“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse asks if you can catch Leviathan with a hook, or his tongue with a cord—but notice the emphasis isn't just on the size of the creature, but on the impossibility of ordinary methods. It highlights that this isn't just any fish; it's a creature so formidable that even its tongue, which might seem like an easy target to control, cannot be subdued by simple tools.
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has just finished describing Behemoth, the powerful land creature, and now turns to the equally awe-inspiring Leviathan, a formidable sea or river monster. These verses are part of God's sustained argument to Job, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty and power by contrasting it with Job's limited understanding and capability. The passage uses vivid imagery to question Job's ability to control or even capture such a creature, highlighting its immense strength and fearsome nature.
When you hear 'Leviathan,' what comes to mind? A mythical sea monster? A large whale? Job 41 introduces a creature so powerful, it challenges our very understanding of control.
The word 'Leviathan' (Hebrew: 'livyathan') likely refers to a formidable creature, with many scholars pointing to the crocodile or a similar large, dangerous reptile.
A Descriptive Name
The name itself suggests something 'twisted' or 'wreathed,' possibly describing its powerful, coiling movements or its armored scales.
Beyond Human Grasp
God's questions in this chapter aren't just about a specific animal; they're about the vast difference between human capability and divine power. Can you hook a creature that defies your tools? Can you control its very being? The answer is a resounding no. This highlights that the 'Leviathan' represents forces and beings far beyond our ability to manage or subdue on our own.
Have you ever asked a question where you already knew the answer was 'no'? God does this with Job, and it's a powerful way to reveal His own unmatched might.
The entire exchange in Job 41:1-34 is built on a series of rhetorical questions. God isn't seeking information from Job; He's demonstrating the vast chasm between Job's limited power and God's infinite power.
Highlighting Divine Sovereignty
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By asking if Job can capture Leviathan with ordinary means (a fishhook, a cord), God emphasizes that this creature—and by extension, the forces it represents—is entirely outside of human control. This isn't a failure of Job's fishing skills; it's a testament to God's unique dominion over such powerful creations.
A Lesson in Trust
These impossible questions aren't meant to belittle Job, but to redirect his focus. When we face overwhelming challenges, remembering that God is the one who created and controls the 'Leviathans' of the world can shift our perspective from fear to faith.
Understand the original words
liwyatan · Hebrew Noun
A mythical or real sea creature, often symbolic of chaos, evil, or the uncontrollable forces of nature, which only God has the power to subdue or defeat.
This psalm describes God's power in creation and redemption, including the crushing of 'sea monsters' (often translated as Leviathan), paralleling God's ultimate authority over even the most formidable creatures.
Isaiah 27:1This prophecy speaks of God's future judgment on 'Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent,' identifying it as a symbol of hostile powers that God will ultimately conquer, echoing the theme of Leviathan's untamable nature.
Genesis 3:15This foundational promise of a 'seed of the woman' who would crush the serpent's head is a primal echo of God's sovereignty over destructive forces, a concept that Job's description of Leviathan powerfully illustrates on a different scale.
Matthew 12:29Jesus speaks of binding 'the strong man' (Satan) to plunder his house, drawing a parallel to overcoming immense power, which resonates with Job's inability to overcome Leviathan but God's evident mastery over it.
cambridgeJob 41:1: "Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?"
1 . The second clause appears to mean, Wilt thou press down his tongue with a cord? The “cord” may be that of the hook; when the hook is swallowed and the cord drawn tightly, it presses down the tongue. 1–9 . The impossibility of capturing the animal.
wesleyJob 41:1: "Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?"
41:1 Leviathan - Several particulars in the following description, agree far better with the crocodile, than the whale. It is highly probable, that this is the creature here spoken of. Cord - Canst thou take him with a hook and a line, as anglers take ordinary fishes.
The verse asks if you can catch Leviathan with a hook, or his tongue with a cord—but notice the emphasis isn't just on the size of the creature, but on the impossibility of ordinary methods. It highlights that this isn't just any fish; it's a creature so formidable that even its tongue, which might seem like an easy target to control, cannot be subdued by simple tools.
God has just finished describing Behemoth, the powerful land creature, and now turns to the equally awe-inspiring Leviathan, a formidable sea or river monster. These verses are part of God's sustained argument to Job, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty and power by contrasting it with Job's limited understanding and capability. The passage uses vivid imagery to question Job's ability to control or even capture such a creature, highlighting its immense strength and fearsome nature.
God has just finished describing Behemoth, the powerful land creature, and now turns to the equally awe-inspiring Leviathan, a formidable sea or river monster. These verses are part of God's sustained argument to Job, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty and power by contrasting it with Job's limited understanding and capability. The passage uses vivid imagery to question Job's ability to control or even capture such a creature, highlighting its immense strength and fearsome nature.
"“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?" — The verse asks if you can catch Leviathan with a hook, or his tongue with a cord—but notice the emphasis isn't just on the size of the creature, but on the impossibility of ordinary methods. It hig…
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Last reviewed October 2026