Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
Parallel translations
- WEB If one attacks him with the sword, it can’t prevail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
- KJV The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
- BSB The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or dart or arrow.
- NASB “The sword that reaches him cannot prevail, Nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
- NLT No sword can stop it, no spear, dart, or javelin.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
No sword, spear, dart, or shaft can prevail against Leviathan. The creature is impervious to every weapon.
Overview
God lists the weapons of war, all of which fail against Leviathan's armored body. The creature cannot be wounded by sword or spear. This invulnerability magnifies the Creator who made him so. The point for Job is unmistakable: if no human power can touch the creature, none can contend with the God who fashioned and commands him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Job 39:21–24He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 41:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.