Job 41 14

Job 41:14 kjv

Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

Job 41:14 nkjv

Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?

Job 41:14 niv

Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth?

Job 41:14 esv

Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.

Job 41:14 nlt

Who could pry open its jaws?
For its teeth are terrible!

Job 41 verses

Job 41 14 Meaning

This verse continues God's powerful depiction of Leviathan, emphasizing its invincibility and formidable nature. "Who can open the doors of his face?" describes the creature's impenetrable and terrifying mouth, sealed tightly, likely referring to its jaws, which no human can force open. "Round about his teeth is terror" highlights the dread and horror emanating from its menacing dentition, indicating the creature's immense and fearful power. This imagery serves to illustrate God's own supreme power, contrasting humanity's weakness even against a single creation.

Job 41 14 Context

Job 41 is entirely devoted to God's elaborate and awe-inspiring description of Leviathan, following a similar depiction of Behemoth in chapter 40. This entire section (Job 38-41) constitutes God's direct response to Job's challenges regarding divine justice and wisdom. By presenting these two colossal creatures, Leviathan and Behemoth, God demonstrates His immeasurable power and sovereignty over even the most terrifying aspects of creation, far surpassing anything humanity can contend with. Verse 14 specifically portrays Leviathan's mouth as impenetrable and terrifying, emphasizing that if Job cannot even stand before such a creature, how could he possibly stand before, or comprehend, the Creator Himself? Historically and culturally, Leviathan resonates with ancient Near Eastern (ANE) myths of primordial chaos monsters, such as Yam in Ugaritic tradition or Tiamat in Babylonian texts. By detailing His absolute control over Leviathan, the Bible powerfully de-mythologizes these forces, asserting that even the most chaotic and fearsome entities are but creatures under the complete dominion of the One, True God. This challenges any notion that divine power is in endless conflict with chaos; rather, God is effortlessly sovereign over it.

Job 41 14 Word analysis

• Who (מִי, mi): A direct, rhetorical question expressing utter impossibility. It challenges any human or creature to attempt what is implied, immediately highlighting Leviathan's, and thus God's, unchallengeable power.
• can open (פָּתַח, patach): This verb means "to open" or "to unseal." Here, it signifies exerting force to part or break apart. Its use emphasizes the closed, sealed, and formidable nature of Leviathan's mouth, implying no external power can breach it.
• the doors of his face (פְּנֵי לְבוּשׁוֹ, peneh levushō): This is a key phrase.
  • פְּנֵי (peneh): Literally "face" or "presence." In contexts like this, it can denote the outward appearance or fore-part of something.
  • לְבוּשׁוֹ (levushō): This Hebrew word primarily means "clothing," "garment," or "covering." While the KJV interprets it as "doors of his face" (likely viewing the formidable jaw as a sealed entry), many modern translations lean towards "jaws," "countenance," or "outer covering of his mouth." The imagery suggests the impenetrable nature of Leviathan's mouth structure, as if it were protected by a dense, unyielding covering or armour that serves as an impassable "door." It points to the creature's formidable defenses.
• Round about (מִסָּבִיב, miśāviv): This indicates "all around," "on every side." It stresses the pervasive nature of the terror associated with the creature's teeth, not just from the front, but from any angle of approach.
• his teeth (שִׁנָּיו, shinnayv): A concrete and horrifying image. Leviathan's teeth are not just sharp but are central to the terror it inspires. This imagery resonates across Scripture as a symbol of predatory power and destruction.
• is terror (אֵימָה יְפֹפְנִיָּה, eymah yipho’niyah):
  • אֵימָה (eymah): Means "terror," "dread," "horror," "fright." It signifies an overwhelming, deeply disturbing fear.
  • יְפֹפְנִיָּה (yipho’niyah): This word is rarer and its precise nuance debated. It is often understood to intensify "terror," meaning "terrifying," "horrifying," or "dreadful." Some scholars link it to a root suggesting a blaze or dazzle, perhaps describing the fearsome gleam of its teeth adding to the terror. It could also imply an unusual sharpness or deadliness. Regardless, the compound expresses profound, overwhelming, and active terror.
• "Who can open the doors of his face?": This rhetorical question highlights the creature's unyielding strength and impregnability. It communicates that Leviathan's mouth is an unassailable fortress, symbolizing its overall invincibility to human effort. This directly contrasts with Job's implied claim of self-righteousness and capacity to understand or contend with divine decrees.
• "Round about his teeth is terror.": This phrase emphasizes the sheer dread and fear that emanates from Leviathan's most powerful offensive weapons. It conveys that even the sight or presence of its dental array inspires widespread, inescapable terror, reinforcing its reputation as an unapproachable and unconquerable creature.

Job 41 14 Bonus section

The imagery of Leviathan in Job 41, culminating in its portrayal as a "king over all the proud beasts" (Job 41:34), resonates with ancient Near Eastern motifs of a divine-like kingship over chaos, but significantly reinterpreted by biblical theology. Here, Leviathan is not an independent chaotic deity to be battled by other gods, but a creature of the one true God, a testament to His singular power and absolute rule. This systematically undercuts the pagan belief in dualistic cosmic forces, asserting monotheistic supremacy. The verse subtly underscores that even forces perceived as overwhelmingly terrifying by humans are merely under God's effortless dominion, thus providing a foundational biblical perspective on trust in God's power even amidst perceived chaos.

Job 41 14 Commentary

Job 41:14 stands as a profound declaration of Leviathan's utter dominance and terrifying power, serving as a concrete example of God's limitless sovereignty. The opening rhetorical question "Who can open the doors of his face?" highlights humanity's complete inability to control, subdue, or even approach this formidable creature. The translation of "doors of his face" from the Hebrew levush (garment/covering) implies a powerful, tightly sealed defense around its mouth or head, making it impenetrable. This metaphor portrays Leviathan not just as a beast, but as an almost impenetrable fortress. The subsequent phrase, "Round about his teeth is terror," paints a vivid picture of the dread and horror emanating from its formidable jaws, its very teeth a source of active, pervasive fear. This detailed description is not merely zoological; it is theological. God uses Leviathan as a dramatic foil to humble Job, demonstrating that if humanity is helpless before one of God's creations, how much more powerless are they before the Creator Himself? It calls Job, and indeed all humanity, to acknowledge God's absolute power and unchallengeable authority over all things, including the most terrifying elements of the created order, fostering humility and trust in divine wisdom beyond human comprehension.