Job 41 26

Job 41:26 kjv

The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

Job 41:26 nkjv

Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.

Job 41:26 niv

The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin.

Job 41:26 esv

Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

Job 41:26 nlt

No sword can stop it,
no spear, dart, or javelin.

Job 41 verses

Job 41 26 Meaning

Job 41:26 underscores Leviathan's unparalleled imperviousness to human weaponry. Despite human attempts to attack it with common military instruments—the sword, spear, dart, and javelin—none prove effective. This highlights Leviathan's immense strength and serves as a powerful illustration of God's dominion over even the most formidable and chaotic aspects of creation, which are utterly beyond human control or comprehension. The verse signifies the futility of human might when confronted with divine design.

Job 41 26 Context

Job chapter 41 is the culmination of God's speeches to Job from the whirlwind, which began in Job 38. After describing His control over the natural world, celestial bodies, and various untamable animals, God introduces Leviathan (following Behemoth in Job 40). These magnificent and terrifying creatures serve as the ultimate examples of God's incomprehensible power and sovereignty over creation. If Job cannot contend with, capture, or control Behemoth or Leviathan, how can he presume to question the justice or wisdom of the God who created and fully controls them? Verse 26, specifically, vividly paints Leviathan as impervious to all conventional human weapons, further cementing the creature's unchallengeable status by humanity and, by extension, emphasizing the insurmountable chasm between human weakness and divine omnipotence. Historically and culturally, Leviathan may draw on ancient Near Eastern mythological entities, presenting Yahweh as uniquely sovereign over chaotic forces that other deities might struggle to control. This serves as a polemic against any notion that human might or other gods could challenge the one true God's authority.

Job 41 26 Word analysis

• Though: Introduces a concessive clause, indicating that despite the stated action (reaching with weapons), the result is contrary (no avail). It sets up the contrast between human effort and Leviathan's imperviousness.
• the sword (חֶרֶב - cherev): A fundamental and universally recognized offensive weapon of warfare. Its mention signifies a direct, close-quarters attack by human might. Its failure underscores Leviathan's formidable nature, impenetrable to common military implements.
• reach him: Implies physical contact, meaning the weapons are not just missing but striking Leviathan, yet proving ineffective. This emphasizes the creature's incredible resilience.
• it cannot avail (לֹא תָקוּם - lo takum): Literally "it will not stand" or "it will not rise [against him]." This phrase conveys utter ineffectiveness, powerlessness, and failure. The weapon's purpose (to inflict damage or subdue) is entirely thwarted. This verb, qum, often used for 'standing firm' or 'rising victoriously', here explicitly denies any such outcome for the weapons.
• nor: Continues the negation, extending the ineffectiveness to other forms of weaponry.
• the spear (חֲנִית - chaniyth): A long, thrusting or throwing weapon. Represents mid-range offensive capabilities. Its failure shows that both direct and somewhat extended attacks are useless.
• the dart (מָסָע - masâ‘ or kiydon sometimes interpreted): This Hebrew word masâ‘ (מָסָע) can refer to a journey, removal, or a missile/weapon thrown from a distance. Often rendered as "dart" or "throwing spear/javelin," signifying projectiles launched from afar. Its inclusion demonstrates that even attempts to wound from a safer distance are futile. The variant spelling kiydon (כִּידֹון) is also a spear/javelin and clarifies its usage as a specific throwing weapon. The core meaning emphasizes ranged attack futility.
• or the javelin (וְשִׁרְיָה - vĕshiryāh): The Hebrew shiryāh (שִׁרְיָה) here is complex. While shiryāh primarily means "coat of mail" or "body armor," its context within a list of offensive weapons suggests a specific type of armored missile, a "javelin" or "lance" possibly equipped with hardened tips. Some scholars interpret it as a heavy, reinforced projectile designed for piercing. Its failure implies that even specially designed, piercing weapons cannot penetrate Leviathan.

Job 41 26 Bonus section

The detailed description of Leviathan's physical characteristics and invulnerability throughout Job 41, culminating in verse 26, is a theological strategy by God to prepare Job's heart for deep repentance. It’s not just about showcasing a powerful creature, but using it as a direct object lesson about the limitations of human perception and capability in the face of divine grandeur. If humanity is so utterly helpless against a part of God's creation, how much more so against God Himself? The mythological undertones of Leviathan (possibly linking to chaotic primordial beings in ancient Near Eastern cosmology) further serve to distinguish Yahweh as the sole and supreme Lord who holds absolute sway over all forms of power, whether real or mythical, physical or symbolic of cosmic chaos.

Job 41 26 Commentary

Job 41:26 presents a vivid tableau of human helplessness against a creature of God's making. The verse is a deliberate escalation of God's argument to Job, demonstrating His incomprehensible power by showcasing a creature that perfectly encapsulates the limits of human might and understanding. The specific list of conventional weaponry—sword, spear, dart, javelin—covers the typical range of offensive combat, highlighting that no human strategy, whether close combat or ranged assault, can make any headway against Leviathan. This imagery not only showcases Leviathan's invincibility but, more importantly, elevates the Creator of Leviathan to an unassailable position of ultimate authority and power. The lo takum ("it cannot avail" / "it will not stand") serves as a categorical declaration of the futility of any human challenge to such divine creations. For Job, this realization would humble him, revealing the inadequacy of his own strength and wisdom to comprehend, let alone judge, God's ways in governing a cosmos filled with such mighty wonders. It ultimately guides him to a place of submission and worship.