough impenetrable hide;
enormously strong jaws and fearsome teeth; overlapping scales on its back; with dragon like features; it
snorts flashes of light and has reddish eyes; it shoots fire and sparks from its mouth; and pours forth
smoke from its nostrils. Its breath sets coal on fire! The beast seems immune from weapons; sword,
spear, dart or javelin; arrows stones or slingshot; or those made from metal (bronze). The backside of the
creature appears armor plated and the underside has jagged scales as sharp as glass. Its speed is
frightening; it churns the water until it looks like the water is boiling; and leaves behind a shining wake!
!Some scholars suggest that the book of Job is using “fanciful descriptions as special effects—exaggerated
details added by the writer of Job to better convey the terror it struck in man. No doubt, the author was
comparing the crocodile to a mythical creature such as a dragon, probably already popular in ancient
folklore” (See The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible; p277; JOB).
!The book of Job is dramatic poetry; but does that mean the words that God speaks or the descriptions
rendered are fanciful (exaggerated or not true)?
!Is the description a real creature now extinct?
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Can You Stand Against Leviathan? (vv.1-9)
!
Job 41:1–34 (NKJV) 1“Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line
which you lower?
!
The Hebrew word is leviathan or liwyatan—a twisting—writhing—serpent—like or animal. The
word appears in Job 3:8; and the book of Psalms (74:14; 104:26) and Isaiah (27:1). In all the
places where the word appears it describes a creature that overwhelms humans but is no match
for God (see MacArthur Commentary; p.593).
!
!
Psalm 74:14; “Yet God my King is from old,
working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Thou didst divide the sea by thy might;
thou didst break the heads of the dragons on the waters.
Thou didst crush the heads of Leviathan,
thou didst give him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.”
Isaiah 51:9-10; “Awake, awake, put on strength,
O arm of the Lord;
awake, as in the days of old,
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A Look At Leviathan
Job 41:1-34
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the generations of long ago.
Was it not thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces,
that didst pierce the dragon?
Was it not thou that didst dry up the sea,
the waters of the great deep;
that didst make the depths of the sea a way
for the redeemed to pass over?”
In the previous chapter Behemoth was a land creature but Leviathan is a water creature (can you
catch this one with a fish hook?).
!
In ancient Canaanite literature the word was used to describe a seven headed sea dragon and
caused some to dismiss this passage all together. There are words that we use in English like
Thursday (Thor’s day) that may have pagan origins but we still use those words in a meaningful
way. Usage determines meaning (see MacDonald p.538). The most popular conclusion is the
creature is a giant crocodile—because of its teeth (v.14); scales (v.15); and speed in the water (v.
32).
!
2Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
!
The imagery is later used in the book of Ezekiel (29:3-4) which describes the Lord capturing
Pharaoh like a crocodile and putting hooks in his jaw (see New Illustrated Bible Commentary; p.
642).
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3Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?
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4Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?
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What does this mean? Perhaps—will he ever have to come to terms with you? Can Job make
Leviathan an eternal servant; or when one king captured another king—you could make
covenants to maintain peace.
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5Will you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?
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6Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?
!
Will you find him on the menu of your favorite Cajun restaurant (the other green meat cher).
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7Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?
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8Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle— Never do it again!
!
Or “Touch him once and you will never try it again; you will never forget the fight”(TEV).
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A Look At Leviathan
Job 41:1-34
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9Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
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The features of this creature are overwhelming; just looking at the thing is over-powering.
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Can You Stand Against God? (vv.10-11)
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10No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?
!
The creature is immune to man’s strength; man’s weapons and man’s will.
!
How much more is God immune from man’s strength, man’s weapons, or man’s will?
!
If Job cannot stand against God’s creation or creatures—how could he possibly stand against
God?
!
This is the question—and the point of the passage! Kline writes; “Here indeed is the point of the
passage: Job is to discover from his inability to vanquish even a fellow creature the folly of
aspiring to the Creator’s throne” (cited in MacDonald; p.538).
!
This is the folly of Satan! How can we occupy God’s throne? How can we presume on His
judgment and wisdom and decisions?
!
What is our great sin? Pride. What is the consistent history of humanity? Rebellion against
God. What is it that we stubbornly refuse to embrace? Faith in God. Trust in Jesus. Believing
the gospel.
!
Imagine swimming in a deep ocean with giant killer sharks or standing toe to toe with an ancient
dinosaur. Your chances are much better with them—than to try to fight with God.
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11Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.
!
The idea is that God need not purchase anything—he owns everything; Paul quotes this verse in
Romans 11:35. If human beings are unable to stand against this creature; capture, tame, control
this creature; how in the world can human beings control God? Order God?
!
“Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine, including Job and his circumstances. Job had
declared more than once that he would be ready to present his defense if God would give him the
opportunity. But now that Job had that opportunity, he had nothing to say!” (see Moody Bible
Commentary; p. 739).
!
Everything under heaven belongs to the Lord Jesus. All authority in heaven and on earth has
been entrusted to Jesus. Everything under heaven belongs to Jesus. Jesus lays claim to you.
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A Look At Leviathan
Job 41:1-34
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Who can resist God’s desires? Who can rebuke God’s demands?
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Consider The Creatures Traits (vv.12-34)
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12“I will not conceal his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
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The limbs of crocodiles are suited for water—but hardly seem ‘mighty’ or ‘graceful.’
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13Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?
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14Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?
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15His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;
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16One is so near another That no air can come between them;
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The over-lapping scales are air-tight and water-tight.
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17They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.
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18His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
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19Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.
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20Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.
!
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Eric Lyons (at ApologeticsPress: Article Fire Breathing Reptile)
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No doubt you have heard reports from world history of fire-breathing “dragons.”
Although many of these stories may have been exaggerated (similar to how a person today
exaggerates the size of a fish he has caught or a bear he has killed), the idea of a fire-breathing
animal should not be too hard to accept. Surely atheists, who mistakenly believe everything
evolved from nothing and life popped out of non-life, would not think it would be impossible for a
mere fire-breathing animal to evolve. What’s more, creationists have no reason to think that an
all-powerful, all-knowing Creator could not make such a creature. After all, God did create
insects that light up, eels that can shock others but not themselves, and bombardier beetles that
can expel powerful chemicals from their bodies at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (the boiling point of
water).
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A Look At Leviathan
Job 41:1-34
22Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.
23The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
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24His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone.
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25When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside
themselves.
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26Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
27He regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood.
28The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.
29Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.
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30His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire.
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When this creature drags itself out of the water and onto the mud—its underbelly is like glass
leaving deep marks.
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31He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
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Whatever this creature is—it is comfortable in the seas or oceans (unlike the crocodile).
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MacArthur suggests that crocodiles are not sea creatures (which is mostly true) but there are
species of salt-water crocodiles.
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32He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.
33On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.
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34He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.”
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Or “he looks down on everything haughty”.
!
Leviathan is seen as the king over all who have pride. Is this creature a dinosaur or a crocodile
or a symbol of Satan?
!
Pride causes us to question God. Pride insists the revelation of God might not be true.
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In Romans (12:16) Paul warns; “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low
position.”
And I Corinthians 10:12; “Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
!
August Black wrote; “Pride is tasteless, colorless, and size less. Yet it is the hardest thing to
swallow.”
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A Look At Leviathan
Job 41:1-34
Dr. Doug Groothuis; “Pride says, “I am the Lord my God, and I shall have no other gods besides
me,” and, “I shall love the Lord my Self with all my heart, soul, strength and mind.”
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Spurgeon famously preached; “Pride is a stab at Deity; it is an attack upon the undivided glory of
God.”
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and “Oh! man, hate pride, flee from it, abhor it, do not let it dwell with you!”
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Pride of course deprives of God’s help and robs us of his mercies—pride insists that we don’t
need God’s help and then makes us arrogant toward others.
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Conclusion
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The Lord paints a picture of a creature he alone is able to control.
!
Is this an ancient description of an aquatic dinosaur? Whatever conclusions you draw—the point
of the passage is that this creature reveals the power and the glory and the majesty of its Creator!
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This is why I believe the passage is not simply a poetic exaggeration or an oriental hyperbole.
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Why does God permit evil? Why does God allow suffering?
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Does God permit evil—in part to reveal His grace?
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Some suggest that God is powerless—helpless—against the forces of darkness or evil.
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This is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that God will sometimes allow what is
perceived as pain or suffering or evil—in order to hinder an even greater evil.
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Only a person with a perfect sense of justice and the power to bring all things to a just conclusion
can sort through the mine field of explosive questions.
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What is the greatest good? Imposition of goodness on those who hate goodness?
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Will punishing this evil result in an even greater evil down the road?
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Is there some part of the universe where rogue operatives make choices and refuse to consult
God or his character about those choices?
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“Unencumbered trust is God’s goal for His servant Job” (McKenna p.308).
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Ron Rhodes:
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A Look At Leviathan
Job 41:1-34
1. If God is all-good, He will defeat evil.
2. If God is all-powerful, He can defeat evil.
3. Evil is not YET defeated.
4. Therefore, God can and WILL ONE DAY defeat evil. [13]
So, God isn't finished yet. In the end, evil will be destroyed. One day in the future, Christ will
return, strip power away from the wicked, and hold all men and women accountable for the
things they did during their time on earth (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15). Justice will ultimately
prevail. Those who enter eternity without having trusted in Christ for salvation will understand
JUST HOW EFFECTIVELY God has dealt with the problem of evil.
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