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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)
繁體中文
利維坦的描述（公元前1520年）
¹ 你能用魚鉤釣上利維坦嗎？能用繩子壓住牠的舌頭嗎？
² 你能繩穿牠的腮骨嗎？能用鉤穿透牠的腮骨嗎？
³ 牠豈向你再三懇求嗎？豈對你說柔美的話嗎？
⁴ 豈肯與你立約，叫你拿牠永遠作奴僕嗎？
⁵ 你豈可拿牠當雀鳥玩耍嗎？豈可為你的幼女將牠拴住嗎？
⁶ 搭夥的漁夫豈可拿牠當貨物分嗎？能將牠分給商人嗎？
⁷ 你能用倒刺槍扎滿牠的皮嗎？能用魚叉叉滿牠的頭嗎？
⁸ 你若按手在牠身上，想到與牠爭鬥，就不再這樣行了。
⁹ 人指望捉住牠是徒然的；一見牠豈不喪膽嗎？
¹⁰ 沒有那麼凶猛的人敢惹牠。這樣，誰能在我面前站立得住呢？
這利維坦究竟是鯨魚還是鱷魚，在博學者中間有很大的爭論，我不打算加以裁決；其中一些細節更容易適用於前者，另一些更容易適用於後者；兩者都非常強壯而凶猛，造物主的權能在其中彰顯。睿智的理查·布萊克摩爾爵士，雖然承納了關於比希摩斯的更為普遍接受的觀點——即它必是指象——卻同意博學的博查特關於利維坦的看法——即它是鱷魚，鱷魚在埃及的河中如此廣為人知。我承認，使我傾向於將它理解為鯨魚的，不僅是因為它大得多、更為高貴的動物，而是因為在創造的記載中，對它有如此明確的提及，是對任何其他種類動物所沒有的（創 1:21：神就造出大鯨），由此可見，不但在摩西——他生活在約伯之後不久——的時代，鯨魚在那些地方是廣為人知的，而且鯨魚的受造普遍被視為造物主永恆權能和神性的最輝煌證據；我們可以推測這正是原因（否則就無法解釋），為什麼摩西在那裡特別提到鯨魚的受造——因為神如此近來曾以那受造之物的體型和力量作為他權能的證明，超過任何其他受造之物；而且利維坦在此被說為海的居民（約伯記 41:31），而鱷魚不是；詩篇 104:25-26：*那裡有……這利維坦。*在這些經文中，
I. 他表明約伯何等不能制服利維坦。1. 他不能像釣小魚一樣用釣魚的方式捕捉牠（約伯記 41:1-2）。他沒有可以欺騙牠的魚餌，沒有可以捕捉牠的魚鉤，沒有可以將牠從水中拉出的釣線，也沒有可以穿過牠鰓的刺，以便把牠帶回家。2. 他不能俘虜牠，也不能迫使牠求饒或無條件投降（約伯記 41:3-4）。「牠太清楚自己的力量了，不會向你再三懇求，也不會與你立約作你的僕人以換取你保全牠的性命。」3. 他不能引誘牠進入籠中、像鳥一樣放在那裡讓孩子們玩耍（約伯記 41:5）。有些受造之物如此之小、如此之弱，很容易被如此約束和征服；但利維坦不是這些中的一個：牠被造成人類的恐懼，而不是人類的玩物和消遣。4. 他不能把牠端上自己的餐桌；他和他的同伴不能拿牠來設擺筵席；牠的肉太硬，不適合食用，而且就算適合，牠也不易被捕捉。5. 他們不能以牠的戰利品致富：搭夥的漁夫能將牠當貨物分嗎？骨頭分給這個，油脂分給那個？他們若能捕捉牠，就會如此行；但捕鯨的技藝在那時大概還沒有達到後來那樣的完善程度。6. 他們不能毀滅牠，不能用魚叉叉滿牠的頭（約伯記 41:7）。牠保持在殺戮工具的範圍之外，或者就算他們觸及牠，也不能觸及要害。7. 試圖如此行是徒然的：指望捉住牠是徒然的（約伯記 41:9）。人若企圖捕捉牠，牠如此可怕，僅僅看見牠就使人膽寒，使一個壯漢幾乎暈倒：一見牠豈不喪膽嗎？這豈不阻止追趕者放棄他們的企圖嗎？約伯被告知，若敢冒險就按手在牠身上（約伯記 41:8）。「你若敢就摸牠；*想到與牠爭鬥——*你是何等不能對抗如此的力量，以及爭鬥的結果因此可能是什麼——*就不再這樣行了，*放棄這企圖吧。」在投入戰爭之前先想到爭鬥是有益的，若預見穿上盔甲也是徒然，就及時卸下。約伯藉此被勸告不要繼續他與神的爭論，而是要與他和好——想到若他投入交戰，爭鬥必將如何結束。參見賽 27:4-5。
II. 由此他推論約伯何等不能與全能者爭辯。沒有那麼凶猛的人敢惹利維坦（約伯記 41:10），因為眾所周知牠必勝過他們；那麼誰能在我面前站立得住呢？——無論是要指控和審問他的作為，還是要正視他怒氣的權能？如果那些被置於人腳下、受人管轄的低等受造之物如此使我們敬畏，我們偉大之主的威嚴必是何等可怕——他對我們有主權的統治，而人向他背叛已經如此之久！他發怒的時候，誰能在他面前站立得住呢？
¹¹ 誰先給我什麼，使我償還他呢？天下萬物都是我的。
¹² 論到牠的肢體，論到牠的力量，和牠俊美的體態，我不能緘默不言。
¹³ 誰能剝去牠的外衣？誰能進入牠上下牙腮骨之間呢？
¹⁴ 誰能開牠的腮頰？牠牙齒四圍是可畏的。
¹⁵ 牠以堅固的鱗甲為可誇，緊緊閉合，封得嚴密。
¹⁶ 這鱗甲一一相連，甚至氣不得透入其間。
¹⁷ 都是互相聯絡、膠結，不能分離。
¹⁸ 牠打噴嚏就發出閃光；牠的眼睛如同清晨的眼皮。
¹⁹ 從牠口中發出燒著的火把，火星迸飛出來。
²⁰ 從牠鼻孔冒出煙來，如燒開的鍋和煮開的罐。
²¹ 牠的氣點著煤炭，有火焰從牠口中發出。
²² 牠頸項中存著力量，在牠面前的歡躍中盡都驚恐。
²³ 牠的肉塊互相聯絡，緊緊結合，不能搖動。
²⁴ 牠的心結實如石頭，如下磨石那樣硬。
²⁵ 牠奮力的時候，勇士都驚惶；因波浪翻滾，他們都自潔。
²⁶ 人用刀劍攻擊牠，都不管用；槍、矢、鎧甲也是這樣。
²⁷ 牠以鐵為乾草，以銅為爛木。
²⁸ 箭不能使牠逃避；彈石對牠看為碎稭。
²⁹ 棍棒算為禾秸；牠嗤笑短槍的響聲。
³⁰ 牠肚腹下如尖瓦片；牠如釘耙印在泥上。
³¹ 牠使深淵開滾如鍋，使洋海如鍋中的膏油。
³² 牠走過以後，使路發光；令人以為深淵有了白髮。
³³ 在地上沒有牠的同等，牠是受造而無所懼怕的。
³⁴ 牠觀看一切高大的；牠在驕傲的子孫之上作王。
神在約伯記 42:1-6 中向約伯表明了他何等不能對付利維坦之後，如今在這龐大而有力的受造之物中彰顯自己的權能。在這裡，
I. 確立神主權的統治和獨立性（約伯記 41:11）。1. 他不欠任何受造之物的債。若有人假裝他欠他們的債，讓他們提出要求、證明他們的債，他們必全數收回，而不是折半：*誰先給我什麼？*就是說，「誰藉著他為我做的任何服事而使我欠了他的債？誰能假裝在我以先？若有人如此，我不會長久落後；我必快快償還他們。」使徒引用這話來在神面前使一切有血氣的閉口（羅 11:35）：*誰是先給了他，使他後來償還呢？正如神不將我們所應得的災禍加在我們身上，他同樣將我們不配得的恩惠賜給我們。2. 他是萬有的合法之主和擁有者：天下萬物都是我的（無論是有生命的還是無生命的）（特別包括這利維坦），在我的命令和支配之下，我有不可爭辯的所有權和統治權。萬有都是他的；我們也是他的——我們一切所有的和所行的；因此我們不能使神成為我們的債戶；而是主啊，我們所獻上的都是從你而得的。*萬有都是他的，因此若他欠任何人的債，他也有充裕的資源償還他們；那債務在可靠的手中。萬有都是他的，因此他不需要我們的服事，也不能從中得益。我若是飢餓，也不告訴你，因為世界和其中所充滿的都是我的（詩 50:12）。
II. 從利維坦奇妙的構造中證明和解釋這一點（約伯記 41:12）。
1. 牠身體的各部分、牠所施展的力量——特別是當牠受到攻擊時——以及牠整體的俊美比例，是神不會緘默不言的，因此是我們當觀察並承認其中神之權能的。雖然牠是一個體積龐大的受造之物，牠裡面卻有俊美的比例。在我們眼中，美在於小的事物，因為我們自己也是如此；但在神眼中，連利維坦也是俊美的；他若宣告連鯨魚、連鱷魚也是如此，我們就不可論他手所做的任何工作是醜陋或難看的；我們所能如此說的——如我們有理由的——只是我們自己的工作。神在這裡彷彿要給我們利維坦的解剖學視圖；因為他的作為在被分解、從各個部分和比例上觀看時，顯得最為美麗和卓越，他的智慧和權能在其中也最為彰顯。（1.）利維坦即使初看之下也顯得可怕而不可接近（約伯記 41:13-14）。誰敢在牠活著時如此靠近牠，以至於能仔細觀看牠外衣的面——牠如外衣般穿著的皮——誰敢如此靠近牠以至於像馬一樣給牠戴上嚼環牽走，誰敢如此靠近牠以至於在牠雙頜的範圍之內——那頜如同雙重嚼環？誰敢看牠的口，如同我們看馬的口？那開牠腮頰的門的，必看見牠牙齒四圍是可畏的——堅固而鋒利，適合吞吃；想到把一條腿或一條臂膀放在其中，就足以使人戰兢。（2.）牠的鱗甲是牠的美麗和力量，因此是牠的驕傲（約伯記 41:15-17）。鱷魚確實以鱗甲著稱；若我們將此理解為鯨魚，就必須把這些盾牌（原文如此）理解為牠皮膚的各層；或者那個國家的鯨魚可能有鱗甲。關於鱗甲最值得注意的是它們如此緊密地互相聯絡，藉此牠不但保暖——因為沒有空氣能穿透牠——而且安全——因為沒有刀劍能穿透那些鱗甲。生活在水中的魚，照樣被護理的智慧所裝備，正如護理賜衣服，也照樣賜寒冷。（3.）牠僅僅以氣息和外貌就散佈恐懼；牠若打噴嚏或噴水，便如閃光一般——或是因泡沫，或是因陽光透過而閃耀（約伯記 41:18）。據說鯨魚的眼睛在夜間如火焰般閃耀，或如這裡所說的，如同清晨的眼皮；他們也如此說鱷魚。這受造之物的氣息如此灼熱如火——因內裡巨大的天然熱——以至於燒著的火把、火星、煙和火焰被說為從牠口中發出，甚至令人覺得足以點燃煤炭（約伯記 41:19-21）。這些誇張的表達也許用於利維坦，是要暗示神怒氣的可怕，因為這正是這一切所要使我們確信的。有火從他口中發出，燒滅（詩 18:7-8）。全能者的氣如同硫磺的溪流，點燃了陀斐特，並要永遠使它燃燒（賽 30:33）。那惡者要被他口中的氣滅絕（帖後 2:8）。（4.）牠有不可戰勝的力量和最可怕的凶猛，使牠所遇到的一切都驚恐，而牠自己卻不被任何事物所驚嚇。看牠的頸項，其中存著力量（約伯記 41:22）。牠的頭和身體結合得好。驚恐在牠面前歡躍（或作得勝），因為牠所到之處都造成可怕的破壞。或者，那些是別人憂患的風暴卻是牠的喜樂；對別人是顛簸的，對牠卻是舞蹈。牠的肉結合得好（約伯記 41:23）。牠的肉塊如此緊密地*互相聯絡，而且如此結實，*以至於難以刺穿；牠彷彿全身是骨。牠的肉如同黃銅——約伯曾抱怨自己的肉不是如此（約伯記 6:12）。牠的心結實如石頭（約伯記 41:24）。牠的勇氣與身體的力量相稱，雖然牠體積龐大，卻靈活而不笨拙。正如牠的肉和皮不能被刺穿，牠的勇氣也不能被挫敗；相反，牠挫敗所遇到的一切，使他們陷入驚惶（約伯記 41:25）：*牠奮力的時候——*如同在汪洋中移動的山一般——*勇士都驚惶，*唯恐牠會推翻他們的船或對他們造成別的損害。*因波浪翻滾——*威脅著死亡——他們都自潔，承認自己的罪，歸向禱告，預備好面對死亡。我們讀到（約伯記 3:8）有些人，當他們喚起利維坦時，驚恐到咒詛日子。看來這是一種恐懼——曾驅使一些人去咒詛，另一些人去禱告；因為如今天一樣，那時也有性格不同的航海人，海洋的恐懼對他們有相反的效果；但所有人都同意，當利維坦奮力時，他們中間有大大的驚恐。（5.）所有用來攻擊牠的殺戮工具都不能傷害牠，因此對牠不是威脅（約伯記 41:26-29）。刀劍和槍——近距離殺傷的——對牠不算什麼；鏢、箭和彈石——遠距離殺傷的——對牠毫無損害；自然已如此將牠全副武裝，抵禦一切。人在與利維坦交戰時所用的防禦性武器，如鎧甲或胸甲，對人常常和進攻性武器一樣無用；鐵和銅對牠如乾草和爛木，牠嗤笑它們。這是一幅心硬罪人的圖畫——他藐視全能者的威嚇，嗤笑他話語中的一切警告。利維坦如此不怕用來攻擊牠的武器，以至於為了顯示牠的剛強，牠選擇躺在尖瓦片、尖銳之物上（約伯記 41:30），如同躺在軟泥上一般舒適。那些要忍受艱難的人必須使自己習慣於艱難。（6.）牠在水中的運行使水翻騰發酵（約伯記 41:31-32）。當牠在水中翻滾、攪動，或追趕獵物時，牠使深淵開滾如鍋，牠在水面掀起巨大的泡沫和浪花，如同沸騰的鍋上的，尤其是一鍋沸騰的膏油；而且牠走過以後使路發光，這連海中的船也不如此（箴 30:19）。人可以藉著水面上的氣泡追蹤水下的利維坦；然而誰能利用這一點在追趕牠時佔優勢呢？人在雪中追蹤野兔並殺死牠們，但追蹤利維坦的人不敢靠近牠。
2. 在給了關於牠的肢體、牠的力量和牠俊美體態的具體描述之後，他以四件概括的事來結束關於這動物的論述：（1.）牠是低等受造之物中的無匹者：在地上沒有牠的同等（約伯記 41:33）。世上沒有一個受造之物在力量和恐怖上可與牠相比。或者這裡的「地」與「海」有所區分：牠的管轄不在地上（有人如此說），而在水中。地上一切野獸沒有一個在體型和力量上接近牠，而人幸運的是牠被限制在水中，在那裡有神聖護理所設立看守（約伯記 7:12），因為若如此可怕的受造之物被允許在地上漫遊肆虐，它對世人——這地是為他們預備的——將是不安全和不舒適的居所。（2.）牠比任何其他受造之物都更大膽、更勇敢：牠是受造而無所懼怕的。受造之物如何被造就是如何；利維坦的體質中有勇氣，沒有什麼能嚇倒牠；別的受造之物恰恰相反，似乎被設計為逃跑，如同牠被設計為爭戰一般。如此在人中間，有些人天生大膽，有些人天生膽怯。（3.）牠自己非常驕傲；雖然住在深淵中，卻觀看一切高大的（約伯記 41:34）。翻滾的波浪、高聳的礁石、盤旋的雲層，以及揚帆全速航行的船隻——這龐大的動物都以輕蔑的眼光觀看，因為牠不認為它們減少了牠什麼或威脅了牠什麼。那些偉大的人容易心生輕蔑。（4.）牠在驕傲的子孫之上作王，就是說，牠是一切驕傲之人中最驕傲的。牠有更多可以驕傲的（如卡里爾先生如此解釋），勝過世上最驕傲的人；因此這是對人的傲慢和高傲眼光的一種貶抑。無論人以什麼身體上的長處為驕傲、以此自負，利維坦都超越他們，是他們的王。有人如此讀，將此理解為指神：觀看一切高大的那位——就是他——是驕傲子孫的王；他能馴服比希摩斯（約伯記 40:19）和利維坦——無論牠們多大、心多麼剛強。這番關乎那兩個動物的論述被引入，是為了證明唯有神能觀看驕傲的人、使他降卑、將他拉下、將他踐踏、並藏在塵土中（約伯記 40:11-13），因此它以一個證明完畢結束：有一位觀看一切高大的，在人驕傲行事的地方，他超越他們；他是驕傲子孫的王——無論是野獸還是理性之人，都能使他們在他面前或彎腰或折斷（賽 2:11）。眼目高傲的必降為卑，性情狂傲的都必屈膝，如此耶和華獨被尊崇。
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.
此處對鱷魚——一種體型極大、強壯、令人畏懼的魚或水獸——的描述，是為要進一步使約伯認識自己的無能與神的全能，好叫他為自己如此放膽冒犯神的愚妄而謙卑。I. 為使約伯認識自己的軟弱，他在此受到挑戰：若能，就去制伏並馴服這鱷魚，作牠的主人（Job 41:1-9）；既然他不能做到這事，就必須承認自己完全無法在那位偉大的神面前站立得住（Job 41:10）。II. 為使約伯認識神的大能與可畏的威嚴，此處舉出了鱷魚的力量與可怖的幾個具體實例——而這不過是神所賜予牠的，也不過是神所管轄的（Job 41:11,12）。這裏描述鱷魚的面貌可畏（Job 41:12,14），鱗甲緊密（Job 41:15-17），氣息與噴嚏迸出火花（Job 41:18-21），肉體堅實（Job 41:22-24），受攻擊時牠的力量與氣勢不可抵擋（Job 41:25-30），動作洶湧、攪動水域（Job 41:31,32）；因此綜觀而言，牠是一頭極其可怕的受造之物，人絕非牠的對手（Job 41:33,34）。