VERSE STUDY • KJV

Job 40:15-24

¹⁵ Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. ¹⁶ Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly. ¹⁷ He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. ¹⁸ His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron. ¹⁹ He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [unto him]. ²⁰ Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. ²¹ He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. ²² The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. ²³ Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. ²⁴ He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹⁵ Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. ¹⁶ Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly. ¹⁷ He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. ¹⁸ His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron. ¹⁹ He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [unto him]. ²⁰ Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. ²¹ He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. ²² The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. ²³ Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. ²⁴ He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹⁵ Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox. ¹⁶ See the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly. ¹⁷ His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. ¹⁸ His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron. ¹⁹ He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him. ²⁰ The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby. ²¹ He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh. ²² The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him. ²³ Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth. ²⁴ Can anyone capture him as he looks on, or pierce his nose with a snare?

WEB World English Bible

¹⁵ “See now, behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox. ¹⁶ Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly. ¹⁷ He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together. ¹⁸ His bones are like tubes of brass. His limbs are like bars of iron. ¹⁹ He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword. ²⁰ Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play. ²¹ He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh. ²² The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him. ²³ Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth. ²⁴ Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?

ASV American Standard Version

¹⁵ Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox. ¹⁶ Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the muscles of his belly. ¹⁷ He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together. ¹⁸ His bones are as tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron. ¹⁹ He is the chief of the ways of God: He only that made him giveth him his sword. ²⁰ Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play. ²¹ He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen. ²² The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about. ²³ Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth. ²⁴ Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹⁵ Lo, I pray thee, Behemoth, that I made with thee: Grass as an ox he eateth. ¹⁶ Lo, I pray thee, his power is in his loins, And his strength in the muscles of his belly. ¹⁷ He doth bend his tail as a cedar, The sinews of his thighs are wrapped together, ¹⁸ His bones are tubes of brass, His bones are as a bar of iron. ¹⁹ He is a beginning of the ways of God, His Maker bringeth nigh his sword; ²⁰ For food do mountains bear for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. ²¹ Under shades he lieth down, In a secret place of reed and mire. ²² Cover him do shades, with their shadow, Cover him do willows of the brook. ²³ Lo, a flood oppresseth—he doth not haste, He is confident though Jordan Doth come forth unto his mouth. ²⁴ Before his eyes doth one take him, With snares doth one pierce the nose?

Surrounding context — Job 40

12 Look on every one [that is] proud, [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

13 Hide them in the dust together; [and] bind their faces in secret.

14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

16 Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly.

17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

18 His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron.

19 He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [unto him].

20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

22 The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

24 He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.

Read the whole chapter → · About Job →

Topics connected to this verse

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

Compare classic commentaries on Job 40:15-24

Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.

Compare commentaries →