Job 41:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God asks whether Job could land the great sea-creature leviathan with a fishhook, as a man might catch an ordinary fish.
What Does Job 41:1 Mean?
From the whirlwind the LORD continues His sweeping interrogation of Job, turning now to leviathan, the most formidable creature He names. The question opens with quiet irony: the tackle that masters a fish is laughably small against this beast.
Behind the image lies a tender purpose. God is not crushing Job but enlarging him, showing that the world holds powers no human hand can subdue, and that the One who made and governs them can be trusted even when His ways are past finding out. What overwhelms us has never once overwhelmed Him.
Job 41:1 in the Original Language
livyathan (לִוְיָתָן), 'leviathan' -- a great coiling sea-creature whose name evokes something twisted and immense.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 41:1
What does Job 41:1 mean?
God asks whether Job could land the great sea-creature leviathan with a fishhook, as a man might catch an ordinary fish.