Job 41:12 — Word Study
WLCלֽוֹ אַחֲרִ֥ישׁ בַּדָּ֑יו וּדְבַר־ גְּ֝בוּר֗וֹת וְחִ֣ין עֶרְכּֽוֹ׃
BSAnostrilnᵉchîyr△ to come outyâtsâʼ smokeʻâshân potdûwd to breathenâphach bulrushʼagmôwn
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֽוֹ | to it | Preposition, suffix |
| אַחֲרִ֥ישׁ | I will keep silent | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect first person common singular |
| בַּדָּ֑יו | limbs its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וּדְבַר־ | and [the] matter of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| גְּ֝בוּר֗וֹת | strength | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| וְחִ֣ין | and [the] grace of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| עֶרְכּֽוֹ׃ | arrangement its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I cannot keep silent about his limbs, his power and graceful form. |
| KJV | I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. |
| ASV | I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. |
| YLT | I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement. |
| WEB | “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. |
| BBE | I will not keep quiet about the parts of his body, or about his power, and the strength of his frame. |
Where they part company is חִין — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb, with three phrases detailing what Job cannot remain silent about. This structure emphasizes the significance of each attribute mentioned.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהוּא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 41:12
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 — Job's Reflection on Creationgenerated
Job 41:12 is part of a larger section where Job speaks about the majesty and power of a great creature, often interpreted as a representation of God's creation. The verses surrounding it emphasize the awe-inspiring aspects of this creature, contrasting its might with human limitations. Job's reflections serve to highlight the grandeur of God's works and the inability of humans to fully comprehend them.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 1:25 | God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גְּ֝בוּר֗וֹת, ge.vu.Rotgenerated
The word גְּבוּרָה (*gevurah*) means strength or might, often used to describe powerful beings or forces. It is a feminine noun that conveys not just physical strength but also valor and bravery, as seen in other contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible.
In this verse, it emphasizes the creature's formidable nature, suggesting that its strength is both impressive and fearsome. The parsing indicates it is in the plural form, which may refer to multiple aspects of strength or various expressions of might.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb אַחֲרִ֥ישׁ (*'a.cha.Rish*) governs the whole verse, with several noun phrases detailing what Job cannot keep silent about: the limbs, strength, and graceful form of the creature. This structure emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Job's observations.
The Hebrew word order places the verb first, highlighting Job's declaration of silence as the focal point, followed by the attributes of the creature that provoke his awe.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates גְּ֝בוּר֗וֹת as καιομένης, which suggests a focus on the active power or might of the creature, possibly indicating a more dynamic interpretation than the Hebrew.
This choice reflects a narrowing of emphasis on the strength as a living force, rather than merely a static quality.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 41:12 expresses Job's inability to remain silent about the impressive limbs, strength, and graceful form of a great creature. This highlights the creature's power and beauty, showing Job's awe at God's creation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is referring to the physical parts of the creature, emphasizing their size and strength.
The mention of power highlights the creature's might and formidable presence in the natural world.
This phrase indicates the beauty and proportion of the creature, suggesting that it is not only powerful but also aesthetically pleasing.
This verse reflects Job's contemplation of God's creation, emphasizing the majesty and complexity of the world around him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What aspects of God's creation inspire awe in me, similar to Job's reflections?
- How can I appreciate the beauty and strength in the world around me?
- In what ways do I acknowledge the power of God as seen in nature?
- How does understanding the majesty of creation affect my view of my own challenges?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers often reflected on the nature of creation as expressed in Job. Quotations from Gregory the Dialogist illustrate how they interpreted this verse in the context of God's power and the nature of evil.
I will not spare him, nor his mighty words, and framed for entreaty. 42. Who can think this, which he knows he has never read, that the devil is about to ask pardon for his faults? But perhaps that man,Early Church Fathers on Job 41 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 41:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI will not conceal his parts,.... The parts of the leviathan; or "his bars", the members of his body, which are like bars of iron: nor his power; which is very great, whether of the crocodile or the
Read John Gill on Job 41 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. I will not conceal. A resumption of the description broken off by the digression, which formed an agreeable change.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 41 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. I will particularly speak of them. Here is a meiosis, as there Isaiah 15:18, and oft elsewhere. His parts, Heb. His bars, i.e. the members of his body, which are strong, like bars of iron. His comely proportion, which is more amiable and admirable in so vast a bulk.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 41 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 41:12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.Ver. 12. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power] That therein, as in a picture of the most principal piece of my workmanship, thou mayest behold how great and how glorious a God I am. In the year of grace 1577, July 2nd, the shipmen took a whale not far from Antwerp, the picture whereof was printed and published to this effect: His hide was without scales, and of a leaden colour. He was eighty-five feet long and sixteen feet high. From his mouth to his eyes was fifteen feet; from his eyes to his fins four feet and three fingers, &c. Such a kind of picture or character of this sea monster we have here, from…
Read John Trapp on Job 41 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. I will not conceal his parts] This is most certainly no just translation of the original. The Vulgate is to this effect: I will not spare him: nor yield to his powerful words, framed for the purpose of entreaty. Mr. Good applies it to leviathan: - "I cannot be confounded at his limbs and violence; The strength and structure of his frame." The Creator cannot be intimidated at the most formidable of his own works: man may and should tremble; GOD cannot.
Read AdamClarke on Job 41 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12–34. Description of the parts of Leviathan.
Read Cambridge on Job 41 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI will not conceal his parts - This is the commencement of a more particular description of the animal than had been before given.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 41 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleβ — The divine Speaker resumes the description of leviathan, in order that he may dwell more at large upon the artistic skill and the esthetic wisdom displayed in the making of a reptile whose eyes,
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 41 →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
I cannot keep silent about his limbs, his power and graceful form.
“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
I cannot keep silent about his limbs, his power and graceful form.
I will not keep silent about its limbs, and the extent of its might, and the grace of its arrangement.
Tyndale line
I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his comely proportion.
I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
His breath maketh the coales burne: for a flame goeth out of his mouth.
Strictly literal
I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure.
I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement.
I do not keep silent concerning his parts, || And the matter of might, || And the grace of his arrangement.
(41:4) I will not conceal [the account of] his limbs, nor the relation of his might, nor the grace of his proportion.
I will not keep silent concerning Leviathan's legs, nor about the matter of his strength, nor about his graceful form.
From the Latin
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh forth out of his mouth.
Simplified
Let me tell you about Leviathan: its powerful legs and graceful proportions.
I will not keep quiet about the parts of his body, or about his power, and the strength of his frame.
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 agree on six of the seven words in this verse, maintaining a close correspondence in meaning. The differences lie primarily in the order and structure of the Greek translation.
לֽוֹ אַחֲרִ֥ישׁ בַּדָּ֑יו וּדְבַר־ גְּ֝בוּר֗וֹת וְחִ֣ין עֶרְכּֽוֹ׃
6 of the 7 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 41:12
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.
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word חָרַשׁ (*charash*) encompasses meanings related to cutting, engraving, and plowing, as well as devising, often with a negative connotation. It also has a related form, חָרֵשׁ (*charesh*), which means to be silent or deaf. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical actions to metaphorical implications of secrecy and silence.
[חָרַשׁ] vb. cut in, engrave, plough, devise
Qal
cut in, engrave
plough
devise
Niph. Zion, as a field she shall be ploughed
Hiph. fabricating mischief against
base
[חָרֵשׁ] vb. 1. be silent, dumb, speechless; 2. be deaf; chiefly poet.
Qal
be silent, alw. of God’s keeping silence when men pray
be deaf
Hiph.
be silent (= exhibit silence)
once causat. make silent
be deaf, shew deafness
base
H2790a חָרַשׁ cut in, engrave, plough, devise H2790b חָרֵשׁ . be silent, dumb, speechless
. be deaf; chiefly poet.
2790 charash khaw-rash'
a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to
engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate
(of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense);
hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone;
hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of
dumbness):--X altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise,
ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace,
plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep
silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue,
worker.
חָרַשׁ (cha.rash) — to plow/plot.
1) to cut in, plough, engrave, devise
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cut in, engrave
1a2) to plough
1a3) to devise
1b) (Niphal) to be ploughed
1c) (Hiphil) to plot evil
חָרֵשׁ (cha.resh) — be quiet.
1) to be silent, be dumb, be speechless, be deaf
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be silent
1a2) to be deaf
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to be silent, keep quiet
1b2) to make silent
1b3) to be deaf, show deafness
1c) (Hithpael) to remain silent
HVhi1cs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect first person common singularHVhi1cs
בַּד (bad) refers to empty or idle talk, as well as to those who engage in such speech, described as empty talkers or praters. It can also denote a brag or lie, and is associated with the concept of a liar. The word is built from a root that suggests emptiness, and it appears in contexts related to deceitful speech.
[בַּד] n.m.
empty, idle talk
concr. empty talkers, praters
base
H907 [בַּד] . empty, idle talk
. concr. empty talkers, praters
907 bad bad
from 908; a brag or lie; also a liar:--liar, lie.
see HEBREW for 0908
בַּד (bad) — bluster.
empty talk, idle talk, liar, lie
HNcmpc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
HC/Ncmsc — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
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…
גְּבוּרָה (gbuwrah) refers to strength or might, encompassing concepts of valor and bravery. It is derived from a root related to force and power, often used in a figurative sense. The term can denote not only human strength but also the might of God, highlighting its significance in both personal and divine contexts.
גְּבוּרָה 61 n.f. strength, might
strength
might, valour
might of God
base
H1369 גְּבוּרָה strength, might
1369 gbuwrah gheb-oo-raw'
feminine passive participle from the same as 1368; force
(literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory:--
force, mastery, might, mighty (act, power), power, strength.
see HEBREW for 01368
גְּבוּרָה (ge.vu.rah) — might.
1) strength, might
1a) strength
1b) might, valour, bravery
1c) might, mighty deeds (of God)
Aramaic equivalent: ge.vu.rah (גְּבוּרָה "might" H1370)
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
→ A title given to Jehovah 1Sa 15:29
חִין (chiyn) refers to beauty or grace. It is noted in Job 41:4 as relating to the grace of proportions. The word is linked to another form, חֵן (chen), which also means beauty.
חִין n.[m.] Jb 41:4 the grace of his proportions
ref
H2433 חִין
2433 chiyn kheen
another form for 2580; beauty:--comely.
see HEBREW for 02580
חִין (chin) — beauty.
beauty, grace
HC/Ncmsc — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
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…
עֵ֫רֶךְ (erek) refers to concepts of order, estimation, and valuation. It can denote a pile or layer of items, as well as the act of setting things in order or making an estimate. The word is derived from a root that suggests arrangement or proportion, and it has an Aramaic equivalent related to lengthening.
עֵ֫רֶךְ 83 n.m. order, row, estimate
base
H6187 עֵ֫רֶךְ
6187 `erek eh'rek
from 6186; a pile, equipment, estimate:--equal, estimation,
(things that are set in) order, price, proportion, X set at,
suit, taxation, X valuest.
see HEBREW for 06186
עֵ֫רֶךְ (e.rekh) — valuation.
1) order, row, estimate, things that are set in order, layer, pile
1a) order, row
1b) estimate, valuation
Aramaic equivalent: ar.ka (אַרְכָֿא "lengthening" H0754)
HNcmsc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms