Job 41 27

Job 41:27 kjv

He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.

Job 41:27 nkjv

He regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood.

Job 41:27 niv

Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood.

Job 41:27 esv

He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.

Job 41:27 nlt

Iron is nothing but straw to that creature,
and bronze is like rotten wood.

Job 41 verses

Job 41 27 Meaning

Job 41:27 declares the absolute invulnerability of Leviathan, describing how this mighty creature treats humanity's most robust and advanced materials—iron and bronze—as nothing more than brittle straw or decayed wood. This imagery vividly illustrates Leviathan's impenetrable nature and serves to humble Job by showcasing the unimaginable power of God, whose creation is utterly beyond human control or capacity to harm.

Job 41 27 Context

Job chapter 41 presents God's extended, detailed description of Leviathan, a creature of unmatched power and terror, impervious to any human effort. This follows God's prior challenge to Job in chapter 40 concerning the great Behemoth. The comprehensive account of Leviathan's invulnerability, including its disregard for human weaponry in Job 41:27, serves a profound theological purpose. It is designed to shatter Job's misconceptions about his own wisdom and ability to contend with the divine order. If humanity cannot even tame or withstand one of God's most formidable creations, how much less can Job (or any human) comprehend, question, or challenge God Himself? The entire chapter underscores God's absolute, unchallenged sovereignty over all creation, even its wildest and most fearsome elements, and thus powerfully humbles human pride in its own strength and ingenuity.

Job 41 27 Word analysis

• Iron (בַּרְזֶל barzel): This term denotes a metal universally recognized in the ancient world as exceptionally strong and durable, employed for formidable weaponry and robust fortifications. In biblical literature, iron frequently symbolizes power, rigidity, and the ultimate extent of human material might. Its presence here signifies humanity's most powerful military and technological achievements.
• he regards (Implied): While the original Hebrew (בַּרְזֶל כְּקַשׁ) literally translates as "iron like straw" without an explicit verb, the context strongly implies Leviathan's perception or estimation. This conveys that Leviathan (or by extension, God, through Leviathan's inherent nature) holds such materials in complete disdain, valuing them as utterly inconsequential against its own strength. It emphasizes an active, contemptuous dismissal.
• as straw (כְּקַשׁ kəqaš): Straw (or chaff) is the lightweight, worthless byproduct of threshing grain, easily scattered and devoid of substance. In Scripture, "straw" or "chaff" is a common metaphor for weakness, insignificance, transience, and worthlessness, particularly in contrast to divine power or the enduring (Psa 1:4). Its pairing with "iron" creates a vivid and stark hyperbole, dramatically conveying Leviathan's absolute impenetrability.
• and bronze (וּנְחֻשָׁה ūnnəḥušah): Bronze was another highly prized and strong metal in the ancient world, frequently used for significant weaponry, protective armor, and monumental structures (e.g., city gates). It represented considerable strength and resilience, though often considered second to iron in certain applications. Its inclusion serves to reiterate and broaden the scope of human mighty materials being rendered useless.
• as rotten wood (כְּעֵץ רָקָב kəʿēṣ rāqāv): Wood that is "rotten" (רָקָב rāqāv) signifies decay, internal collapse, and extreme weakness, having lost all its inherent structural integrity. Unlike straw, which is naturally weak, rotten wood suggests a state of decomposition, indicating utter uselessness and the inability to withstand any force. This metaphor reinforces the complete degradation of humanity's most potent materials in the face of Leviathan's power.

Words-group analysis

• "Iron he regards as straw": This phrase masterfully juxtaposes humanity's apex of material strength (iron) with an image of absolute frailty and worthlessness (straw). It conveys Leviathan's total and contemptuous disregard for the most formidable human creations, underlining its inherent invulnerability and rendering all human attempts to confront it meaningless.
• "and bronze as rotten wood": This parallel structure reinforces the initial statement, employing another strong metal (bronze) and contrasting it with an equally potent image of decay and complete uselessness (rotten wood). The dual metaphor strengthens the message of insurmountable power, indicating that nothing human-made, no matter how strong or skillfully crafted, holds any significance against this creature. The combination of these images compounds the sense of ultimate disparity between human power and God's creative might.

Job 41 27 Bonus section

• Polemics against human pride: The verse is a strong polemic against the human tendency to boast in its technological advancements or military might. In ancient cultures, the mastery of metals like iron and bronze signified peak civilization and power. God's description directly challenges these earthly foundations of security, demonstrating His unrivaled dominion over all creations.
• Theological Symbolism of Chaos: Many scholars view Leviathan not solely as a physical creature, but as a representation of untameable chaos or rebellion against divine order, especially prevalent in ancient Near Eastern myths. God's undisputed control and indeed creation of such a force (and Leviathan's subsequent invincibility to humans) asserts Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty over all realms, whether orderly or chaotic, and stands against any competing mythological claims.
• Echoes in the New Covenant: This vivid depiction of human tools being useless against a divinely empowered creature finds resonance in the New Testament's teachings on spiritual warfare. Believers are taught that the "weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh" (2 Cor 10:4), emphasizing that human strength or worldly resources are ineffective against spiritual forces, requiring divine power through the "armor of God" (Eph 6:10-18).
• God's Majesty in the Wild: The chapter's detailed portrayal of Leviathan's terrifying strength highlights that God's power is manifest not only in what He orders and controls but also in His creation of creatures that lie beyond human management. This serves to expand Job's (and our) awe of a Creator whose dominion extends even to the fearsome and the untameable, asserting His unmatched greatness over all.

Job 41 27 Commentary

Job 41:27 is a powerful declaration of God's unmatched supremacy, illustrated through the creature Leviathan. It fundamentally dismisses human reliance on physical strength, weaponry, and technological advancement as utterly inconsequential when faced with a being crafted by God's hand. The verse emphasizes that even the finest man-made instruments of warfare and protection—iron and bronze—are no match for Leviathan, metaphorically disintegrating into worthless straw or decayed wood upon contact. This passage serves as a culminating point in God's discourse to Job, shattering any residual human pride and demanding a radical recalibration of Job's (and our) understanding of divine omnipotence versus human impotence. It implies that if a mere creature of God's design is so invincible, then God Himself is immeasurably greater, compelling complete humility and trust in Him alone.