Job 41:34

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 41:34 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride.
Job 41:34 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
34He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He beholdeth all high [things], etc.] Or “who beholdeth all high [things]”; even he that made leviathan, that is, God, as the above interpreter: he does that which Job was bid to do, and could not; beholds everyone that is proud, and abases him, (<184011>Job 40:11,12); and therefore he ought to acknowledge his sovereignty and superiority over him, and submit to him; he [is] a king over all the children of pride: the proud angels that fell, and all the proud sons of men; proud monarchs and potentates of the earth, such as Nebuchadnezzar and others, (<270431>Daniel 4:31-33). But interpreters generally understand all this either of the crocodile, or of a fish of the whale kind. Bochart…”
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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
“beholdeth--as their superior. children of pride--the proud and fierce beasts. So Job 28:8; Hebrew, "sons of pride." To humble the pride of man and to teach implicit submission, is the aim of Jehovah's speech and of the book; therefore with this as to leviathan, the type of God in His lordship over creation, He closes. Next: Job Chapter 42”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He beholdeth all high things - That is, he looks down on everything as inferior to him. He is a king over all the children of pride - Referring, by “the children of pride,” to the animals that are bold, proud, courageous - as the lion, the panther, etc. The lion is often spoken of as “the king of the forest,” or “the king of beasts,” and in a similar sense the leviathan is here spoken of as at the head of the animal creation. He is afraid of none of them; he is subdued by none of them; he is the prey of none of them. The whole argument, therefore, closes with this statement, that he is at the head of the animal creation; and it was by this magnificent description of the power of 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
“King, &c. - He can tame both the behemoth and leviathan, as strong and stout - hearted as they are. This discourse concerning them was brought in, to prove that it is God only, who can look upon proud men and abase them, bring them low, and hide them in the dust, he it is that beholdeth all high things, and wherein men dealt proudly, he is above them. He is king over all the children of pride, brutal or rational, and makes them either bend or break before him. Next: Job Chapter 42”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he is: Job 26:12; Exo 5:2; Psa 73:6, Psa 73:10; Isa 28:1; Eze 29:3; Rev 12:1-3, Rev 13:2; Rev 20:2, Rev 20:3 Next: Job Chapter 42”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification