Job 41 23

Job 41:23 kjv

The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.

Job 41:23 nkjv

The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.

Job 41:23 niv

The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.

Job 41:23 esv

The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable.

Job 41:23 nlt

Its flesh is hard and firm
and cannot be penetrated.

Job 41 verses

Job 41 23 Meaning

Job 41:23 describes the extraordinary physical structure of Leviathan. It emphasizes that the creature's layers of muscle and flesh are so densely intertwined and compacted that they form a single, inseparable unit. This structural integrity makes Leviathan utterly immovable by external forces, portraying its body as an impenetrable, self-contained fortress.

Job 41 23 Context

Job 41 is the culmination of God's majestic speeches to Job (chapters 38-41). Following a detailed description of Behemoth in Job 40, God presents Leviathan as another unparalleled creation, specifically highlighting its invincibility. This discourse serves to demonstrate God's boundless wisdom, power, and sovereign control over all creation. God is showing Job that His ways are inscrutable to human understanding and that human weakness is starkly contrasted with divine might. The historical and literary context of Leviathan, potentially an archetypal chaos monster known in ancient Near Eastern mythology (e.g., Lotan in Ugaritic texts), elevates the description beyond a mere physical animal. By detailing its unassailable attributes, God underscores that if Job cannot even subdue this one creature, how can he possibly comprehend or question the Creator of all things, who effortlessly commands such formidable beings? The entire chapter is designed to humble Job and reinforce divine supremacy.

Job 41 23 Word analysis

• The folds of its flesh (בְּלִטְאֵי בְשָׂרוֹ, bəliṭ'ê vəśārōw):
  • bəliṭ'ê: This word, often translated "folds" or "masses," refers to the quivering, pendulous, or undulating layers of flesh. It evokes an image not just of external surface but of dense, underlying bulk. It implies substantial depth and quantity, highlighting the immense physical presence and muscle of Leviathan.
  • vəśārōw: "its flesh." This simply yet powerfully anchors the description to Leviathan's physical body, emphasizing its material reality.
• are joined together (מְדֻבָּקִים, məḏubāqîm):
  • From the Hebrew root dabaq (דבק), meaning to cling, cleave, or be firmly attached. This term implies an intrinsic, inseparable cohesion. Unlike something merely sewn or pieced together, Leviathan's flesh is described as naturally and seamlessly united, without visible joints or weak points, making its entire bodily structure a unified, impenetrable whole.
• they are firm upon it (יָצוּקוּ עָלָיו, yāṣūqū 'ālāyw):
  • yāṣūqū: From the verb yatsaq (יצק), meaning "to pour out," "to cast," or "to be firmly established." This term is highly significant as it often describes the pouring of molten metal (like bronze or iron) to form a solid, durable object. It conveys a sense of solidity, denseness, and immovability akin to a metal casting. It means the flesh is not merely strong, but immovably fixed.
  • 'ālāyw: "upon it." This directs the previous word to Leviathan's structure, emphasizing that this solidity is integrated within its very being.
• and cannot be moved (בַּל־יִמּוֹט, bal-yimmôṭ):
  • bal-: A strong negative particle, meaning "not at all," or "by no means." It intensifies the subsequent negation.
  • yimmôṭ: From the root môt (מוט), meaning "to waver," "totter," "shake," or "be dislodged." This word indicates instability or being made to fall.
  • The combined phrase strongly asserts Leviathan's absolute stability and invulnerability to external forces. No action, no matter how forceful, can make it budge or break its structural integrity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The folds of its flesh are joined together": This phrase establishes the intrinsic, internal structural perfection and cohesion of Leviathan's physical form. It suggests an almost organic welding of its constituent parts, forming a body devoid of weakness or separable layers. The focus is on the fundamental make-up that creates strength from within.
• "they are firm upon it and cannot be moved": This segment directly declares the consequence of the body's internal cohesion: utter invulnerability to external force. The "firmness" is not just strength but immovability, as if cast from one piece. It highlights Leviathan's status as an unchallengeable, unshakeable entity that resists any attempt at dislodgment or penetration, underscoring its insurmountable nature as ordained by God.

Job 41 23 Bonus section

The specific choice of the Hebrew verb yatsaq (יצק), "to be poured out," "to be cast," for Leviathan's flesh evokes imagery commonly associated with metallurgy. When ancient texts describe something "cast" or "poured," it often refers to molten metals like bronze or iron being poured into a mold, creating a solid, dense, and remarkably strong form (e.g., pillars in the temple, 1 Kings 7:15-16; Jeremiah 52:21). Applying this imagery to living tissue conveys a profound sense of the creature's unnatural, almost engineered, density and imperviousness, far exceeding typical biological resilience. This word choice elevates Leviathan from merely a very strong animal to a creation with almost geological or metallurgical integrity. This enhances the implicit polemic: God's creation surpasses any human-made fortresses or weapons in their solidity.

Job 41 23 Commentary

Job 41:23 continues God's awe-inspiring depiction of Leviathan, specifically zeroing in on its internal structural invincibility. Beyond its terrifying exterior features like scales and breath, God reveals that even the creature's muscle and flesh are configured in a way that makes it an unassailable entity. The imagery of its "folds of flesh" being "joined together" suggests a body of perfect, seamless cohesion, akin to layers that have been fused into one solid mass rather than mere distinct parts. This unity is further reinforced by the powerful Hebrew term yatsaq, implying that its flesh is "poured" or "cast" together like molten metal. This detail paints a picture of an organism whose very composition is designed for absolute solidity and impermeability, making it resilient to any kind of physical assault.

The ultimate declaration, "cannot be moved," is the summary of this anatomical marvel. It speaks to Leviathan's utter immovability, meaning no force can cause it to waver, break, or even slightly yield from its position. In God's challenge to Job, this serves as a critical point: if Leviathan's mere flesh is so formidable that it defies human effort to manipulate or disrupt it, how can Job, a mortal man, presume to contend with or even question the One who conceived and fashioned such a being? This verse, therefore, powerfully demonstrates God's unique and unchallenged dominion, wisdom, and omnipotence as the supreme Creator of even the most unconquerable beings, dwarfing any human capacity or understanding.