Job 41:23

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 41:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
Job 41:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The flakes of his flesh are joined together, etc.] The muscles of his hefty are not flaccid and flabby, but solid and firmly compacted; they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved; that is, not very easily, not without a large sharp cutting knife, and that used with much strength.”
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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
“flakes--rather, "dewlaps"; that which falls down (Margin). They are "joined" fast and firm, together, not hanging loose, as in the ox. are firm--UMBREIT and MAURER, "are spread." in themselves--rather, "upon him."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The flakes of his flesh are joined together - Margin, “fallings.” The Hebrew word used here means anything “falling,” or “pendulous,” and the reference here is, probably, to the pendulous parts of the flesh of the animal; the flabby parts; the dew-laps. In animals commonly these parts about the neck and belly are soft, pendulous, and contribute little to their strength. The meaning here is, that in the leviathan, instead of being thus flabby and pendulous, they were compact and firm. This is strikingly true of the crocodile. The belly is, indeed, more soft and penetrable than the other parts of the body, but there is nothing like the soft and pendulous dew-laps of most animals. return to…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“flakes: Heb. fallings are joined: Job 41:17 Job 41:24”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification