Job 41:21 — Word Study
WLCנַ֭פְשׁוֹ גֶּחָלִ֣ים תְּלַהֵ֑ט וְ֝לַ֗הַב מִפִּ֥יו יֵצֵֽא׃
BSAstubbleqash to devisechâshab clubtôwthâch△ to laughsâchaq quakingraʻash javelinkîydôwn
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| נַ֭פְשׁוֹ | breath its | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| גֶּחָלִ֣ים | coals | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| תְּלַהֵ֑ט | it kindles | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| וְ֝לַ֗הַב | and a flame | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מִפִּ֥יו | from mouth its | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יֵצֵֽא׃ | it goes forth | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth. |
| KJV | His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. |
| ASV | His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. |
| YLT | His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth. |
| WEB | His breath kindles coals. A flame goes out of his mouth. |
| BBE | His breath puts fire to coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. |
Translations agree on the imagery of breath and flames, emphasizing the creature's power.
The main clause presents the action of the subject, with additional phrases providing detail about the object and source.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectשָׂחַק
verbתּוֹתָח
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 41:21
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 a Great Beastgenerated
Job 41:21 illustrates the fierce nature of a creature, often interpreted as a dragon or leviathan, emphasizing its overwhelming strength and the fear it inspires. The surrounding verses build a picture of its might, with smoke and flames illustrating its ferocity, as seen in Job 41:20 and Job 41:22.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 18:8–12 | Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth. |
| 2 | Isaiah 30:33 | For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. |
| 3 | Habakkuk 3:5 | Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נַ֭פְשׁוֹ, naf.shogenerated
The word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) is a noun that means 'soul' or 'living being.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to breathe', capturing the essence of life and vitality. In this verse, it refers to the breath of the creature, emphasizing its powerful and life-giving nature.
This term encompasses both physical and emotional aspects of existence, highlighting the creature's ability to ignite and produce flames, which symbolizes its fierce and destructive power.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase His breath sets coals ablaze.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תְּלַהֵ֑ט governs the action of the subject לַ֗הַב, with the object גֶּחָלִ֣ים following. The structure emphasizes the subject's action in igniting the coals.
The phrase מִפִּ֥יו introduces the source of the flames, indicating that the flames come forth from the creature's mouth, highlighting the dramatic imagery of fire and destruction.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נַ֭פְשׁוֹ as καλάμη, which conveys a sense of breath or spirit. This choice narrows the focus to the life force of the creature, emphasizing its vitality and power.
The Greek rendering of תְּלַהֵ֑ט as σφῦραι suggests a similar fiery connotation, reinforcing the image of flames erupting from the creature.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 41:21 describes a powerful creature whose breath ignites coals and produces flames. This imagery emphasizes the creature's might and the fear it inspires.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The breath symbolizes the creature's life force and power, capable of igniting coals and producing flames, illustrating its ferocity.
Fire represents destruction and power, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the creature being described.
The surrounding verses build a vivid picture of the creature's might, with references to smoke and strength, enhancing the overall portrayal of its ferocity.
The description serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring power of creation and the majesty of God in creating such formidable beings.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this verse teach us about the nature of power and ferocity in creation?
- How can we apply the imagery of fire in our understanding of strength and destruction?
- In what ways does the description of this creature challenge our perceptions of the natural world?
- How can we reflect on the majesty of God as seen in the powerful creatures He has created?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, interpreting the flames as representing the minds of those consumed by earthly desires.
His breath kindleth coals. And a flame goeth out of his mouth. 67. For what does He call 'coals,' but the minds of reprobate men, kindled with earthly desires.Early Church Fathers on Job 41 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 41:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHis breath kindles coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. Hyperbolical expressions, which the above observations may seem to justify.
Read John Gill on Job 41 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHis breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. Kindleth coals - poetical imagery (Psalms 18:8, "There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it").
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 41 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAn hyperbolical expression, noting only extraordinary heat.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 41 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 41:21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.Ver. 21. His breath kindleth coals] Or, would kindle coals (as a smith’ s bellows), if there were any to kindle. Such a kindling of coal was Arius and Hildebrand of old, the Jesuits of this day, and not a few others, Proverbs 26:21 Isaiah 33:11, "your breath, as fire, shall devour you." Some men’ s tongues are like gunpowder, which, touched with the least spark, will instantly be in the face. A flame goeth out of their mouths enough to set the whole course of nature on fire, James 3:6.
Read John Trapp 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 BibleHis breath kindleth coals - It seems to be a flame, and to set on fire all around it. So Hesiod, “Theog.” i. 319, describing the creation of the Chimera, speaks of it as πνέουσανἀμαισάκετονπῦρ pneousan amaimaketon pur.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 41 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21. His breath kindleth coals — A highly poetical description of the beast when engaged in the pursuit of his prey, or when inflamed with rage.
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
His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.
His breath kindles coals. A flame goes out of his mouth.
His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.
Its breath sets coals ablaze and a flame shoots from its mouth.
Tyndale line
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame issueth from his mouth.
Sharpe stones are vnder him, and he spreadeth sharpe things vpon the myre.
Strictly literal
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth.
His breath sets coals on fire, || And a flame goes forth from his mouth.
(41:13) His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh out of his mouth.
His breath kindles coals into flame; fires go out from his mouth.
From the Latin
The beams of the sun shall be under him, and he shall strew gold under him like mire.
Simplified
Its breath sets fire to charcoal as flames shoot from its mouth.
His breath puts fire to coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.
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 reads: נַ֭פְשׁוֹ גֶּחָלִ֣ים תְּלַהֵ֑ט וְ֝לַ֗הַב מִפִּ֥יו יֵצֵֽא׃. The Septuagint matches five of the six words, maintaining the core imagery of the Hebrew text.
נַ֭פְשׁוֹ גֶּחָלִ֣ים תְּלַהֵ֑ט וְ֝לַ֗הַב מִפִּ֥יו יֵצֵֽא׃
5 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 41:21
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 נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
HNcfsc/Sp3ms — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
גַּחֶ֫לֶת (gechel) refers to coal, specifically burning coal or hot coals. It is derived from an unused root meaning to glow or kindle. The entries consistently define it as an ember or coal, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
גַּחֶ֫לֶת n.f. coal
base
H1513 גַּחֶ֫לֶת coal
1513 gechel geh'-khel
or (feminine) gacheleth {gah-kheh'-leth}; from an unused root
meaning to glow or kindle; an ember:--(burning) coal.
גַּחֶ֫לֶת (ge.chel) — coal.
coal, burning coal, coals of fire, hot coals
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
לָהַט (lahat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to blaze or kindle. It encompasses actions like burning, scorching, and setting on fire, with forms indicating both a participle and a causative aspect. The entries consistently describe its fiery connotations without notable disagreement.
[לָהַט] vb. blaze up, flame
Qal a flaming fire
Pi. set ablaze
base
H3857 [לָהַט] blaze up, flame
3857 lahat law-hat'
a primitive root; properly, to lick, i.e. (by implication) to
blaze:--burn (up), set on fire, flaming, kindle.
לָהַט (la.hat) — to kindle.
1) to burn, blaze, scorch, kindle, blaze up, flame
1a) (Qal) blazing (participle)
1b)(Piel) to scorch, burn, blaze
HVpi3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singularHVpi3fs
לַ֫הַב (lahab) refers to both 'flame' and 'blade.' It is derived from an unused root meaning to gleam, indicating a bright or glittering quality. The term encompasses the idea of a flame as well as the sharp point of a weapon, such as a spear or sword.
לַ֫הַב n.m. flame, blade
flame
of flashing point of spear; blade of sword
base
H3851 לַ֫הַב flame, blade
3851 lahab lah'-hab
from an usused root meaning to gleam; a flash; figuratively,
a sharply polished blade or point of a weapon:--blade, bright,
flame, glittering.
לַ֫הַב (la.hav) — flame.
1) flame, blade
1a) flame
1b) of flashing point of spear or blade of sword
HC/Ncmsa — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
flam (lahabh, and other forms from same root; phlox):
In Jud 13:20 bis; Job 41:21; Isa 29:6; Joe 2:5, the word is lahabh. Various other words are translated "flame"; mas'eth, "a lifting or rising up" (Jud 20:38,40 the King James Version), the Revised Version (British and American) "cloud" (of smoke); kalil, "completeness" (Jud 20:40 b King James Version margin, "a holocaust, or offering wholly consumed by fire"; compare Le 6:15); shalhebheth (Job 15:30;
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
יָצָא (yatsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to go or come out, with various applications including departure, escape, and emergence. It can refer to both animate and inanimate subjects and emphasizes the idea of origin or source. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating actions like leading out or being brought forth.
יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out
Qal
go or come out or forth
from (מִן) a place
go forth from (the presence of) a person
in technical senses
of flight, involving escape
depart
of inanimate things
with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
of children as going forth from loins (of father)
go forth to a place
go forward, proceed to or toward something
come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
of combinations
Hiph.
cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
bring out animals
inanimate obj.
fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
Hoph. be brought forth
base
H3318 יָצָא go or come out .. go or come out or forth . from (מִן) a place
. go forth from (the presence of) a person
. in technical senses
. of flight, involving escape
. depart
. of inanimate things
. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
. of children as going forth from loins (of father)
. . go forth to a place
. go forward, proceed to or toward something
. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
. of combinations
. . cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
. bring out animals
. inanimate obj.
. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
. be brought forth
3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'
a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great
variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct
and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X
begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come
(abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned,
depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact,
fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence,
out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out),
going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out,
lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X
scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring
out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any
time, X to (and fro), utter.
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: come.
: come/go_out/escape
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: send.
: send/take_out/release
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement
(1) forward,
(2) out of,
(3) beyond a certain boundary.
In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version…