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英文原文
The description here given of the leviathan, a very large, strong, formidable fish, or water-animal, is designed yet further to convince Job of his own impotency, and of God's omnipotence, that he might be humbled for his folly in making so bold with him as he had done. I. To convince Job of his own weakness he is here challenged to subdue and tame this leviathan if he can, and make himself master of him (Job 41:1-9), and, since he cannot do this, he must own himself utterly unable to stand before the great God, Job 41:10. II. To convince Job of God's power and terrible majesty several particular instances are here given of the strength and terror of the leviathan, which is no more than what God has given him, nor more than he has under his check, Job 41:11,12. The face of the leviathan is here described to be terrible (Job 41:12,14), his scales close (Job 41:15-17), his breath and neesings sparkling (Job 41:18-21), his flesh firm (Job 41:22-24), his strength and spirit, when he is attacked, insuperable (Job 41:25-30), his motions turbulent, and disturbing to the waters (Job 41:31,32), so that, upon the whole, he is a very terrible creature, and man is no match for him, Job 41:33,34.
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Description of Leviathan (1520 BC)
鳄鱼之描写（1520 BC）
¹ 你能用鱼钩拉上鳄鱼吗？能用绳子压下它的舌头吗？ ² 你能将准绳穿在它的鼻子上吗？能用钩穿它的腮骨吗？ ³ 它岂可向你连连恳求，对你说柔言细语吗？ ⁴ 它肯与你立约，叫你拿它永远作奴仆吗？ ⁵ 你岂可拿它当雀鸟玩耍，岂可为你的幼女系住它吗？ ⁶ 伙计们岂可分食它，将它分给商人吗？ ⁷ 你能用倒钩枪扎满它的皮，能用鱼叉叉满它的头吗？ ⁸ 你按手在它身上，想到与它相争，就不再这样行了。 ⁹ 人指望捉拿它是徒然的；一见它，岂不丧胆吗？ ¹⁰ 没有那么凶猛的人敢惹它。这样，谁能在我面前站立得住呢？
这利维坦究竟是鲸鱼还是鳄鱼，学者间争论甚大，我不敢断言；其中有些描述更适合前者，有些更适合后者；两者都极其强壮凶猛，造物主的大能在其身上显明出来。见解精深的理查德·布莱克摩尔爵士[Sir Richard Blackmore]，虽然对于「比希摩斯」采纳较通行的见解，即必指「象」而言，却赞同博查特学者[Bochart]对「利维坦」的看法，认为它就是鳄鱼，这在埃及的河中为人所熟知。我承认，使我宁愿把它解作鲸鱼的，不仅是因它更大、更高贵的动物，更是因为创世记中创世的记载里，对它有那样明确的提及，是其他任何动物种类所未有的（创 1:21，「神就造出大鱼」）；由此显明，不仅鲸鱼在摩西的时代（摩西与约伯相去不远）在那些地方为人所熟知，并且鲸鱼的受造普遍被视为造物主永恒权能与神性最辉煌的证据之一；我们可以推测这就是其原因（否则实在难以解释）——为何摩西在那里特别提及鲸鱼的受造，因为神刚刚才那样着重强调这受造物的庞大体格与力量，胜过其他一切受造物，作为祂权能的凭据；而且这里的「利维坦」被称为海中的居民（伯 41:31），鳄鱼却不是；诗篇 104:25-26 也说：「那里有海，又宽又深，其中有无数的动物，大小活物都有。那里有鳄鱼。」本段经文中，
一、祂表明约伯无力制伏利维坦。1. 他不能用钓竿像钓小鱼那样钓上它（伯 41:1-2）。他没有可欺瞒它的饵，没有可钩住它的钩，没有可把它拖出水面的钓线，也没有可穿过它的鳃、把它扛回家的荆棘。2. 他不能把它活捉为俘，不能逼它求饶，或无条件投降（伯 41:3-4）。「它太清楚自己的力量，不会『向你多多恳求』，不会『与你立约』作你的仆人，以你救它性命为条件。」3. 他不能把它诱入笼中，像鸟一样养在那里给孩童玩耍（伯 41:5）。有些受造物如此渺小、如此软弱，易于这样被拘禁、被轻慢；但利维坦不属于此类：它被造是要作人类的恐怖，而非玩物与消遣。4. 他不能把它端上自己的餐桌；他与同伴不能拿它设宴；它的肉太坚韧，不宜食用，即便可以，也不易捕获。5. 他们不能靠掳掠它而发财：「客商们岂可把它分了」——骨头归一人，油归另一人？他们若能捕获它，自必这样行；但当时捕鲸之技艺大概尚未臻完善，远不如后来。6. 他们不能毁灭它，不能「用鱼叉叉满它的头」（伯 41:7）。它远远避开他们的杀戮器械；纵或触及它，也不能伤其要害。7. 试图这样做也是徒然：「指望捉拿它是徒然的」（伯 41:9）。人若前去捕捉它，它如此可畏，仅凭其形象就足以使他们胆寒，使刚勇之人几乎昏倒：「人一见它岂不丧胆吗？」这岂不叫追赶的人却步吗？约伯被告诫，冒着危险，「按手在它身上」（伯 41:8）。「你敢摸它就摸吧；『想到相争的事』，想到你无力对抗这样的力量，因此争战的结果必将如何，『就不再这样行了』，从这尝试中退去吧。」交战之前先思想那场争战，若预见披挂甲胄也是无用，便及时卸下甲胄，乃是智慧。约伯由此受警诫，不可在向神争辩的事上前进，当与祂和好，记念若进入战事，那争战终必如何收场。见赛 27:4-5。
二、由此他推断，约伯更无力与全能者相争。「没有那么凶猛的人」（伯 41:10），也没有那么鲁莽的人，「敢惹它」，因人皆知它必能胜过他们；「这样，谁能在我面前站立得住呢？」——或要控告审断祂的作为，或要抗拒祂怒气的权能？若连那被安置在人脚下、受人管辖的低等受造物尚且如此使我们生畏，我们伟大的主之威严必何等可畏——祂对我们拥有至高的主权，而人对祂反叛已久！「祂一发怒，谁能当得起呢？」
¹¹ 谁先给我什么，使我偿还呢？天下万物都是我的。 ¹² 我不隐瞒它肢体的大力，并其美好的骨格。 ¹³ 谁能揭开它的外衣？谁能进它双重的腮颊？ ¹⁴ 谁能开它腮颊的门？它四围的牙齿令人畏惧。 ¹⁵ 它以鳞甲为骄傲，紧紧合闭，封得严密。 ¹⁶ 这鳞甲一一相连，气不得透入其间。 ¹⁷ 都是互相联络、胶结，不能分散。 ¹⁸ 它打喷嚏就发光；它的眼睛如同早晨的眼皮。 ¹⁹ 从它口中发出烧着的火把，并飞迸的火星。 ²⁰ 从它鼻孔冒出烟来，如烧开的锅和点着的锅。 ²¹ 它的气一点着炭，火焰从它口中发出。 ²² 它颈项中存着力量，在它面前的都惊恐蹦跳。 ²³ 它的肉块互相联络，紧贴在一起，不能摇动。 ²⁴ 它的心坚实如石头，如下磨石那样硬。 ²⁵ 它一起来，勇士就惊慌；它因着撞击，便都净化自己。 ²⁶ 人若用刀剑攻击它，总不发生效力；枪、短枪、护胸甲也都无用。 ²⁷ 它以铁为干草，以铜为烂木。 ²⁸ 箭不能使它逃避；甩石对它犹如碎秸。 ²⁹ 短枪视为禾秸；它嗤笑短枪的飕声。 ³⁰ 它肚腹下有尖锐之物；它如在泥上踱步。 ³¹ 它使深渊沸腾如锅，使海如同膏油锅。 ³² 它走过的路发出亮光；人想深渊白发苍苍。 ³³ 在地上没有它的同类，它被造毫无畏惧。 ³⁴ 它看见一切高大的；它在骄傲的众子之上作王。
神既在约伯记 42:1-6 向约伯显明他无力对付利维坦，便在此处展示祂自己在这庞然巨物中的权能。这里，
一、确立神至高的主权与独立无倚（伯 41:11）。1. 祂不亏负任何受造物。若有人自称神亏负他，就让他提出要求、证明债务，他必全数收回，不致短缺：「『谁先给我什么？』」意即「谁曾以他所行的服事，对我施加任何恩义？谁敢自称在我以先？若有人如此，我也必不久居其后，必快快偿还他。」使徒引此话为据，使一切有血气的在神面前闭口（罗 11:35）：「谁是先给了他，使他后来偿还呢？」正如神不按我们所当得的降罚与我们，照样祂也将我们不配得的恩惠赐给我们。2. 祂是万有的合法的主与拥有者：「『天下万物』，或活或死，『都是我的』（这利维坦也在内），都听我吩咐、归我支配，是我无可争议的产业、归我管辖。」万有都是祂的；我们是祂的，我们所有的一切、所行的一切都是祂的；因此我们不能使神欠我们的债；「主啊，我们将出于你的献给你。」万有都是祂的，所以祂纵或欠谁的债，也有充充足足的可以偿还；这债在稳妥的手中。万有都是祂的，所以祂不需要我们的服事，也不能因之得益。「我若是饥饿，我必不告诉你，因为世界和其中所充满的都是我的」（诗 50:12）。
二、藉利维坦奇妙的构造来加以证明与阐明（伯 41:12）。
1. 它身体的各部、它所施展的力量（尤其当它被激怒时）、以及全体的美好匀称，是神不愿隐瞒的，因此也是我们当留心观察，并在其中承认神权能的。它虽是体型庞大的受造物，其身却有「美好的骨格」可言。在我们眼中，美在于小（inest sua gratia parvis——小事自有其美），因为我们自己微小；但在神眼中，连利维坦也是美的；祂若宣告连鲸鱼、连鳄鱼都是如此，我们便不该说祂手中的任何作为是丑陋难看的；我们只能如我们当行的，对我们自己的作为这样说。神在此（仿佛）为我们剖析利维坦；因为祂的作为被拆开、按各部分各比例细察时，最为美丽精妙，祂的智慧与权能也最为彰显。（1）利维坦「初看之下」（prima facie），便显得可畏、不可近（伯 41:13-14）。它在活着时，谁敢近前，去细细察看「它外衣的面目」——就是它如衣服穿在身上、用以遮蔽的皮肤？谁敢近前像给马上嚼环那样给它戴上双嚼、从而牵走它？谁敢近到它那如同「双重嚼环」的颚所能及的范围之内？谁敢冒险往它口中看，像我们看马口那样？凡「开它腮颊之门」的，必看见「它四围令人畏惧的牙齿」，坚硬锋利，宜于吞吃；人想到腿臂被夹于其中，岂不战栗？（2）「它的鳞甲」是它的荣美与力量，因此是「它的骄傲」（伯 41:15-17）。鳄鱼确以鳞甲著称；若理解为鲸鱼，就须把这些「盾牌」（原文即此意）解作它皮肤的数层；或者那一带有长鳞的鲸鱼也未可知。鳞甲可注意之处在于「它们紧密相贴」，借此它不仅保暖——因无风能透入，而且得保安全——因无刀剑能透过那些鳞甲刺穿它。鱼住在水中，便照着赐冷如赐衣的智慧安排，得以相应的护卫。（3）它仅凭气息与目光就播散惊吓；它若打喷嚏或喷水，便如发光，或因泡沫，或因阳光透射其中（伯 41:18）。据传鲸鱼的眼睛在夜间发光如火焰，或如此处所言，如「早晨的眼皮」；鳄鱼据说也是如此。这受造物的气息因体内极大的天然热度而炽热如火，以致「烧着的火把与飞迸的火星」，以及烟雾与火焰，被描述为从它口中而出，甚至令人以为足以点着煤炭（伯 41:19-21）。这些夸张的表述用于利维坦，大概是要暗示神怒气的可畏，因为正是这一点，本段这一切都是为要使我们信服的。「有火从它口中发出烧灭」（诗 18:7-8）。「全能者的气」如「一股硫磺」，「点着了地狱」，并要使之永远燃烧（赛 30:33）。那恶者要被「主口中的气」灭绝（帖后 2:8）。（4）它有不可胜过的力量和最可怕的凶猛，使一切当其道者惊惶，自己却不被任何事物惊吓。察看它的颈项，那里存着力量（伯 41:22）。它的头与身相接得宜。「忧愁在它面前欢跃（或得胜）」，因它所到之处，行可畏之事。或者：那使别人忧愁的暴风雨，正是它的喜乐；那使别人颠簸的，正是它的舞蹈。它的肉紧紧相结（伯 41:23）。「它肉块」如此紧贴相接，「如此坚实」，难以刺透；它仿佛全是骨头。「它的肉如铜」，这正是约伯所抱怨自己身上没有的（伯 6:12）。「它的心坚实如石头」（伯 41:24）。它有与体力相称的胆气，虽庞大却不笨重迟钝。它的肉与皮不能刺透，它的胆气也不能挫折；反倒挫折一切所遇见的，使之一片惊惶（伯 41:25）：当它在汪洋中「一起身」如同移动的山岳，连「勇士也惊慌」，唯恐它倾覆他们的船只，或加害于他们。「因着它在水中所作的撞击」——那威胁死亡的撞击——「他们便净化自己」，认罪、祈祷、预备迎见死亡。我们读到（伯 3:8），那些想唤醒利维坦的人，因恐惧竟咒诅那日子。看来有一种恐惧，曾驱使一些人去咒诅，另一些人去祈祷；因为古时如同今日，航海之人性情各异，海上惊吓对他们产生相反的效果；但当利维坦一起身，他们全都陷入大恐慌之中。（5）用来攻击它的一切杀戮器械都伤不了它，因此对它不发生效力（伯 41:26-29）。「刀」「枪」近身伤害的兵器，对它无济于事；「短枪、箭、甩石」远距离的伤害，也不能损它分毫；天生已使它「全身披挂」（cap-à-pie，即「自顶至踵」）以抵御这一切。人用来与利维坦交战的防御性武器，如「护胸甲」，往往和他们的攻击性武器一样无用；「铁与铜」对它「如同干草和烂木」，它嗤笑它们。这就是刚硬罪人的写照，他们藐视全能者的威吓，对祂话语中一切警告嗤之以鼻。利维坦如此不怕人所用攻击它的兵器，以至于为显出自己的硬气，它宁可躺在「尖石、尖锐之物」上（伯 41:30），在那里躺得如同躺在软泥上一样安适。凡要忍受艰苦的，必须习于艰苦。（6）它在水中一举一动便搅动海水，使之翻腾（伯 41:31-32）。当它在水中翻滚、搅扰、奔腾时，或当它追逐猎物时，「它使深渊沸腾如锅」，在水面掀起大堆泡沫，如同沸腾的锅上所起的，尤其是「膏油」沸腾之锅；「它走过的路发出亮光」，连「海中的船只」也不能如此（箴 30:19）。人可凭水面的气泡追踪在水下的利维坦；然而谁敢在追赶它时利用这机会呢？人在雪中追踪野兔，可以杀死它；但追踪利维坦的人，却不敢近前。
2. 详述了「它身体的各部、它的力量、它的美好骨格」之后，他总括四点来论这受造物：（1）它是低等受造物中的无双者：「在地上没有它的同类」（伯 41:33）。世上没有一种受造物可与它相比——论力量，论威势。或者，「地」在此与「海」相对照：「它的辖域不在地上」（有人如此解），而在「水中」。地上一切凶猛的受造物，论体型力量都不及它；而于人幸甚的是，它被限于水中，并在那里被神旨意「派人看守」（伯 7:12）；因为若任凭这样可怕的受造物在地上横行肆虐，地为孩童所预备的居所便成为不安全、不舒适的所在。（2）它比任何其他受造物都更胆大无畏：它「被造毫无畏惧」。受造物如其受造之状；利维坦的体质中有胆气，没有什么能吓倒它；其他受造物恰相反，似乎天性为逃避而造，正如这受造物为争战而造。照样，人之中，有人天性刚勇，有人天性怯懦。（3）它本身极其骄傲；虽住在深渊之中，却「观看一切高大的」（伯 41:34）。翻滚的波涛、高耸的礁石、低垂的云层，以及扬帆疾驶、桅顶与顶桅齐张的船只，这庞然大物都藐视地观看，因为它并不以为这些减损了它，或威胁了它。伟大的人易于轻慢。（4）「它在骄傲的众子之上作王」，意即它在一切骄傲之辈中最为骄傲。它有更多可骄傲的（卡锐尔先生[Mr. Caryl]如此解），胜过世上最骄傲的人；如此便成为对人之骄傲狂妄之态的折服。无论人在身体上有何等可夸的禀赋、因而自高自大，利维坦都胜过他们，作「他们的王」。也有人如此翻译，使之指着神而说：「那观看一切高大的，就是祂，祂在骄傲的众子之上作王」；祂能驯服比希摩斯（伯 40:19）与利维坦，无论它们多大，无论它们的心何等顽强。论及这两个受造物的这一番话，原是为要证明，唯独神能「观看骄傲的人，使他降卑，将他拉下、踏在脚下，将他藏在尘土中」（伯 40:11-13），于是本段以「这就是所要证明的」（quod erat demonstrandum）作结；那观看一切高大之事的，乃是一位；人在何事上狂妄，祂就在其之上；祂是「骄傲众子之上的王」，无论他们是属血气的还是属理性的，都能使他们或屈服、或折断（赛 2:11）：「眼目高傲的必降为卑，性情狂傲的都必屈膝；惟独耶和华被尊崇。」
英文原文
Description of Leviathan (1520 BC)
¹ Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
² Canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
³ Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
⁴ Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
⁵ Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
⁶ Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
⁷ Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
⁸ Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
⁹ Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
¹⁰ None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
Whether this leviathan be a whale or a crocodile is a great dispute among the learned, which I will not undertake to determine; some of the particulars agree more easily to the one, others to the other; both are very strong and fierce, and the power of the Creator appears in them. The ingenious Sir Richard Blackmore, though he admits the more received opinion concerning the behemoth, that it must be meant of the elephant, yet agrees with the learned Bochart's notion of the leviathan, that it is the crocodile, which was so well known in the river of Egypt. I confess that that which inclines me rather to understand it of the whale is not only because it is much larger and a nobler animal, but because, in the history of the Creation, there is such an express notice taken of it as is not of any other species of animals whatsoever (Ge 1:21, God created great whales), by which it appears, not only that whales were well known in those parts in the time of Moses, who lived a little after Job, but that the creation of whales was generally looked upon as a most illustrious proof of the eternal power and godhead of the Creator; and we may conjecture that this was the reason (for otherwise it seems unaccountable) why Moses there so particularly mentions the creation of the whales, because God had so lately insisted upon the bulk and strength of that creature than of any other, as the proof of his power; and the leviathan is here spoken of as an inhabitant of the sea (Job 41:31), which the crocodile is not; and Ps 104:25,26, there in the great and wide sea, is that leviathan. Here in these verses,
I. He shows how unable Job was to master the leviathan. 1. That he could not catch him, as a little fish, with angling, Job 41:1,2. He had no bait wherewith to deceive him, no hook wherewith to catch him, no fish-line wherewith to draw him out of the water, nor a thorn to run through his gills, on which to carry him home. 2. That he could not make him his prisoner, nor force him to cry for quarter, or surrender himself at discretion, Job 41:3,4. "He knows his own strength too well to make many supplications to thee, and to make a covenant with thee to be thy servant on condition thou wilt save his life." 3. That he could not entice him into a cage, and keep him there as a bird for the children to play with, Job 41:5. There are creatures so little, so weak, as to be easily restrained thus, and triumphed over; but the leviathan is not one of these: he is made to be the terror, not the sport and diversion, of mankind. 4. That he could not have him served up to his table; he and his companions could not make a banquet of him; his flesh is too strong to be fit for food, and, if it were not, he is not easily caught. 5. That they could not enrich themselves with the spoil of him: Shall they part him among the merchants, the bones to one, the oil to another? If they can catch him, they will; but it is probable that the art of fishing for whales was not brought to perfection then, as it has been since. 6. That they could not destroy him, could not fill his head with fish-spears, Job 41:7. He kept out of the reach of their instruments of slaughter, or, if they touched him, they could not touch him to the quick. 7. That it was to no purpose to attempt it: The hope of taking him is in vain, Job 41:9. If men go about to seize him, so formidable is he that the very sight of him will appal them, and make a stout man ready to faint away: Shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? and will not that deter the pursuers from their attempt? Job is told, at his peril, to lay his hand upon him, Job 41:8. "Touch him if thou dare; remember the battle, how unable thou art to encounter such a force, and what is therefore likely to be the issue of the battle, and do no more, but desist from the attempt." It is good to remember the battle before we engage in a war, and put off the harness in time if we foresee it will be to no purpose to gird it on. Job is hereby admonished not to proceed in his controversy with God, but to make his peace with him, remembering what the battle will certainly end in if he come to an engagement. See Isa 27:4,5.
II. Thence he infers how unable he was to contend with the Almighty. None is so fierce, none so fool-hardy, that he dares to stir up the leviathan (Job 41:10), it being known that he will certainly be too hard for them; and who then is able to stand before God, either to impeach and arraign his proceedings or to out-face the power of his wrath? If the inferior creatures that are put under the feet of man, and over whom he has dominion, keep us in awe thus, how terrible must the majesty of our great Lord be, who has a sovereign dominion over us and against whom man has been so long in rebellion! Who can stand before him when once he is angry?
¹¹ Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
¹² I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
¹³ Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
¹⁴ Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
¹⁵ His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
¹⁶ One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
¹⁷ They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
¹⁸ By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
¹⁹ Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
²⁰ Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
²¹ His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
²² In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
²³ The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
²⁴ His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
²⁵ When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
²⁶ The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
²⁷ He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
²⁸ The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
²⁹ Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
³⁰ Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
³¹ He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
³² He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
³³ Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
³⁴ He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
God, having in the Job 42:1-6 shown Job how unable he was to deal with the leviathan, here sets forth his own power in that massy mighty creature. Here is,
I. God's sovereign dominion and independency laid down, Job 41:11. 1. That he is indebted to none of his creatures. If any pretend he is indebted to them, let them make their demand and prove their debt, and they shall receive it in full and not by composition: "Who has prevented me?" that is, "who has laid any obligations upon me by any services he has done me? Who can pretend to be before-hand with me? If any were, I would not long be behind-hand with them; I would soon repay them." The apostle quotes this for the silencing of all flesh in God's presence, Ro 11:35. Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? As God does not inflict upon us the evils we have deserved, so he does bestow upon us the favours we have not deserved. 2. That he is the rightful Lord and owner of all the creatures: "Whatsoever is under the whole heaven, animate or inanimate, is mine (and particularly this leviathan), at my command and disposal, what I have an incontestable property in and dominion over." All is his; we are his, all we have and do; and therefore we cannot make God our debtor; but of thy own, Lord, have we given thee. All is his, and therefore, if he were indebted to any, he has wherewithal to repay them; the debt is in good hands. All is his, and therefore he needs not our services, nor can he be benefited by them. If I were hungry I would not tell thee, for the world is mine and the fulness thereof, Ps 50:12.
II. The proof and illustration of it, from the wonderful structure of the leviathan, Job 41:12.
1. The parts of his body, the power he exerts, especially when he is set upon, and the comely proportion of the whole of him, are what God will not conceal, and therefore what we must observe and acknowledge the power of God in. Though he is a creature of monstrous bulk, yet there is in him a comely proportion. In our eye beauty lies in that which is small (inest sua gratia parvis—little things have a gracefulness all their own) because we ourselves are so; but in God's eye even the leviathan is comely; and, if he pronounce even the whale, even the crocodile, so, it is not for us to say of any of the works of his hands that they are ugly or ill-favoured; it is enough to say so, as we have cause, of our own works. God here goes about to give us an anatomical view (as it were) of the leviathan; for his works appear most beautiful and excellent, and his wisdom and power appear most in them, when they are taken in pieces and viewed in their several parts and proportions. (1.) The leviathan, even prima facie—at first sight, appears formidable and inaccessible, Job 41:13,14. Who dares come so near him while he is alive as to discover or take a distinct view of the face of the garment, the skin with which he is clothed as with a garment, so near him as to bridle him like a horse and so lead him away, so near him as to be within reach of his jaws, which are like a double bridle? Who will venture to look into his mouth, as we do into a horse's mouth? He that opens the doors of his face will see his teeth terrible round about, strong and sharp, and fitted to devour; it would make a man tremble to think of having a leg or an arm between them. (2.) His scales are his beauty and strength, and therefore his pride, Job 41:15-17. The crocodile is indeed remarkable for his scales; if we understand it of the whale, we must understand by these shields (for so the word is) the several coats of his skin; or there might be whales in that country with scales. That which is remarkable concerning the scales is that they stick so close together, by which he is not only kept warm, for no air can pierce him, but kept safe, for no sword can pierce him through those scales. Fishes, that live in the water, are fortified accordingly by the wisdom of Providence, which gives clothes as it gives cold. (3.) He scatters terror with his very breath and looks; if he sneeze or spout up water, it is like a light shining, either with the froth or the light of the sun shining through it, Job 41:18. The eyes of the whale are reported to shine in the night-time like a flame, or, as here, like the eye-lids of the morning; the same they say of the crocodile. The breath of this creature is so hot and fiery, from the great natural heat within, that burning lamps and sparks of fire, smoke and a flame, are said to go out of his mouth, even such as one would think sufficient to set coals on fire, Job 41:19-21. Probably these hyperbolical expressions are used concerning the leviathan to intimate the terror of the wrath of God, for that is it which all this is designed to convince us of. Fire out of his mouth devours, Ps 18:7,8. The breath of the Almighty, like a stream of brimstone, kindles Tophet, and will for ever keep it burning, Isa 30:33. The wicked one shall be consumed with the breath of his mouth, 2Th 2:8. (4.) He is of invincible strength and most terrible fierceness, so that he frightens all that come in his way, but is not himself frightened by any. Take a view of his neck, and there remains strength, Job 41:22. His head and his body are well set together. Sorrow rejoices (or rides in triumph) before him, for he makes terrible work wherever he comes. Or, Those storms which are the sorrow of others are his joys; what is tossing to others is dancing to him. His flesh is well knit, Job 41:23. The flakes of it are joined so closely together, and are so firm, that it is hard to pierce it; he is as if he were all bone. His flesh is of brass, which Job had complained his was not, Job 6:12. His heart is as firm as a stone, Job 41:24. He has spirit equal to his bodily strength, and, though he is bulky, he is sprightly, and not unwieldy. As his flesh and skin cannot be pierced, so his courage cannot be daunted; but, on the contrary, he daunts all he meets and puts them into a consternation (Job 41:25): When he raises up himself like a moving mountain in the great waters even the mighty are afraid lest he should overturn their ships or do them some other mischief. By reason of the breakings he makes in the water, which threaten death, they purify themselves, confess their sins, betake themselves to their prayers, and get ready for death. We read (Job 3:8) of those who, when they raise up a leviathan, are in such a fright that they curse the day. It was a fear which, it seems, used to drive some to their curses and others to their prayers; for, as now, so then there were seafaring men of different characters and on whom the terrors of the sea have contrary effects; but all agree there is a great fright among them when the leviathan raises up himself. (5.) All the instruments of slaughter that are used against him do him no hurt and therefore are not error to him, Job 41:26-29. The sword and the spear, which wound nigh at hand, are nothing to him; the darts, arrows, and sling-stones, which wound at a distance, do him no damage; nature has so well armed him cap-a-pie—at all points, against them all. The defensive weapons which men use when they engage with the leviathan, as the habergeon, or breast-plate, often serve men no more than their offensive weapons; iron and brass are to him as straw and rotten wood, and he laughs at them. It is the picture of a hard-hearted sinner, that despises the terrors of the Almighty and laughs at all the threatenings of his word. The leviathan so little dreads the weapons that are used against him that, to show how hardy he is, he chooses to lie on the sharp stones, the sharp-pointed things (Job 41:30), and lies as easy there as if he lay on the soft mire. Those that would endure hardness must inure themselves to it. (6.) His very motion in the water troubles it and puts it into a ferment, Job 41:31,32. When he rolls, and tosses, and makes a stir in the water, or is in pursuit of his prey, he makes the deep to boil like a pot, he raises a great froth and foam upon the water, such as is upon a boiling pot, especially a pot of boiling ointment; and he makes a path to shine after him, which even a ship in the midst of the sea does not, Pr 30:19. One may trace the leviathan under water by the bubbles on the surface; and yet who can take that advantage against him in pursuing him? Men track hares in the snow and kill them, but he that tracks the leviathan dares not come near him.
2. Having given this particular account of his parts, and his power, and his comely proportion, he concludes with four things in general concerning this animal:— (1.) That he is a non-such among the inferior creatures: Upon earth there is not his like, Job 41:33. No creature in this world is comparable to him for strength and terror. Or the earth is here distinguished from the sea: His dominion is not upon the earth (so some), but in the waters. None of all the savage creatures upon earth come near him for bulk and strength, and it is well for man that he is confined to the waters and there has a watch set upon him (Job 7:12) by the divine Providence, for, if such a terrible creature were allowed to roam and ravage upon this earth, it would be an unsafe and uncomfortable habitation for the children of men, for whom it is intended. (2.) That he is more bold and daring than any other creature whatsoever: He is made without fear. The creatures are as they are made; the leviathan has courage in his constitution, nothing can frighten him; other creatures, quite contrary, seem as much designed for flying as this for fighting. So, among men, some are in their natural temper bold, others are timorous. (3.) That he is himself very proud; though lodged in the deep, yet he beholds all high things, Job 41:34. The rolling waves, the impending rocks, the hovering clouds, and the ships under sail with top and top-gallant, this mighty animal beholds with contempt, for he does not think they either lessen him or threaten him. Those that are great are apt to be scornful. (4.) That he is a king over all the children of pride, that is, he is the proudest of all proud ones. He has more to be proud of (so Mr. Caryl expounds it) than the proudest people in the world have; and so it is a mortification to the haughtiness and lofty looks of men. Whatever bodily accomplishments men are proud of, and puffed up with, the leviathan excels them and is a king over them. Some read it so as to understand it of God: He that beholds all high things, even he, is King over all the children of pride; he can tame the behemoth (Job 40:19) and the leviathan, big as they are, and stout-hearted as they are. This discourse concerning those two animals was brought in to prove that it is God only who can look upon proud men and abase them, bring them low and tread them down, and hide them in the dust (Job 40:11-13), and so it concludes with a quod erat demonstrandum—which was to be demonstrated; there is one that beholds all high things, and, wherein men deal proudly, is above them; he is King over all the children of pride, whether brutal or rational, and can make them all either bend or break before him, Isa 2:11. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and thus the Lord alone shall be exalted.
耶和华继续回答约伯——鳄鱼
此处对鳄鱼——一种极为庞大、强壮、可畏的鱼类或水兽——的描绘，旨在进一步使约伯认识自己的无能，并认识神的全能，好叫他为先前那般放胆冒犯神的愚妄而谦卑下来。
I. 为要使约伯认识自己的软弱，他在此受挑战：若能做到，就去制伏并驯服这鳄鱼，使自己成为它的主宰（伯 41:1-9）；而他既不能做到此事，就必须承认自己全然无力在那伟大的神面前站立得住（伯 41:10）。
II. 为要使约伯认识神的大能与可畏的威严，此处列举了鳄鱼力量与恐怖的若干具体事例——而这些不过是神所赐给它的，也都在神的管束之下（伯 41:11-12）。此处描绘鳄鱼的面貌可怖（伯 41:12、14），鳞甲紧密（伯 41:15-17），气息与喷嚏闪烁火花（伯 41:18-21），肌肤坚韧（伯 41:22-24），受攻击时其力量与凶气不可抵挡（伯 41:25-30），动作汹涌翻腾、搅动水域（伯 41:31-32）；因此，总而言之，它是一个极为可怕的受造之物，人绝非它的对手（伯 41:33-34）。