Job 41:9 kjv
Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
Job 41:9 nkjv
Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
Job 41:9 niv
Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering.
Job 41:9 esv
Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.
Job 41:9 nlt
No, it is useless to try to capture it.
The hunter who attempts it will be knocked down.
Job 41 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 74:13-14 | You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters... | God's power over chaos monsters (Leviathan). |
| Psa 104:26 | There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. | God's creation and control of Leviathan. |
| Isa 27:1 | In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan... | God's ultimate victory over forces of chaos. |
| Job 40:19 | He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! | Leviathan/Behemoth as pinnacle of God's power. |
| Psa 8:4-6 | what is man that you are mindful of him... Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings... | Contrast of human insignificance to divine majesty. |
| Psa 89:8 | O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? | God's unrivaled power. |
| Isa 40:26 | Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number... | God as supreme Creator, unmatched in power. |
| Jer 10:6-7 | There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and great is your name in might. | Uniqueness and omnipotence of God. |
| Nah 1:6 | Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? | Fear inspired by divine presence. |
| Rev 6:15-17 | Then the kings of the earth...hid themselves in the caves...saying to the mountains...hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne... | Inability of humanity to stand before God. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Christ's supremacy evoking ultimate reverence. |
| Heb 12:29 | for our God is a consuming fire. | God's awesome and terrifying nature. |
| Job 9:4 | He is wise in heart and mighty in strength—who has hardened himself against him and succeeded? | Futility of resisting God's might. |
| Job 12:7-9 | But ask the beasts, and they will teach you...that the hand of the LORD has done this. | Creation testifying to God's power. |
| Psa 146:3-4 | Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. | Human limitations and misplaced hope. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge... | Recognizing God's power as foundational wisdom. |
| Luke 21:26 | people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world... | Physical collapse due to fear of overwhelming events. |
| Exod 15:15-16 | Then were the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moab... | Enemies paralyzed by overwhelming might. |
| Dan 8:27 | And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. | Daniel's physical response to a terrifying vision. |
| Job 26:12 | By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab. | God's sovereignty over mythical chaos. |
| Psa 2:10-12 | Now therefore, O kings, be wise...Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. | Admonition to fear God and acknowledge His authority. |
| Isa 2:10 | Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD... | Warning about the overwhelming presence of God. |
| Deut 4:35 | To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him. | God's unique and exclusive deity. |
Job 41 verses
Job 41 9 Meaning
Job 41:9 emphasizes the futility of any human attempt to conquer or even confront Leviathan, portraying it as a creature of such terrifying majesty and power that merely seeing it causes a man to be overwhelmed, lose courage, or collapse. This serves to illustrate God's incomparable power, as only He can control such a being.
Job 41 9 Context
Job 41:9 is part of God's majestic and challenging discourse to Job from the whirlwind, spanning Job chapters 38-41. This section aims to humble Job and put his complaints into proper perspective by highlighting the unfathomable wisdom and power of the Creator. Having presented the array of the natural world (Job 38-39) and the terrifying Behemoth (Job 40), God now turns to Leviathan (Job 41), arguably the most fearsome and unconquerable creature. This dialogue is a direct answer to Job's earlier demand for God to explain Himself and a profound demonstration that Job, or any human, cannot contend with God or even understand His vast dominion over creation, let alone judge His righteousness. The verse directly undercuts any human hubris or delusion that one could subdue such a creature, thereby implying the utter impossibility of humans ever challenging or understanding the One who commands it.
Job 41 9 Word analysis
- Behold (הֵן - hēn): This is an emphatic particle, similar to "Indeed," "Lo," or "See!" It draws immediate attention to a weighty statement about to be made. It functions to highlight the certainty and truth of what follows, often in contrast to human assumptions.
- the hope (תּוֹחַלְתּוֹ - tōḥaltō): Derived from the verb
yaḥal(to wait, hope), this noun refers to an expectation or a sense of confidence regarding an outcome. The possessive suffix "his" or "its" refers to anyone attempting to catch or control Leviathan. The implication is that such hope, rooted in human strength or ingenuity, is vain. - of a man: Implied in the "his" or "its" related to the
tōḥaltōas contextually it speaks to human attempts. It specifies the limited capacity of humanity. - is false (נִכְזָבָה - nikhzāvâ): From the root
kazav, meaning to lie, disappoint, or fail. The Niphal stem indicates that this hope has proved itself false or failed, emphasizing its complete futility and deceptive nature. It means the expectation is unfounded and will certainly be disappointed. - he is laid low (יֻטָּל - yuṭṭāl): This word, in the Hophal (passive-causative) stem of
nāṭal(to throw down, cast), means "he is caused to be thrown down," or "he collapses," "he is prostrated." It describes an immediate, involuntary physical reaction of overwhelming defeat, surrender, or sheer terror. It conveys an utter lack of ability to stand or resist. - even (גַּם - gam): An intensifier, meaning "also" or "even." It stresses that the impact occurs
merelyorjustat the sight, implying an immediate, overwhelming effect. - at the sight of him (עַל־מַרְאֵהוּ - ʿal-marʾēhû):
marʾehmeans "sight" or "appearance."ʿalmeans "upon" or "at." This phrase indicates that the very visual perception of Leviathan is enough to induce the collapse, underscoring the creature's formidable and terrifying presence, far exceeding what a human could face in combat. It's not about physical encounter, but the psychological impact of seeing.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Behold, the hope of a man is false": This opening declaration serves as an absolute statement of impossibility. It sets the tone, challenging any assumption of human power or capability against such a formidable creature. It is a direct refutation of human pride or confidence in their own abilities when facing ultimate power.
- "he is laid low even at the sight of him": This second clause justifies the first. The human defeat is not merely due to lack of skill or strength in battle, but because Leviathan's very appearance induces a state of paralyzing fear or collapse. This vivid imagery magnifies Leviathan's terror and, by extension, God's immeasurable power in controlling such a being.
Job 41 9 Bonus section
The ancient Near East, contemporary to Job's time, had prevalent myths about chaos monsters (like Lotan, Yam, Tiamat) that embodied the untamed, primordial forces threatening divine order. These myths often depicted gods engaging in epic battles to subdue these creatures, thereby establishing their supremacy. By depicting Leviathan, God explicitly uses an imagery recognizable to Job (whether mythical or real) but fundamentally recontextualizes it. Unlike other gods in ANE myths who struggle to conquer these monsters, the God of Israel casually dismisses any human "hope" of even confronting Leviathan, implying He alone possesses effortless dominion over such forces. This serves as a powerful polemic: God does not fight chaos monsters; He created them and effortlessly controls them, thereby establishing His unique and absolute sovereignty over all creation, beyond what any regional deity could claim. His command is inherent, not gained through conflict.
Job 41 9 Commentary
Job 41:9 functions as a potent declaration of God's overwhelming majesty and a profound lesson in human humility. By describing the futility of engaging Leviathan, a creature so terrifying that its mere sight collapses human resolve, God systematically dismantles Job's self-righteous complaints and his desire to challenge the Almighty. The verse directly undermines any "hope" that humans might harbor regarding their own capacity to control or contend with the wild and powerful elements of creation, let alone the Creator Himself. This "hope" is explicitly labelled "false" (nikhzavah), a deceitful illusion.
The immediate, involuntary collapse (yuṭṭāl) at the sight of Leviathan speaks volumes. It's not about the creature's combat prowess (which God details extensively afterwards), but about its sheer intimidating presence. This imagery echoes humanity's general inability to stand before God's unveiled glory (e.g., Exod 33:20). Thus, Leviathan becomes a metaphor for divine sovereignty, highlighting that if humanity cannot withstand even a creature made by God, how much less can they challenge God Himself? The verse underscores a central theme of Job: true wisdom begins with reverential fear of the Lord, acknowledging His unparalleled power and incomprehensible wisdom.
Practically, this verse serves as a reminder that human pride and self-sufficiency are ultimately vain. When faced with forces beyond our comprehension or control (be it natural disasters, existential threats, or even the trials of life that mirror Job's suffering), relying solely on human "hope" and strength will prove false. Instead, it directs one's gaze to the One who controls even Leviathan, cultivating awe and encouraging submission to His sovereign will.