Job 41:20
Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The comparison to "burning rushes" highlights that this isn't just steam, but smoke fueled by a fierce, almost unnatural fire, suggesting the creature's breath is actively burning, not just hot. This detail amps up the imagery from a simple boil to a destructive force, hinting at something beyond mere natural phenomena.
This verse is part of God's extended description of the powerful and fearsome creature, Leviathan, to Job. Following God's rhetorical questions challenging Job's ability to control such a beast, He vividly details Leviathan's mighty power and terrifying appearance. This depiction serves to highlight Job's utter insignificance and God's supreme sovereignty over all creation, especially over the most formidable of creatures.
Imagine the sheer power unleashed when this colossal creature exhales. It's not just air; it's a forceful blast carrying the heat and fury of an internal fire.
Verse 20 describes a potent exhalation from the Leviathan's nostrils: 'smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.' This imagery isn't just poetic; it evokes intense heat and a violent, almost explosive release.
A Force of Nature
The 'boiling pot' suggests a cauldron brought to a violent simmer, while 'burning rushes' points to a fierce, perhaps quickly consuming, fuel source. This isn't a gentle puff of air. It's a powerful expulsion, hinting at immense internal pressure and heat within the creature. It’s a vivid picture of raw, untamed power, likening the Leviathan’s breath to a natural phenomenon of destructive potential.
The verse hints at a hidden source of immense power. What does this violent exhalation tell us about the creature's inner workings and its place in creation?
The imagery of smoke billowing from the Leviathan's nostrils, much like a 'seething pot,' suggests a biological or elemental force at play that is beyond human comprehension or control. Ancient commentators noted the potential for such creatures (like crocodiles or river horses) to exhale forcefully, sometimes described with fiery exhalations.
A Glimpse of God's Power
This isn't necessarily a literal furnace, but it powerfully illustrates the 'blown pot' concept – a fire being fanned, generating intense heat. It speaks to a creature engineered by God with capabilities that defy easy explanation, highlighting its terrifying might and its role in showcasing the Creator's boundless power.
Understand the original words
ashan · Hebrew Noun
In Scripture, smoke is frequently associated with the thick, mysterious presence of God or the tangible evidence of His judgment upon the wicked. It represents the visibility of an unseen power, often linked to sacrifice or divine wrath.
This psalm describes God's powerful, almost elemental, manifestation with imagery of smoke and fire coming from Him, echoing the fierce, smoky breath attributed to Leviathan.
Jeremiah 51:37This passage uses the imagery of a 'boiling pot' to describe the destruction of Babylon, linking the violent, smoky eruption from the pot to God's judgment.
Isaiah 14:29While speaking of a serpent, this verse mentions a 'fiery flying serpent' and 'poisonous one,' bringing to mind the destructive, possibly fiery, nature associated with the breath of such powerful, fearsome creatures.
Revelation 9:17-18This passage describes terrifying horsemen and the fire, smoke, and brimstone that come from their mouths, creating a vivid parallel to the destructive, smoke-billowing power described in Job.
cambridgeJob 41:20: "Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron."
20 . as out of a seething pot or caldron ] Rather perhaps, like a seething pot with rushes , i. e. with a fire of rushes.
jfbJob 41:20: "Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron."
- seething—boiling: literally, "blown under," under which a fire is blown.
The comparison to "burning rushes" highlights that this isn't just steam, but smoke fueled by a fierce, almost unnatural fire, suggesting the creature's breath is actively burning, not just hot. This detail amps up the imagery from a simple boil to a destructive force, hinting at something beyond mere natural phenomena.
This verse is part of God's extended description of the powerful and fearsome creature, Leviathan, to Job. Following God's rhetorical questions challenging Job's ability to control such a beast, He vividly details Leviathan's mighty power and terrifying appearance. This depiction serves to highlight Job's utter insignificance and God's supreme sovereignty over all creation, especially over the most formidable of creatures.
This verse is part of God's extended description of the powerful and fearsome creature, Leviathan, to Job. Following God's rhetorical questions challenging Job's ability to control such a beast, He vividly details Leviathan's mighty power and terrifying appearance. This depiction serves to highlight Job's utter insignificance and God's supreme sovereignty over all creation, especially over the most formidable of creatures.
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"Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes." — The comparison to "burning rushes" highlights that this isn't just steam, but smoke fueled by a fierce, almost unnatural fire, suggesting the creature's breath is actively burning, not just hot. This…
