Job 41 32

Job 41:32 kjv

He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

Job 41:32 nkjv

He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.

Job 41:32 niv

It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair.

Job 41:32 esv

Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.

Job 41:32 nlt

The water glistens in its wake,
making the sea look white.

Job 41 verses

Job 41 32 Meaning

Job 41:32 describes the awe-inspiring wake left by Leviathan as it moves through the deep. Its path glows or shines behind it, creating a shimmering trail on the water. The powerful turbulence and foaming of the water are so intense that the disturbed deep appears to be a mass of "gray hair," a vivid poetic image signifying its churning, frothy, and aged-looking appearance. This serves as a testament to God's unimaginable power, displayed in His mastery over such a formidable creature.

Job 41 32 Context

Job chapter 41 is part of a series of divine speeches from God to Job, delivered out of a whirlwind. Chapters 38-41 describe God's sovereignty over creation, challenging Job's finite understanding and limited power. In this specific chapter, God exclusively details Leviathan, a creature of immense strength, terrifying appearance, and utter indomitability by human standards. The portrayal emphasizes Leviathan's imperviousness to human weapons and efforts to subdue it, showcasing that no human could ever tame or capture it. Job 41:32 further illustrates Leviathan's overwhelming power, specifically its effortless mastery over the deep, leaving a brilliant, frothing path. The broader historical and cultural context includes ancient Near Eastern mythologies where sea monsters often represented chaotic forces challenging the gods. By meticulously describing Leviathan as a creation solely subject to His will, God implicitly polemicizes against these pagan myths, establishing YHWH as the sole sovereign deity who perfectly controls all aspects of creation, including those forces perceived as chaotic or divine by others. This culminates in Job's repentance, recognizing God's absolute wisdom and power.

Job 41 32 Word analysis

• He makes a path shine:
  • He makes a path: From Hebrew nativ ya'ir (נָתִיב יָאִיר). Nativ (נָתִיב) means 'path,' 'road,' 'track.' This refers to the physical trail Leviathan leaves behind in the water.
  • shine: From Hebrew ya'ir (יָאִיר), meaning 'to give light,' 'to illuminate,' 'to shine.' This suggests a phosphorescent glow or intense shimmer on the disturbed water, an image of powerful radiance even in darkness. It conveys both light and immense energy.
• after him: Denotes the trail or wake left by the creature, emphasizing the enduring visible impact of its passage.
• one would think the deep:
  • one would think: Implies a profound visual transformation, where the ordinary appearance of the water is entirely altered, making a striking comparison seem plausible. It speaks to the overwhelming sensory experience.
  • the deep: Refers to the profound, dark, and often turbulent waters, symbolic of unmasterable forces without divine intervention. In the context of Job 41, it represents a vast and uncontrollable domain, which Leviathan dominates effortlessly.
• to be gray hair: From Hebrew seyvah (שֵׂיבָה), which primarily means 'old age' or 'gray hair' (specifically the color of it). This is a highly vivid and striking simile. It describes the appearance of the churning, foamy, white water in the wake of Leviathan, resembling the hoary, white locks of an aged person. It conveys the sheer volume of foam and the appearance of an aged, ancient turbulence. It also implicitly connects the Leviathan's powerful and enduring presence to the wisdom and deep knowledge associated with old age.

Job 41 32 Bonus section

The imagery of "gray hair" from the disturbed water behind Leviathan carries multiple layers of meaning. Beyond the literal visual of frothy white waves, it hints at the antiquity and enduring, untamed nature of Leviathan, and by extension, God's ancient and perpetual power over even the most primeval and seemingly chaotic elements. The "shine" of the path further accentuates this display, suggesting that Leviathan not only moves through but utterly transforms the environment around it, leaving behind a luminous trail—a clear and visible mark of its dominion, mirroring God's own indelible imprint on creation. This poetic language magnifies the creature's majesty as a reflection of its Creator's.

Job 41 32 Commentary

Job 41:32 is a poetic culmination of God's description of Leviathan's terrifying power. The verse emphasizes not just Leviathan's raw strength in traversing the sea, but its profound effect on the environment, literally lighting up the water in its wake and transforming the turbulent depths into an image of aged, white foam. This serves to further humble Job, showcasing a creation that humans cannot conquer, revealing a mere fraction of God's boundless authority. It illustrates that God is the undisputed Sovereign over all chaos and power, dwarfing any human endeavor or understanding. The profoundness of Leviathan's wake, illuminating and churning, underscores the truth that the very elements obey God's will as reflected in His creation.