Job 41:2
◄  Job 41:2  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?

New Living Translation (©2007)
Can you tie it with a rope through the nose or pierce its jaw with a spike?

English Standard Version (©2001)
Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Can you put a rope in his nose Or pierce his jaw with a hook?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

International Standard Version (©2012)
Can you attach a bridle to his snout, or pierce his jaw with a hook?

NET Bible (©2006)
Can you put a cord through its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Can you put a ring through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Can you put a rope in his nose? or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

American King James Version
Can you put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

American Standard Version
Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Canst thou put a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with a buckle?

Darby Bible Translation
Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike?

English Revised Version
Canst thou put a rope into his nose? or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

Webster's Bible Translation
Canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

World English Bible
Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

Young's Literal Translation
Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

41:1-34 Concerning Leviathan. - The description of the Leviathan, is yet further to convince Job of his own weakness, and of God's almighty power. Whether this Leviathan be a whale or a crocodile, is disputed. The Lord, having showed Job how unable he was to deal with the Leviathan, sets forth his own power in that mighty creature. If such language describes the terrible force of Leviathan, what words can express the power of God's wrath? Under a humbling sense of our own vileness, let us revere the Divine Majesty; take and fill our allotted place, cease from our own wisdom, and give all glory to our gracious God and Saviour. Remembering from whom every good gift cometh, and for what end it was given, let us walk humbly with the Lord.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - Canst thou put an hook into his nose? rather, a reed, or a rope of reeds. The exact meaning is doubtful. Or bore his jaw through with a thorn? A hook or ring is meant, rather than a "thorn" - such a "hook" or "ring" as was commonly used for keeping fish captive in the water, or for bringing prisoners of rank into the presence of the monarchs who had captured them (see 2 Kings 19:28; 2 Chronicles 33:11; Amos 4:2; 'Ancient Monarchies,' vol. 1. pp. 304,367).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Canst thou put an hook into his nose?.... Or a rush, that is, a rope made of rushes; for of such ropes were made, as Pliny (g) affirms;

or bore his jaw through with a thorn? as men do herrings, or such like small fish, for the convenience of carrying them, or hanging them up to dry; the whale is not to be used in such a manner: but the Tentyritae, a people in Egypt, great enemies to crocodiles, had methods of taking thorn in nets, and of binding and bridling them, and carrying them as they pleased (h).

(g) Nat. Hist. l. 19. c. 2.((h) Strabo. Geograph. l. 17. p. 560. Aelian. de Animal. l. 10. c. 21. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 25.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. hook—rather, "a rope of rushes."

thorn—rather, a "ring" or "hook." So wild beasts were led about when caught (Isa 37:29; Eze 29:4); fishes also were secured thus and thrown into the water to keep them alive.

Job 41:2 Parallel Commentaries

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God's Power Shown in Creatures
1Can you draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which you let down? 2Can you put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3Will he make many supplications to you? will he speak soft words to you? …

2 Kings 19:28 Because you rage against me and because your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.'
Job 41:3 Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words?
Isaiah 37:29 Because you rage against me and because your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.