Job 40:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 40:15-24

God, for the further proving of his own power and disproving of Job's pretensions, concludes his discourse with the description of two vast and mighty animals, far exceeding man in bulk and strength, one he calls behemoth, the other leviathan. In these verses we have the former described. ?Behold now behemoth, and consider whether thou art able to contend with him who made that beast and gave him all the power he has, and whether it is not thy wisdom rather to submit to him and make thy peace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 40:18

His bones are as strong pieces of brass: his bones are as bars of iron. Than which nothing is stronger. The repetition is made for greater illustration and confirmation; but what is said is not applicable to the elephant, whose bones are porous and rimous, light and spongy for the most part, as appears from the osteology F11 In Philosoph. Transact. vol. 5. p. 155, 156. of it; excepting its teeth, which are the ivory; though the teeth of the river horse are said to exceed them in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:18

His bones are as strong pieces of brass-bars of iron - The tusk I have mentioned above is uncommonly hard, solid, and weighty for its size. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:6-24

Job's confession not having been sufficiently ample, the Divine discourse is continued through the remainder of this chapter, and through the whole of the next, the object being to break down the last remnants of pride and self-trust in the soul of the patriarch, and to bring him to complete submission and dependence on the Divine will. The argument falls under three heads—Can Job cope with God in his general providence (verses 6-14)? can he even cope with two of God's creatures—with behemoth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:15-24

This passage, together with the whole of Job 41:1-34 ; has been regarded by some critics as an interpolation. Its omission would certainly not affect the argument; and it is thought, in some respects, to contain traces of a later age than that which most commentators assign to the remainder of the book, or, at any rate, to the greater portion of it. The recurrence to the animal creation, when the subject seemed to have been completed ( Job 39:30 ), is also a difficulty. But, on the other... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:15-24

Jehovah to Job: the second answer: 2. Concerning behemoth. I. THE RELATION OF BEHEMOTH TO OTHER ANIMALS . "He is the chief of the ways of God" (verse 19). This huge monster, this giant among beasts, as perhaps the above-cited phrase indicates, is commonly supposed to have been the hippopotamus, or Nile-horse. It is here described by a variety of particulars. 1 . Its terrific strength. Concerning this are noted: 2 . Its herbivorous appetite. "He eateth grass as an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:15-24

Behemoth the great. Two monster animals, the hippopotamus and the crocodile, are set before us in typical characteristics, to idealize the great works of God in the animal kingdom. I. GOD IS THE CREATOR OF THE ANIMAL WORLD . "God made the beast of the earth after his kind" ( Genesis 1:25 ). We have not left the presence of God when we have come to study natural history. Here we may see indications of Divine thought. Even the coarsest wild animals are under the care of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:18

His bones are as strong pieces of brass ; rather, as tubes of bronze. The great thigh-bones— μηρία of the Greeks—are probably intended. These are hollow, being filled with marrow, and are so strong that they may be well compared to "tubes of bronze." His bones (rather, his ribs ) are like bars of iron. Either the ribs, or the solid bones of the lower leg, forearm, etc; are intended. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 40:18

His bones are as strong pieces of brass - The circumstance here adverted to was remarkable, because the common residence of the animal was the water, and the bones of aquatic animals are generally hollow, and much less firm than those of land animals. It should be observed here, that the word rendered “brass” in the Scriptures most probably denotes “copper.” Brass is a compound metal, composed of copper and zinc; and there is no reason to suppose that the art of compounding it was known at as... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 40:18-19

Job 40:18-19. His bones Under which title are comprehended his ribs, (as the LXX. here render it,) and his teeth; are as strong pieces of brass Exceeding hard and strong. Such they are both in the elephant and river- horse. He is the chief of the ways of God That is, of God’s works, namely, of that sort, or among living and brute creatures. This is eminently and unquestionably true of the elephant, in regard of his vast bulk and strength, joined with great activity; and especially of... read more

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