Job 40:22 — Word Study
WLCיְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ צֶאֱלִ֣ים צִֽלֲל֑וֹ יְ֝סֻבּ֗וּהוּ עַרְבֵי־ נָֽחַל׃
BSAThe lotus plantstseʼel [shady trees, covering with their shadow] conceal himçâkak▸ in their shadetsêlel [shadow, protection] the willowsʻârâb [poplar trees, trees by the water] of the brooknachal [stream, small river] surround himçâbab▸ [compass, turn about]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ | they cover it | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| צֶאֱלִ֣ים | thorny lotus plants | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| צִֽלֲל֑וֹ | shade its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יְ֝סֻבּ֗וּהוּ | they surround it | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| עַרְבֵי־ | [the] poplars of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| נָֽחַל׃ | [the] wadi | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him. |
| KJV | The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. |
| ASV | The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about. |
| YLT | Cover him do shades, [with] their shadow, Cover him do willows of the brook. |
| WEB | The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him. |
| BBE | He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of the actions of the plants — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of two main clauses, each describing the protective actions of different plants.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectצֶאֱלִים
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 40:22
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Description of Behemothgenerated
Job 40:22 describes the Behemoth, a powerful creature, highlighting how it is concealed and surrounded by nature. The lotus plants and willows create a protective environment for this creature, emphasizing its strength and the safety it finds in its habitat. This imagery is part of a larger discourse where God illustrates the majesty of His creation, particularly in contrast to human limitations.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 23:40 | On the first day you are to gather the fruit of majestic trees, the branches of palm trees, and the boughs of leafy trees and of willows of the brook. And you are to rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. |
| 2 | Isaiah 15:7 | So they carry their wealth and belongings over the Brook of the Willows. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 17:5 | He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ, ye.su.Ku.hugenerated
The verb סוּךְ (*sukh*) means 'to cover' or 'to protect', indicating a sense of enclosure and safety. The parsing indicates that it is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing action performed by a plural subject.
This word conveys the idea of being surrounded or shielded, which is fitting in this context as it describes how the lotus plants provide shade and concealment for the Behemoth.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the meaning of יְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ as 'they cover it', with the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all using similar wording.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ governs the first part of the verse, with the subject צֶאֱלִ֣ים (lotus plants) performing the action of covering. The second part of the verse introduces another verb יְ֝סֻבּ֗וּהוּ, which describes the willows surrounding the Behemoth.
The structure emphasizes the protective environment created by the plants, with the lotus plants and willows both playing crucial roles in the imagery.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word for 'surround' is rendered as αὐτῷ, which translates to 'to him'. This choice indicates a focus on the Behemoth's relationship with its environment, emphasizing its presence within the protective cover of the plants.
The translation reflects a similar understanding of the protective qualities of the surrounding flora.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 40:22 describes how the lotus plants provide shade and concealment for the Behemoth, while the willows of the brook surround it. This highlights the creature's strength and the protective environment it inhabits.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This indicates that the Behemoth is hidden and protected by the natural environment, showcasing its strength and the safety provided by the plants.
Willows are mentioned as they surround the Behemoth, further emphasizing the creature's connection to its habitat and the protective qualities of the surrounding flora.
The imagery illustrates the majesty of God's creation and the power of the Behemoth, highlighting how nature provides protection and concealment.
This verse is part of a larger discourse where God describes His creation, particularly the Behemoth, to demonstrate His power and the limitations of human understanding.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this verse teach us about the relationship between creatures and their environment?
- How can we see God's protection in our own lives, similar to how the Behemoth is concealed?
- In what ways do we find safety and shelter in our surroundings?
- How does understanding the imagery in this verse deepen our appreciation for God's creation?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early commentary by Gregory the Dialogist interprets this verse to illustrate the nature of wickedness and its resemblance to shadows.
The shadows cover his shadow. 10. For all the wicked are in truth shadows of the devil: for while they give themselves up to imitate his iniquity, they derive, as it were, a form of resemblance from his body.Early Church Fathers on Job 40 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 40:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe shady trees cover him [with] their shadow,.... Under which it lies, as in Job 40:21; which is thought not so well to agree with the elephant, since, according to Aelianus (h) and other writers,
Read John Gill on Job 40 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBehold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 40 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOf the brook; or, of Nilus, of which this word is oft used in Scripture. And this seems to be the chief argument by which the learned Bochart proves this to be meant of the hippopotamus, whose constant residence is in or near the river of Nilus, or the willows that grow by it. But it is well alleged by our learned and judicious Caryl, that this word Naal is never used to express Nilus when it is put by itself, as here it is, but only where the word Egypt is added to it, as it is in all the places which Bochart produceth. And this very phrase, the willows of the brook, is used of other brooks or rivers besides Nilus, as : compare .
Read Matthew Poole on Job 40 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 40:22 The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.Ver. 22. The shady trees cover him with their shadow, &c.] He leaneth against those trees and sleepeth, for lie down and rise again he cannot, for want of joints in his limbs. And why may not we conceive the trees in those parts big enough to overshade the elephant, when, as in America, but especially in Brazil, the trees are so huge that it is reported of them that several families have lived in several arms of one tree, to such a number as are in some petty village or parish among us? (Abbot’ s Geog., p. 271.) The willows of the brook compass him about] To shelter him from the wind and…
Read John Trapp on Job 40 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 22. The willows of the brook compass him] This would agree well enough with the hippopotamus.
Read AdamClarke on Job 40 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesChap. Job 40:6 to Job 42:6. The Lord’s Second Answer to Job out of the Storm Shall Man charge God with unrighteousness in His Rule of the World? All that the first speech of the Lord touched upon was the presumption of a mortal man desiring to contend with the Almighty. The display from Creation of that which God is had the desired effect on Job’s mind: he is abased, and will no more contend with the Almighty. But Job had not only presumed to contend with God, he had charged Him with unrighteousness in His rule of the world and in His treatment of himself. This is the point to which the second speech from the storm is directed. The passage has properly two parts. First, Job 40:6-14, as Job…
Read Cambridge on Job 40 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe shady trees - Probably the “lote-trees;” see the note at Job 40:21. The same word is used here.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 40 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible22. The willows — A kind of weeping willow, (salix Babylonica,) same as in Psalms 137:2. Of the new Israel, Isaiah tenderly says, they shall spring up as “willows (ibid.) by the water courses.” Chap. Job 44:4.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 40 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
The lotus trees conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream conceal it.
Tyndale line
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about.
The lotus trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook encompass him.
Will he make many prayers vnto thee, or speake thee faire?
Strictly literal
Lotus-bushes cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
Cover him do shades, [with] their shadow, Cover him do willows of the brook.
Shades cover him, [with] their shadow, || Willows of the brook cover him.
Shady trees cover him as his shadow: willows of the brook encompass him about.
The lotus plants cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook are all around him.
From the Latin
Will he make many supplications to thee, or speak soft words to thee?
Simplified
The lotus covers it with shade; the willow trees of the valley surround it.
He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show some agreement, with two of the six words matched. However, the Septuagint's word order and articles differ, indicating a distinct translation approach.
יְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ צֶאֱלִ֣ים צִֽלֲל֑וֹ יְ֝סֻבּ֗וּהוּ עַרְבֵי־ נָֽחַל׃
2 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 40:22
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word סוּךְ (*sukh*) and its variants relate to the concepts of covering, protecting, and weaving together. It encompasses meanings such as to hedge in, overshadow, and screen, with implications of defense and joining. The entries reference various forms and usages, including a noun for 'protector' and verbs that describe actions of covering and weaving. Notably, the word appears in Exodus 33:22.
[סוּךְ, סִיךְ] vb. hedge, or fence about, shut in
base
[סָכַךְ] vb. overshadow, screen, cover
Qal
screen, cover
reflex. cover oneself
Hiph. screen, cover
Pilp. denom.
base
[סָכַךְ] vb. weave together;—Qal ψ 139:13
ref
סֹכֵךְ n. [m.] protector;—term. techn. of structure shielding stormers of city Na 2:6
H5526a סוּךְ, סִיךְ hedge, or fence about, shut in H5526b סָכַךְ overshadow, screen, cover H5526c סָכַךְ weave together H5526d סֹכֵךְ n. [m.] protector H5526e שָׂכַךְ cover, lay over, so as to screen H5526f שָׂכַךְ weave
5526 cakak saw-kak'
or sakak (Exod. 33:22) {saw-kak'}; a primitive root;
properly, to entwine as a screen; by implication, to fence in,
cover over, (figuratively) protect:--cover, defence, defend,
hedge in, join together, set, shut up.
סוּךְ (sukh) — to fence.
(Qal) to hedge, fence about, shut in
סָכַךְ (sa.khakh) — to cover.
1) to block, overshadow, screen, stop the approach, shut off, cover
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to screen, cover
1a2) to cover oneself
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to screen, cover
סָכַךְ (sa.khakh) — to weave.
1) to weave together
4a) (Qal) to weave together
1b) (Pilpel) to weave, weave together
סֹכֵךְ (so.kh) — protector.
protector (participle)
שָׂכַךְ (sa.khakh) — to cover.
(Qal) to cover, lay over
שָׂכַךְ (sa.khakh) — to weave.
1) to weave together
1a) (Qal) to weave together
1b) (Pilpel) to weave, weave together
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVqi3mp/Sp3ms
צֶאֱלִים (tse'el) refers to a type of lotus, specifically a thorny lotus shrub. It is derived from an unused root meaning to be slender. The entries indicate that it is associated with a shady tree, though the specific context in the Old Testament is not detailed.
צֶאֱלִים n.m.pl. a kind of lotus
base
H6628 צֶאֳלִים, צֶאֶל
6628 tse'el tseh'-el
from an unused root meaning to be slender; the lotus
tree:--shady tree.
צֶאֱלִים (tse.el) — lotus.
1) a kind of lotus
1a) a thorny lotus shrub
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
→ See BOTANY
צֵל (tselel) refers to a shadow or shade, derived from a related word. It encompasses meanings such as a physical shadow, shade for protection, and a symbolic representation of life's transitoriness. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
H6752 צֵל, צֵלֶל
6752 tselel tsay'-lel
from 6751; shade:--shadow.
see HEBREW for 06751
צֵלֶל (tse.lel) — shadow.
1) shadow, shade
1a) shadow (on dial)
1b) shadow, shade (as protection)
1c) shadow (symbolic of transitoriness of life)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word סָבַב (savav) means to turn or go around, encompassing a range of actions such as surrounding, marching, and changing direction. It is built from a primitive root and has various applications, both literal and figurative, including transforming or enclosing. The entries detail its uses in different verbal forms, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.
סָבַב vb. turn about, go around, surround
Qal
turn, intrans.
march, or walk, around
go partly round, circle, skirt
make a round, or circuit, go about to
surround, encompass
Niph.
turn oneself against, close round upon
turn round (from a direct course)
esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
pass. be turned over to, into the power of
Pi. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
Po‛.
encompass (with protection)
come about, assemble round
march or go about
enclose, envelop
Hiph.
turn (trans.), cause to turn
bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
turn into, of changing name
= bring round, of changing name
cause to go around
surround with (acc.) wall
perh. also encompass (as foe)
Hoph.
be turned, of cart wheel
surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
base
H5437 סָבַב turn about, go around, surround .. turn, intrans.
. . march, or walk, around
. go partly round, circle, skirt
. make a round, or circuit, go about to
. surround, encompass
. . . turn oneself against, close round upon
. turn round (from a direct course)
. esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward
. pass. be turned over to, into the power of
. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter
. . encompass (with protection)
. come about, assemble round
. march or go about
. enclose, envelop
. . . turn (trans.), cause to turn
. bring over (i.e. to allegiance)
. turn into, of changing name
. = bring round, of changing name
. . cause to go around
. surround with (acc.) wall
. perh. also encompass (as foe)
. . be turned, of cart wheel
. surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels
5437 cabab saw-bab'
a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in
various applications, literally and figuratively (as
follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X
round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset
(about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to
come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round),
drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass,
go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit
down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: turn.
: turn/bring_around
1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change
1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round
1b2) to be turned over to
1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform
1d) (Poel)
1d1) to encompass, surround
1d2) to come about, assemble round
1d3) to march, go about
1d4) to enclose, envelop
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round
1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be turned
1f2) to be surrounded
סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: surround.
: surround/go_round
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVqi3mp/Sp3ms
עֲרָבָה (arabah) refers to a type of tree, specifically a poplar or willow. It is derived from the root associated with willows, indicating its use in construction, such as wattles. The entries highlight its significance in the context of trees characterized by dark wood, but do not provide specific verse references.
[עֲרָבָה] n.[f.] poplar
base
H6155 [עֲרָבָה] poplar
6155 `arab aw-rawb'
from 6148; a willow (from the use of osiers as
wattles):--willow.
see HEBREW for 06148
עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — (Brook of) Willows.
Combined with na.chal (נַ֫חַל "Brook" H5158)
עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — willow.
1) poplar, willow
1a) a tree characterised by dark wood
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
נַ֫חַל (*nachal*) primarily refers to a torrent or stream, often associated with a valley or wadi where water flows, particularly in winter. It can also denote a shaft of a mine. Additionally, the term may relate to palm trees in certain contexts. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, including references in Psalms and Ezekiel.
נַ֫חַל n.m. torrent, torrent-valley, wady
base
[נַ֫חַל] n.[m.] perh. palm-tree;—only pl. abs., Nu 24:6
ref
H5158a נַ֫חַל torrent, torrent-valley, wady H5158b נַ֫חַל perh. palm-tree
5158 nachal nakh'-al
or (feminine) nachlah (Psalm 124:4) {nakh'-law}; or nachalah
(Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) {nakh-al-aw'}; from 5157 in its
original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by
implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a
shaft (of a mine):--brook, flood, river, stream, valley.
see HEBREW for 05157
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — torrent: river.
: river/bed
1) torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley
1a) torrent
1b) torrent-valley, wadi (as stream bed)
1c) shaft (of mine)
Also means: na.chal (נַ֫חַל ": valley" H5158N)
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — palm-tree.
palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Eshcol) Valley.
Combined with esh.kol (אֶשְׁכֹּל " of Eshcol" H0812H)
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Shittim) Valley.
Combined with shit.tim (שִׁטִּים " of Shittim" H7851H)
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Sorek) Valley.
Combined with s.vo.req (שֹׂרֵק " of Sorek" H7796)
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
palm-tree
Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
palm-tree
Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa