Job 41 20

Job 41:20 kjv

Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

Job 41:20 nkjv

Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

Job 41:20 niv

Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.

Job 41:20 esv

Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

Job 41:20 nlt

Smoke streams from its nostrils
like steam from a pot heated over burning rushes.

Job 41 verses

Job 41 20 Meaning

Job 41:20 vividly describes the smoke emanating from Leviathan's nostrils as being so voluminous and intense that it resembles the smoke from a vigorously fanned fire burning rushes. This imagery powerfully conveys Leviathan's awe-inspiring and terrifying nature, portraying it as an untamable, fire-breathing creature of immense power. The verse emphasizes its destructive force and the profound dread it instills. Through this depiction of Leviathan, the verse indirectly magnifies the incomparable might and sovereignty of God, who alone created and controls such a creature, challenging Job's limited human perspective on divine wisdom and power.

Job 41 20 Context

Job chapter 41 is the culmination of God's speeches to Job, beginning in Job 38. After Job's extensive lamentations and arguments about his suffering and God's justice, the Almighty responds from a whirlwind, challenging Job's limited understanding of the universe. Chapters 38 and 39 focus on the vastness and intricacy of creation, over which Job has no control or understanding. Chapter 40 introduces Behemoth, another awe-inspiring creature that demonstrates God's creative power beyond human comprehension or mastery. Chapter 41 then shifts to Leviathan, presenting it as an even more formidable and terrifying creature than Behemoth. God describes Leviathan's impenetrable scales, its fearsome teeth, its majestic movements, and its powerful, fiery breath, as highlighted in verse 20. The purpose of this vivid description is not merely to provide zoological facts but to underscore God's ultimate sovereignty and power by presenting a creature that epitomizes chaos and untamable strength, yet remains utterly subservient to its Creator. The context aims to humble Job and impress upon him the unfathomable depth of God's wisdom and might, far beyond human capacity to grasp or question.

Job 41 20 Word analysis

• מִנְּחִירָיו (min-nechiyrâw - From his nostrils):

  • מִן (min): "from, out of." Denotes origin or source.
  • נְחִירִים (nechiyrîm): "nostrils." This plural form emphasizes both nostrils, suggesting a bilateral emission of smoke. The nostrils are typically associated with breathing, but here, with fire and smoke, it elevates the creature to a supernatural level of power.
  • Significance: This precise anatomical detail roots the terrifying description in a physical characteristic, making Leviathan’s power feel visceral, even while hyperbole is at play. It emphasizes the source of the smoke – the very breath of the creature – tying power directly to its being.

• יֵצֵא (yeitzei - goes forth/comes out):

  • יֵצֵא (yatsa): "to go out, to come forth." A common verb indicating egress.
  • Significance: Conveys an active, dynamic process of emission, not just passive exhalation. The smoke is purposefully and forcefully ejected.

• קִיטוֹר (qiṭōr - smoke/vapor):

  • קִיטוֹר (qiṭōr): "smoke, vapor, cloud of smoke." This term is often used in the Old Testament in contexts relating to the smoke of a burnt offering, a city in ruin, or even as a manifestation of God's presence or wrath (e.g., Ex 19:18, Ps 18:8).
  • Significance: The word immediately evokes an atmosphere of intense heat, fire, and potentially suffocation or divine awe. Its use for Leviathan's breath ties the creature's power metaphorically to the terrifying manifestations of divine power, indirectly elevating God who controls it.

• כְּמוֹ (k'mō - as/like):

  • כְּמוֹ (k'mō): "like, as if, similar to." A comparative particle.
  • Significance: Introduces a simile, comparing Leviathan’s unique emission to something understandable but equally intense from human experience, making the description more accessible and impactful. It ensures the audience grasps the sheer scale and intensity being conveyed.

• נוּפַח (nuphaḥ - fanned/blown):

  • נוּפַח (nuphaḥ): Nifal participle from נָפַח (naphaḥ), "to blow, to fan, to breathe upon." It refers to something being fanned or blown on, indicating an intensified process.
  • Significance: This is a crucial detail often debated in translations ("boiling pot" vs. "fanned fire"). When something is fanned, its combustion or heat production intensifies dramatically. This implies a powerful internal force accelerating the smoke production, indicating not just an accidental byproduct but an active, dynamic emission. It speaks of sustained, intense combustion.

• וָאֶגְמוֹן (va-eğmôn - and rushes/papyrus):

  • וָאֶגְמוֹן (va-egmon): וָ (va): "and"; אֶגְמוֹן (egmon): "rushes," "papyrus." These are reedy, marsh plants.
  • Significance: Rushes are highly flammable and burn quickly and fiercely, producing voluminous smoke. Paired with nuphaḥ ("fanned"), it creates a precise and vivid image: smoke from a fanned fire consuming rushes. This conjures a picture of rapid, intense combustion and massive smoke production, far more active than a "boiling pot." This specificity highlights Leviathan's incredible heat generation and smoke-breathing capability.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "מִנְּחִירָיו יֵצֵא קִיטוֹר" (From his nostrils goes forth smoke): This initial phrase sets the scene with a chillingly specific physiological detail. The emission of smoke from nostrils rather than a common mouth is already indicative of something extraordinary, moving beyond known animal biology towards a monstrous or supernatural entity. The combination "nostrils" and "smoke" creates an immediate sense of power, danger, and intense heat, echoing the manifestations of divine power or wrath elsewhere in Scripture.
  • "כְּמוֹ נוּפַח וָאֶגְמוֹן" (as if fanned and rushes): This simile defines the nature of the smoke's emission. It's not passive, like steam from water, but active and intense, like a fire deliberately stoked and fueled by highly flammable material. The "fanned fire on rushes" comparison underscores the speed, volume, and terrifying efficiency of Leviathan’s "breathing." This image elevates Leviathan to a being that controls fire and combustion itself, a fearsome opponent in every respect. The imagery evokes overwhelming force, the inability to breathe around such a creature, and profound fear.

Job 41 20 Bonus section

The Leviathan, throughout biblical and extra-biblical literature, often symbolizes chaos, rebellion, or untamable primal forces that only God can subdue. The description of smoke from its nostrils in Job 41:20 positions it as a living, breathing inferno, not unlike ancient Near Eastern portrayals of chaos dragons (like Lotan/Litan from Ugaritic texts or Tiamat in Babylonian myths). However, unlike the pagan mythologies where deities struggle against these forces, Job presents Leviathan as God's creation (Ps 104:26), highlighting His effortless sovereignty over all such perceived threats or natural chaos. The description also carries polemical weight, subtly refuting any notion that human rulers or false gods could control such power; only the one true God possesses such authority. This recontextualizes Leviathan from a mere monster into a divine exhibit of absolute power.

Job 41 20 Commentary

Job 41:20 is a key component of God's extended rhetorical question to Job, challenging his perception of justice and power. The description of Leviathan's smoke-belching nostrils serves as a graphic demonstration of divine might that creates and controls such terrifying creatures. It isn't just a literal description; it's hyperbolic language designed to evoke profound awe and dread, impressing upon Job the immense gap between human understanding and God's infinite wisdom. The imagery of "fanned rushes" suggests an instant, explosive, and suffocating release of smoke, far exceeding mere animal breathing. This beast, untamable by any human force or weapon (Job 41:1-11, 26-29), is but one creature among countless others fashioned by God's hand, illustrating the boundless scope of His power. Therefore, if humanity cannot even subdue Leviathan, how can it presume to comprehend or contend with its Creator? The verse serves to humble Job, preparing him for true repentance and renewed trust in God's unsearchable ways, shifting his focus from questioning divine justice to recognizing divine majesty.