Geneva Study Bible Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou draw out {l} leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
(l) Meaning the whale. Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or {m} bore his jaw through with a thorn?
(m) Because he fears lest you should take him. Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take {n} him for a servant for ever?
(n) To do your business, and be at your command? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. Lay thine hand upon him, remember {o} the battle, do no more.
(o) If you once consider the danger, you will not meddle with him. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? Behold, {p} the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
(p) That is, that trusts to take him. None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to {a} stand before me?
(a) If no one dare stand against a whale, which is but a creature, who is able to compare with God the creator? Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. Who hath prevented me, that I should {b} repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
(b) Who has taught me to accomplish my work? I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. I will not conceal {c} his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
(c) The parts and members of the whale? Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? Who can discover the face {d} of his garment? or who can come to him with his double {e} bridle?
(d) That is, who dare pull off his skin? (e) Who dare put a bridle in his mouth? Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. Who can {f} open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
(f) Who dare look in his mouth? His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. By his neesings {g} a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
(g) That is, casts out flames of fire. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. In his neck remaineth strength, and {h} sorrow is turned into joy before him.
(h) Nothing is painful or hard for him. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. Sharp stones {i} are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
(i) His skin is so hard that he lies with a great ease on the stones as in the mud. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. He maketh the deep to {k} boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
(k) Either he makes the sea to seem like it is boiling by his wallowing, or else he spouts water in such abundance as it would seem that the sea boiled. He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. He maketh a path to {l} shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
(l) That is, a white froth and shining stream before him. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride. He beholdeth {m} all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride. (m) He despises all other beasts and monsters, and is the proudest of all others. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
    |