The Bible Says
Job 41:18-24 Meaning

In Job 41:18-24, Job continues to build a portrait of Leviathan’s “impenetrable” design, as an illustration to support His assertion in Job 41:10 that no human has the capacity to challenge Him, just as no human has the capacity to confront this majestic creature.

God began an anatomical tour of Leviathan in Job 41:12. After describing Leviathan’s impenetrable armor, God then describes a fiery defense mechanism which Leviathan possesses, saying, “His sneezes flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.” (v. 18).

Since we do not know what this creature is, we cannot know for sure what this description refers to. But the following verses paint a fuller picture of Leviathan’s unique physical capabilities—fire which proceeds from the creature’s head and face:

• “Out of his mouth go burning torches; Sparks of fire leap forth.” (v. 19) and
• “Out of his nostrils smoke goes out As from a boiling pot and burning reeds” (v. 20) and
• “His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes forth from his mouth.” (v. 21).

These verses make it sound like this creature can spew flames of fire. Leviathan could be the source of mythology for the fire-breathing dragon. There are a number of living animals that create chemical sprays. The Bombardier beetle spews a chemical spray that is also heated. Perhaps this describes a now-extinct creature that had a similar capability.

It is also the case that fire is a symbol of power and judgment. For example, we see in Daniel 7:9-10 that God’s throne is engulfed in flame. Then in Daniel 7:11, a beast who boasted against God is slain and given into the flame. Approaching Leviathan is like approaching God’s throne, in that neither is advisable!

We can observe in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that all believers will be required to stand before the “judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Believer’s works will be judged, which is depicted in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 as being refined in Christ’s judgment fire.

The following verse says “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

It is completely appropriate to prepare for a time when we will stand before Christ’s throne; we do that by living as faithful witnesses during this life. It is NOT a good idea to desire to approach His throne with the idea of correcting Him! That is like trying to lasso Leviathan, which is unwise.

Whatever is intended by the fiery images regarding Leviathan’s head, it is clear you would not want to come near him; the image painted is of an unapproachable, unassailable creature. And this a creature God made. God is substantially above all He made. So, again, Job is being directed to reevaluate the notion that he can contend with God (Job 23:6-7).

After describing Leviathan’s awesome and formidable head, teeth, breath, and eyes, God now states, “In his neck lodges strength, And dismay leaps before him” (v. 22).

Leviathan’s head rests on his neck. And everywhere the neck turns, the observer sees strength. The entire picture taken together causes dismay. Some translations render leaps in the phrase dismay leaps before him as “dances.” To see him is to fear him. Again, this image exhorts Job to rethink approaching God to “lasso” Him.

There are fears in scripture we are advised to choose, and fears we are advised to set aside. For example, in Exodus 20:19 the people of Israel asked Moses to petition God that He stop communicating to them from Mount Sinai. God’s reply is interesting:

“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.’"
(Exodus 20:20)

We see here that God told the people “Do not be afraid” to die physically, but instead to fear sinning then facing consequences before God. The fear God wanted them to choose was to see God then fear Him “so that you may not sin.” We need to fear the right thing. We might look at this interview between Job and God as the Almighty resetting Job’s fear. Job needs to orient his actions to please God, not the other way around.

This episode in Exodus of Moses and Israel at Mount Sinai is likely more than five hundred years in the future at the time of Job. In Job 23:15-16, Job expects to be “dismayed at His presence.”  But he still expresses a desire to stand before God and contend with Him (Job 23:6-7). This is because he has trust in his own actions (which God honored in Job 1:8, 2:3). What he will conclude from this interview is that he did not properly fear God and trust His sovereign providence (Job 42:1-6).

God returns to Leviathan’s physical “togetherness”:

• “The folds of his flesh are joined together, Firm on him and immovable” (v. 23).

This is not only armor; it is mass and density—structure that does not yield. The words firm and immovable stress that there is no easy leverage point for a human opponent. That immovability confronts one of Job’s desires: to move God. Job has wanted God to “shift” in response to his argument. But God’s governance is not swayed by human pressure. God’s plan is rooted in an eternal perspective; He is steadfast in wisdom.

There is a better kind of immovability: the stability of faith anchored in God rather than in outcomes. In the New Testament, believers are called to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). The context of this New Testament verse is anchored in the truth of Christ’s resurrection.

As a result of being invulnerable, Leviathan has no regard for any who might get in his way.

• “His heart is as hard as a stone, Even as hard as a lower millstone” (v. 24).

The Hebrew word “leb,” translated heart, is also found in Genesis 6:5, which says the Lord looked on the earth and “saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart [“leb”] was only evil.”

That Leviathan’s heart is so hard likely means he is merciless. A lower millstone is the heaviest of a pair of stones used to grind grain, being the bottom stone that does not move. It would be a crushing weight. To call the heart like the lower millstone is to describe a hardness that does not soften, a resolve that does not negotiate.

Leviathan does what he does for his own reasons, and cares not what others think. In Job’s case, God is doing for Job what is in his best interest whether he likes it or not. God causes all things to work for good (Romans 8:28) but defines “good” as conforming us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). God does not consult us, or anyone, to decide what is good. Which comes back to a primary point of this narrative: there is no standard by which God may be judged. He is the standard.

An application of this perspective that God uses all things, even difficulties, to conform us to the image of Christ, is to consider God as viewing His people as being somewhat like a raw piece of marble. He is the sculptor, chipping away our impurities blow by blow until what emerges is a perfect image of His Son. We can cry out for Him to stop, “That hurts.” But He will not relent.

Leviathan won’t sympathize. He won’t be reasoned with. This is a partial image of God. Of course, the difference is that God is merciful and has our best interest at heart. But God will determine what our best interest looks like, not us. Not even Job, who is one of God’s all-time favorites (Ezekiel 14:14).