English Standard Version
Job 40:21
21Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
Job 40:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
- New International Version (NIV)Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.
- New Living Translation (NLT)It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh.
Context of Job 40:21
19"He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! 20For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. 22For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. 23Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
Read all of Job 40Job 40:21 word by word
תַּֽחַת־צֶאֱלִ֥ים יִשְׁכָּ֑ב בְּסֵ֖תֶר קָנֶ֣ה וּבִצָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 40:21
- Isaiah 19:6and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away.
- Isaiah 35:7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
Commentaries on Job 40:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He lieth under the shady trees - This and the following verses refer to certain habits of the behemoth, with which we are and must be unacquainted,Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21He lieth under the shady trees - Referring to his usually inactive and lazy life. He is disposed to lie down in the shade, and especially in the vegetable growth in marshy places on the banks of lakes and rivers, rather than to dwell in the open field or in the upland forest. This account agrees well with the habits of the hippopotamus. The word here and in Job 40:22 rendered “shady trees” (צאלים tse'eliym ), is by Gesenius, Noyes, Prof. Lee, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-24Verses 15-24 God, for the further proving of his own power, describes two vast animals, far exceeding man in bulk and strength. Behemoth signifies beasts. Most understand it of an animal well known in Egypt, called the river-horse, or hippopotamus. This vast animal is noticed as an argument to humble ourselves before the great God; for he created this vast animal, which is so fearfully and wonderfully made. Whatever strength this or any other creature…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-24After listing natural animals, God described Behemoth and "Leviathan" as creatures humans cannot control (39:1–30; 40:15–24; 41:1–34). Job could not control the wild donkey or ox (39:5–12; 40:15–24). However, God created and could control them, and Job had to accept this fact (41:2). Here, Behemoth appears to be a natural creature: It is an animal God made, just as he made Job (40:15). It is not a fierce predator but eats grass like an ox (40:15). It is…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2415-24. God shows that if Job cannot bring under control the lower animals (of which he selects the two most striking, behemoth on land, leviathan in the water), much less is he capable of governing the world. behemoth--The description in part agrees with the hippopotamus, in part with the elephant, but exactly in all details with neither. It is rather a poetical personification of the great Pachydermata, or Herbivora (so "he eateth grass"), the idea of…Read the comment
Topics related to Job 40:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 40
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries