Job 41:5

Job 41:5

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

a. ASV: Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

b. YLT: Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels?

c. Classic Amplified: Will you play with [the crocodile] as with a bird? Or will you put him on a leash for your maidens?

d. Septuagint: Who will open the face of his garment? and who can enter within the fold of his breastplate?

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: Who has uncovered  the surface of his garment? Who can understand his double bridle

1. “Wilt thou play with him as with a bird?...”

a. [Wilt thou] play [with him] [Strong: 7832 sachaq saw-khak' a primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play:--deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport.]

b. [as with a] bird [Strong: 6833 tsippowr tsip-pore' or tsippor {tsip-pore'}; from 6852; a little bird (as hopping):--bird, fowl, sparrow.]

2. “...or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?”

a. [or wilt thou] bind [him] [Strong: 7194 qashar kaw-shar' a primitive root: to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league):--bind (up), (make a) conspire(-acy, -ator), join together, knit, stronger, work (treason).]

b. [for thy] maidens [Strong: 5291 na`arah nah-ar-aw' feminine of 5288; a girl (from infancy to adolescence):--damsel, maid(-en), young (woman).]

1). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional 7/16/11 There is a remarkable animal called a "leviathan" described in the direct words of God in chapter 41 of Job. It is surprising that most modern expositors call this animal merely a crocodile. Our text plainly calls it a "piercing serpent . . . the dragon that is in the sea." He is also said to "play" in the "great and wide sea" (Psalm 104:25, 26). God's description in Job 41 says "a flame goeth out of his mouth" (v.21), and "he maketh the deep to boil like a pot" (v.31). The entire description is awesome! Whatever a leviathan might have been, it was not a crocodile! In fact, there is no animal living today which fits the description. Therefore, it is an extinct animal, almost certainly a great marine reptile with "terrible teeth" and "scales" (vv.14, 15) still surviving in the oceans of Job's day, evidently one of the fearsome reptiles that gave rise to the worldwide tales of great sea dragons, before they became extinct. But that is not all. In ending His discourse, God called leviathan "a king over all the children of pride" (Job 41:34), so the animal is also symbolic of Satan, whose challenge to God instigated Job's strange trials. He is "the great dragon . . . that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). Perhaps, therefore, the mysterious and notorious extinction of the dinosaurs is a secular prophecy of the coming Day of Judgment, when God "shall punish leviathan" (Isaiah 27:1), and the "devil that deceived them" will be "cast into the lake of fire . . . and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). HMM

2). Institute of Creation Research Days of Praise  10/31/1993: “In that day the LORD with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea” (Isaiah 27:1). There is a remarkable animal called a “leviathan,” described in the direct words of God in the 41st chapter of Job. It is surprising that most modern expositors call this animal merely a crocodile. Our text plainly calls it a “piercing serpent . . . the dragon that is in the sea.” He is also said to “play” in the “great and wide sea” (Psalm 104:25,26). God’s description in Job 41 says “a flame goeth out of his mouth” (v.21), and “he maketh the deep to boil like a pot” (v.31). The entire description is awesome! Whatever a leviathan might have been, it was not a crocodile! In fact, there is no animal living today which fits the description. Therefore, it is an extinct animal, almost certainly a great marine reptile with “terrible teeth” and “scales” (vv.14,15) still surviving in the oceans of Job’s day, evidently one of the fearsome reptiles that gave rise to the worldwide tales of great sea dragons, before they became extinct. But that is not all. In ending His discourse, God called leviathan “a king over all the children of pride” (Job 41:34), so the animal is also symbolic of Satan, whose challenge to God instigated Job’s strange trials. He is “the great dragon . . . that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Perhaps, therefore, the mysterious and notorious extinction of the dinosaurs is a secular prophecy of the coming Day of Judgment, when God “shall punish leviathan” (Isaiah 27:1), and the “devil that deceived them” will be “cast into the lake of fire . . . and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). HMM

3). This creature was huge, he was so dangerous that those hunting him had to use the utmost caution. His teeth inspired fear and terror. He was covered with scales all over his body and he was fire breathing. It appears he left the water sometimes because as the NIV says in verse 30, “His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.” We know though that even as fearful as this creature was, he was hunted for food as was the creature called a “dragon” in Isaiah 27:1.

b). Psalm 74:13, 14 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 

74:14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.