Job 41:2

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 41:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
Job 41:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Canst thou put an hook into his nose? etc.] Or a rush, that is, a rope made of rushes; for of such ropes were made, as Pliny f1518 affirms; or bore his jaw through with a thorn? as men do herrings, or such like small fish, for the convenience of carrying them, or hanging them up to dry; the whale is not to be used in such a manner: but the Tentyritae, a people in Egypt, great enemies to crocodiles, had methods of taking thorn in nets, and of binding and bridling them, and carrying them as they pleased f1519.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“hook--rather, "a rope of rushes." thorn--rather, a "ring" or "hook." So wild beasts were led about when caught (Isa 37:29; Eze 29:4); fishes also were secured thus and thrown into the water to keep them alive.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Canst thou put a hook into his nose - Or rather, a “rope,” or “cord.” The word used here (אגמון 'agmôn) means “a caldron,” or “kettle” Job 41:20, also a reed, or bulrush, growing in marshy places, and thus a rope made of reeds, a rush-cord. The idea is, that he could not be led about by a cord, as tame animals may be. Mr. Vansittart, however, supposes that the words here are expressive of ornaments, and that the allusion is to the fact mentioned by Herodotus, that the crocodile was led about by the Egyptians as a divinity, and that in this state it was adorned with rings and various stately trappings. There can be no doubt that such a fact existed, but this does not accord well with the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thorn - Or, with an iron hook, or instrument as sharp as a thorn; wherewith thou usest to carry little fishes. Job 41:3”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Isa 27:1, Isa 37:29; Eze 29:4, Eze 29:5 Job 41:3”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification