Job 41:25

When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified; they withdraw before his thrashing.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God addresses Job in a rhetorical discourse detailing the invulnerability of Leviathan, positioned between descriptions of the creature’s impenetrable chest and the ineffectiveness of human weapons. The words — יָג֣וּרוּ (ya.Gu.ru) = they are terrified and אֵלִ֑ים ('e.Lim) = the mighty ones. The thread — The reaction of terror before overwhelming force appears in Psalms 107:28, where distress drives a cry to God, and Jonah 1:4, where a divinely sent storm threatens a ship. Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human strength and weapons cannot control or intimidate the forces God has established.

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The Hebrew words

מִ֭שֵּׂתוֹmi./se.t/ofrom/ uprising/ its יָג֣וּרוּya.Gu.ruthey are afraid אֵלִ֑ים'e.Limmighty ones מִ֝שְּׁבָרִ֗יםmi./she.va.Rimfrom/ crashing<s>יִתְחַטָּֽאוּ׃yit.cha.Ta.'uthey are bewildered

King James Version

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

Cross-references

Psalms 107:28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.
Jonah 1:4 Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.