The Might of Leviathan
Job 41
The Lord continues describing a fearsome sea creature, detailing its impenetrable scales, fire-like breath, unbreakable strength, and fearlessness before weapons. He declares it king over all that are in the waters.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHast thou not seen him? Hast thou not been amazed at what is said of him? Hast thou not been afraid that he was prepared against Me?
BrentonHast thou not seen him? and hast thou not wondered at the things said of him?
GreekΟὐχ ἐώρακας αὐτόν; οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς λεγομένοις τεθαύμακας;
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonBut who is there, who hath risen up against Me—
BrentonDost thou not fear because preparation has been made by me? for who is there that resists me?
GreekΟὐ δέδοικας, ὅτι ἡτοίμασταί μοι; τίς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐμοὶ ἀντιστάς;
KJV—
JPS—
3
Thomsonor who can rise up against Me and stand to it? If the whole world is Mine,
BrentonOr who will resist me, and abide, since the whole world under heaven is mine?
GreekἪ τίς ἀντιστήσεταί μοι, καὶ ὑπομενεῖ; εἰ πᾶσα ἡ ὑπʼ οὐρανὸν ἐμή ἐστιν,
KJVWho hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
JPSWho hath given Me anything beforehand, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
4
ThomsonI cannot be put to silence by him. On the account of his power one may pity his equal [opponent].
BrentonI will not be silent because of him: though because of his power one shall pity his antagonist.
GreekΟὐ σιωπήσομαι διʼ αὐτόν· καὶ λόγον δυνάμεως ἐλεήσει τὸν ἶσον αὐτῷ.
KJV—
JPS—
5
ThomsonWho can strip off his outer robe, or who can come within the folds of his breastplate?
BrentonWho will open the face of his garment? and who can enter within the fold of his breast-plate?
GreekΤίς ἀποκαλύψει πρόσωπον ἐνδύσεως αὐτοῦ, εἰς δὲ πτύξιν θώρακος αὐτοῦ τίς ἂν εἰσέλθοι;
KJVWho can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
JPSWho can uncover the face of his garment? Who shall come within his double bridle?
6
ThomsonWho can open the doors of his mouth? His teeth are encompassed with terror.
BrentonWho will open the doors of his face? terror is round about his teeth.
GreekΠύλας προσώπου αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνοίξει; κύκλῳ ὀδόντων αὐτοῦ φόβος.
KJVWho can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
JPSWho can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
7
ThomsonHis scales are shields of brass; and his ligature, like a smyrite stone.
BrentonHis inwards are as brazen plates, and the texture of his skin as a smyrite stone.
GreekΤὰ ἔγκατα αὐτοῦ ἀσπίδες χάλκεαι. σύνδεσμος δὲ αὐτοῦ, ὥσπερ σμυρίτης λίθος.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonThey are glued one to another, so that no air may pass through to him.
BrentonOne part cleaves fast to another, and the air cannot come between them.
GreekΕἷς τοῦ ἑνὸς κολλῶνται, πνεῦμα δὲ οὐ μὴ διέλθῃ αὐτόν.
KJVOne is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
JPSOne is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
9
ThomsonThey are to adhere close to each other; they stick so close that they cannot be torn asunder.
BrentonThey will remain united each to the other: they are closely joined, and cannot be separated.
GreekἈνὴρ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ προσκολληθήσεται· συνέχονται καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποσπασθῶσιν.
KJVThey are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
JPSThey are joined one to another; They stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
10
ThomsonAt his sneezing lightnings flash: and his eyes have the lustre of the morning star.
BrentonAt his sneezing a light shines, and his eyes are as the appearance of the morning star.
GreekἘν πταρμῷ αὐτοῦ ἐπιφαύσκεται φέγγος, οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ εἶδος Ἑωσφόρου.
KJVBy his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
JPSHis sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
11
ThomsonOut of his mouth issue as it were burning lamps; and flaky flames, in appearance, are belched out.
BrentonOut of his mouth proceed as it were burning lamps, and as it were hearths of fire are cast abroad.
GreekἘκ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύονται ὡς λαμπάδες καιόμεναι, καὶ διαῤῥιπτοῦνται ἑς ἐσχάραι πυρός.
KJVOut of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
JPSOut of his mouth go burning torches, and sparks of fire leap forth.
12
ThomsonFrom his nostrils issueth the smoke of a furnace,
BrentonOut of his nostrils proceeds smoke of a furnace burning with fire of coals.
GreekἘκ μυκτήρων αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύεται καπνὸς καμίνου καιομένης πυρὶ ἀνθράκων.
KJVOut of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
JPSOut of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot and burning rushes.
13
Thomsonflaming with a fire of burning coals. His animal life is glowing coals; and a flame proceedeth out of his mouth.
BrentonHis breath is as live coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.
GreekἩ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἄνθρακες, φλὸξ δὲ ἐκ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύεται·
KJVHis breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
JPSHis breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
14
ThomsonIn his neck, strength maketh its abode; and destruction runneth before him.
BrentonAnd power is lodged in his neck, before him destruction runs.
GreekἘν δὲ τραχήλῳ αὐτοῦ αὐλίζεται δύναμις, ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ τρέχει ἀπώλεια.
KJVIn his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
JPSIn his neck abideth strength, and dismay danceth before him.
15
ThomsonThe flesh of his body is glued together; it is so abundant that he cannot be shaken.
BrentonThe flesh also of his body is joined together: if one pours violence upon him, he shall not be moved.
GreekΣάρκες δὲ σώματος αὐτοῦ κεκόλληνται· καταχέει ἐπʼ αὐτὸν, οὐ σαλευθήσεται.
KJVThe flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
JPSThe flakes of his flesh are joined together; they are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
16
ThomsonHis heart is hard as a stone, and firm as an immovable anvil.
BrentonHis heart is firm as a stone, and it stands like an unyielding anvil.
GreekἩ καρδία αὐτοῦ πέπηγεν ὡς λίθος, ἕστηκε δὲ ὥσπερ ἄκμων ἀνήλατος.
KJVHis heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
JPSHis heart is as firm as a stone; yea, firm as the nether millstone.
17
ThomsonWhen he turneth himself about, all the four-footed beasts on the earth shrink with fear. Though spears oppose him,
BrentonAnd when he turns, he is a terror to the four-footed wild beasts which leap upon the earth.
GreekΣτραφέντος δὲ αὐτοῦ, φόβος θηρίοις τετράποσιν ἐπὶ γῆς ἁλλομένοις.
KJV—
JPS—
18
Thomsonthey effect nothing; for with regard to the lance and the breast-plate,
BrentonIf spears should come against him, men will effect nothing, either with the spear or the breast-plate.
GreekἘὰν συναντήσωσιν αὐτῷ λόγχαι, οὐδὲν μὴ ποιήσωσι, δόρυ, καὶ θώρακα.
KJV—
JPS—
19
Thomsonhe considereth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
BrentonFor he considers iron as chaff, and brass as rotten wood.
GreekἭγηται μὲν γὰρ σίδηρον ἄχυρα, χαλκὸν δὲ ὥσπερ ξύλον σαθρόν.
KJVHe esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
JPSHe esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
20
ThomsonThe bow of steel cannot wound him; and stones from a sling he considereth as grass.
BrentonThe bow of brass shall not wound him, he deems a slinger as grass.
GreekΟὐ μὴ τρώσῃ αὐτὸν τόξον χάλκεον· ἥγηται μὲν πετροβόλον χόρτον.
KJV—
JPS—
21
Thomson—
BrentonMauls are counted as stubble; and he laughs to scorn the waving of the firebrand.
GreekὩς καλάμη ἐλογίσθησαν σφυρά, καταγελᾷ δὲ σεισμοῦ πυρφόρου.
KJVDarts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
JPS—
22
ThomsonHis bed is sharp-pointed obelisks; and all the gold in the sea under him, is but as dirt.
BrentonHis lair is formed of sharp points; and all the gold of the sea under him is as an immense quantity of clay.
GreekἩ στρωμνὴ αὐτοῦ ὀβελίσκοι ὀξεῖς, πᾶς δὲ χρυσὸς θαλάσσης ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ὥσπερ πηλὸς ἀμύθητος.
KJV—
JPS—
23
ThomsonHe causeth the deep to boil like a cauldron; and considereth the sea as a pot of ointment.
BrentonHe makes the deep boil like a brazen caldron; and he regards the sea as a pot of ointment,
GreekἈναζεῖ τὴν ἄβυσσον ὥσπερ χαλκεῖον· ἥγηται δὲ τὴν θάλασσαν ὥσπερ ἐξάλειπτρον,
KJVHe maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
JPSHe maketh the deep to boil like a pot; He maketh the sea like a seething mixture.
24
Thomson—
Brentonand the lowest part of the deep as a captive: he reckons the deep as his range.
Greekτὸν δὲ τάρταρον τῆς ἀβύσσου ὥσπερ αἰχμάλωτον· ἐλογίσατο ἄβυσσον εἰς περίπατον.
KJV—
JPS—
25
ThomsonUpon the earth there is not his fellow; made to be insulted only by My angels.
BrentonThere is nothing upon the earth like to him, formed to be sported with by my angels.
GreekΟὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὅμοιον αὐτῷ, πεποιημένον ἐκαταπαίζεσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων μου.
KJVUpon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
JPSUpon earth there is not his like who is made to be fearless.
26
ThomsonHe beholdeth everything that is high; and he is king over all that are in the waters.
BrentonHe beholds every high thing: and he is king of all that are in the waters.
GreekΠᾶν ὑψηλὸν ὁρᾷ· αὐτὸς δὲ βασιλεὺς πάντων τῶν ἐν τοῖς ὕδασιν.
KJVHe beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
JPSHe looketh at all high things; He is king over all the proud beasts.