Job 41 34

Job 41:34 kjv

He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

Job 41:34 nkjv

He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride."

Job 41:34 niv

It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud."

Job 41:34 esv

He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride."

Job 41:34 nlt

Of all the creatures, it is the proudest.
It is the king of beasts."

Job 41 verses

Job 41 34 Meaning

Job 41:34 concludes God's detailed description of Leviathan, presenting it as a creature of immense power and unchallenged dominance in its realm. "He beholds everything that is high" signifies Leviathan's imposing presence, seeing itself as superior to all other creatures, even those mighty and elevated. However, the verse pivotally shifts to affirm God's ultimate sovereignty: "He is king over all the children of pride." This declaration fundamentally states that while Leviathan embodies untamed power and acts as if superior, there is One truly superior to it and to all human arrogance – God Himself. The verse serves to humble humanity, revealing God's absolute control over chaos, power, and ultimately, human pride and rebellion.

Job 41 34 Context

Job 41:34 is the climactic verse of God's second major speech to Job (chapters 38-41), spoken from a whirlwind. Throughout these chapters, God challenges Job's understanding and self-justification by showcasing His own infinite power and wisdom through His creation. He describes the untamable wild beasts Behemoth (Job 40) and Leviathan (Job 41). Leviathan, specifically, is depicted as an indomitable sea monster, impervious to human weapons or efforts at capture. This description aims to impress upon Job the Creator's incomprehensible power, far exceeding anything Job has ever encountered or questioned. The sheer power of Leviathan, unmanageable by man, implicitly contrasts with Job's own weakness and serves as a prelude to God's ultimate and supreme authority over such power, and by extension, over all cosmic chaos and human pride. It indirectly addresses ancient Near Eastern myths about chaos monsters, asserting that the God of Israel has effortless control, unlike other deities who might struggle.

Job 41 34 Word analysis

• He: (הוּא - hu) This pronoun opens both clauses of the verse.

  • In "He beholds everything that is high": Most scholars interpret this "He" as referring to Leviathan, concluding the grand depiction of its formidable nature and supreme status among creatures. It "looks down" as a symbol of its unparalleled strength and lack of fear.
  • In "He is king over all the children of pride": This "He" refers to God. This marks a profound and sudden shift from describing the creature's might to asserting the Creator's absolute sovereignty. It demonstrates that the preceding terror of Leviathan is ultimately under God's control.

• beholds: (יִרְאֶה - yir'eh). From the root ra'ah (to see, perceive, regard). Here, it carries the sense of looking down upon something from a position of superiority or dominance. It emphasizes Leviathan's perspective of unchallenged power and a haughty outlook towards all others.

• everything that is high: (כָּל-גָּבֹהַּ - kol gavoah).

  • Kol: "all," "every."
  • Gavoah: "high," "exalted," "lofty," "haughty," "proud." This can refer to any creature or entity that might consider itself elevated or mighty, implying that Leviathan considers itself above them. The double meaning of 'high' – elevated in stature/strength and also haughty/proud – is significant. In the context of Job 41, it applies to creatures considered formidable, like the "haughty" lions or the "fierce" beasts, all seen as beneath Leviathan.

• He is king: (הוּא מֶלֶךְ - hu melech). A direct, unequivocal declaration of kingship and sovereign rule. As noted, this 'He' decisively refers to God, transitioning the focus from Leviathan's relative might to God's absolute dominion.

• over: (עַל - al). Implies dominion, control, or being in charge of.

• all the children of pride: (כָּל-בְּנֵי שָׁחַץ - kol bene shachat).

  • Kol: "all."
  • Bene: "sons of," "children of." A common Hebrew idiom to describe those who are characterized by a particular quality or essence.
  • Shachat: "pride," "haughtiness," "arrogance," "defiance." This term specifically denotes the rebellious spirit of pride. It refers not just to powerful beings (like Leviathan itself in its defiance), but extends to all human beings who exalt themselves or resist God's authority. It is a stark confrontation of Job's and all human presumption.

• He beholds everything that is high: This phrase encapsulates Leviathan's self-perception of unassailable dominance. It surveys the powerful and elevated with a sense of superiority, symbolizing nature's wild, untamed power that human beings cannot master. This emphasizes the sheer terror and invincibility Leviathan projects in human eyes.

• He is king over all the children of pride: This powerful statement concludes God's monologue, establishing His ultimate authority. Even if Leviathan represents ultimate wild power or rebellious forces (the "children of pride"), God is explicitly stated to be their King. This powerfully shifts the focus from Leviathan's fearsome strength to God's greater, ultimate sovereignty over all power, all chaos, and particularly over human arrogance and rebellion against divine order. It implies that any pride—be it the defiance of Leviathan or the self-justification of Job and mankind—is ultimately subordinate to God's absolute rule.

Job 41 34 Bonus section

The "children of pride" (בְּנֵי-שַׁחַץ – bene shachat) is a significant descriptor that links the raw power of Leviathan to the moral attribute of pride. Some interpretations connect Leviathan with figures of cosmic rebellion or the very spirit of human defiance against God. The phrase can encompass:

1. Other fierce creatures: Those that hold themselves "high" or superior in the animal kingdom, but Leviathan looks down upon them.
2. Mighty and proud human rulers/nations: Empires and leaders who act with arrogance against divine will.
3. Humanity's general sin of pride: Including Job's own previous self-justification before God, challenging divine justice.
4. Figurative representation of cosmic evil or Satan: Some commentators link Leviathan's rebellious nature to the spiritual forces of darkness or the source of all pride (e.g., Isa 14:12-15 concerning Lucifer's pride).

The verse thus extends God's sovereignty from physical creation to the spiritual and moral realms, asserting His dominion over all forms of arrogance, whether beastly, human, or supernatural. It underlines that nothing, not even the epitome of strength and defiance, stands outside God's ultimate Kingship.

Job 41 34 Commentary

Job 41:34 serves as the profound climax of God's theophany to Job. The extensive description of Leviathan throughout chapter 41 paints a picture of insurmountable power, a creature no human can tame or conquer. "He beholds everything that is high" powerfully concludes this portrayal, indicating Leviathan's perceived dominance over all other powerful entities in creation. It stands alone, formidable and without equal from a human perspective.

However, the dramatic shift to "He is king over all the children of pride" redirects the entire narrative back to God. This is the crucial turning point. While the initial "He" is commonly understood as Leviathan, the second "He" undeniably refers to God Himself. This juxtaposition reveals the core theological message: no matter how terrifying, powerful, or defiant a created being or concept (symbolized by Leviathan) might be, and no matter how lofty human pride or self-exaltation might become, God remains the unchallenged sovereign. He is not just stronger, but is the King—the ultimate authority—over all that embodies pride and defiance against Him. This verse utterly humbles Job, demonstrating that if he cannot contend with Leviathan, a mere creature, how much less can he contend with its Creator, who rules even over the very essence of pride and chaos. The lesson is of God's incomprehensible power and His absolute dominion over all things, including human arrogance.