Job 40:24 NIV

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 40:24

He taketh it with his eyes ,.... Or "can men take him before his eyes?" so Mr. Broughton; and others translate it to the same purpose; no, he is not to be taken openly, but privately, by some insidious crafty methods; whether it be understood of the elephant or river horse; elephants, according to Strabo F17 Geograph. l. 15. p. 484. and Pliny F18 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 8. See Ovington's Voyage to Surat, p. 192, 193. were taken in pits dug for them, into which they were decoyed; in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:24

He taketh it with his eyes - He looks at the sweeping tide, and defies it. His nose pierceth through snares - If fences of strong stakes be made in order to restrain him, or prevent him from passing certain boundaries, he tears them in pieces with his teeth; or, by pressing his nose against them, breaks them off. If other parts of the description would answer, this might well apply to the elephant, the nose here meaning the proboscis, with which he can split trees, or even tear them up... 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 40:24

He taketh it with his eyes ; rather, Shall one take him when he is looking on? "Can he be captured." i.e. ' "when his eyes are open, and when he sees what is intended? No. If captured at all, it must be by subtlety, when he is not on the watch." His nose pierceth through snares; rather, Or can one bore his nostril with cords? i.e. can we lead him away captive, with a ring or hook passed through his nose, and a cord attached (compare the next chapter, Job 40:2 )? read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 40:24

He taketh it with his eyes - Margin, “Or, will any take him in his sight, or, bore his nose with a gin!” From this marginal reading it is evident that our translators were much perplexed with this passage. Expositors have been also much embarrassed in regard to its meaning, and have differed much in their exposition. Rosenmuller supposes that this is to be regarded as a question, and is to be rendered, “Will the hunter take him while he sees him?” - meaning that he could not be taken without... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 40:24

Job 40:24. He taketh it with his eyes He imagines, when he sees it, that he can take the whole river and drink it up. His nose pierceth through snares The elephant will not be kept from the water by any snares or impediments, but removes them all by his trunk; and both he and the river- horse securely thrust their snouts deep into the river, through their eagerness to satisfy their thirst. But different constructions are put upon this verse also by learned men. Bochart and several others... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 40:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 40:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:6-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:15-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:15-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:15-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 40:24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 40:24

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 40:24

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