Job 41:20 - Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
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What does "Job 41:20" mean?
Job 41 describes the Leviathan, a powerful and terrifying creature. The verse "Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds" (Job 41:20) is a vivid and metaphorical description of the Leviathan's fiery breath. Let's break down the meaning:
"Out of his nostrils a smoke goes...": This establishes that the Leviathan exhales a form of smoke. It isn't just ordinary breath, but something much more potent and impressive.
"...as of a boiling pot...": This part uses a simile to compare the smoke to something familiar. A boiling pot suggests intense heat and churning activity. It's not just smoke rising passively, but something forceful and energetic.
"...over a fire of reeds.": This further amplifies the image of intense heat. Reeds burn quickly and fiercely, producing a lot of smoke. A fire fueled by reeds would be a very hot and smoky fire, suggesting that the smoke coming from the Leviathan's nostrils is born of intense internal heat or something akin to combustion.
Overall Meaning:
The verse paints a picture of the Leviathan as a creature of immense power and a source of almost unbelievable heat. The smoke isn't just smoke; it's like the plume rising from a boiling pot heated by an intensely hot reed fire. This suggests:
Formidable Power: The Leviathan is not a normal creature. It possesses an extraordinary capacity for generating heat or fire-like substances within its body.
Terrifying Presence: The image of smoke billowing from its nostrils would be incredibly intimidating, further emphasizing the Leviathan's fearsome nature.
Mythological/Symbolic Interpretation: The description is likely hyperbole, intended to convey the Leviathan's untamable and awe-inspiring nature. It's not necessarily meant to be taken literally, but rather to create a sense of its unparalleled power.
In the context of the Book of Job, where God is emphasizing the limits of human power compared to divine power, the description of the Leviathan serves to highlight the vastness and mystery of God's creation and the limitations of human understanding and control.
Job 41:20 - Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
What does "Job 41:20" mean?
Job 41 describes the Leviathan, a powerful and terrifying creature. The verse "Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds" (Job 41:20) is a vivid and metaphorical description of the Leviathan's fiery breath. Let's break down the meaning:
"Out of his nostrils a smoke goes...": This establishes that the Leviathan exhales a form of smoke. It isn't just ordinary breath, but something much more potent and impressive.
"...as of a boiling pot...": This part uses a simile to compare the smoke to something familiar. A boiling pot suggests intense heat and churning activity. It's not just smoke rising passively, but something forceful and energetic.
"...over a fire of reeds.": This further amplifies the image of intense heat. Reeds burn quickly and fiercely, producing a lot of smoke. A fire fueled by reeds would be a very hot and smoky fire, suggesting that the smoke coming from the Leviathan's nostrils is born of intense internal heat or something akin to combustion.
Overall Meaning:
The verse paints a picture of the Leviathan as a creature of immense power and a source of almost unbelievable heat. The smoke isn't just smoke; it's like the plume rising from a boiling pot heated by an intensely hot reed fire. This suggests:
Formidable Power: The Leviathan is not a normal creature. It possesses an extraordinary capacity for generating heat or fire-like substances within its body.
Terrifying Presence: The image of smoke billowing from its nostrils would be incredibly intimidating, further emphasizing the Leviathan's fearsome nature.
Mythological/Symbolic Interpretation: The description is likely hyperbole, intended to convey the Leviathan's untamable and awe-inspiring nature. It's not necessarily meant to be taken literally, but rather to create a sense of its unparalleled power.
In the context of the Book of Job, where God is emphasizing the limits of human power compared to divine power, the description of the Leviathan serves to highlight the vastness and mystery of God's creation and the limitations of human understanding and control.