Lexical Summary duts: To leap, to spring, to exult Original Word: דּוּץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be turned A primitive root; to leap -- be turned. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to spring, leap, dance NASB Translation leaps (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [דּוּץ] verb spring, leap, dance (Aramaic דּוּץ be joyous,  , leap, dance, be joyous; Arabic  med. י, decline, slip or move about, glide to and fro; DlPr 65, 66 compare Assyrian dâƒu, withdraw, retreat, but compare NöZMG 1886, 730) — Qal Imperfect3feminine singular תָּדוּץ דְּאָבָה Job 41:14 before him danceth dismay. דוק (? √ of following; meaning dubious compare Sm Ezekiel 4:2 LagGes. Abhandl. 36). Topical Lexicon Usage in Scripture The term appears only once, in Job 41:22: “Strength resides in his neck, and dismay leaps before him”. Here it portrays sudden, vigorous motion—an erupting surge of fear that precedes the approach of Leviathan. Context within Job 41 Job 41 forms part of the LORD’s second speech (Job 40–41), where He describes untamable creatures to underscore human limitation. Leviathan, the climax of these examples, is depicted as an awe-inspiring beast that no mortal can subdue. By stating that “dismay leaps before him,” God highlights that sheer terror races ahead of Leviathan, clearing a path before the monster even arrives. The imagery magnifies the creature’s menace while ultimately exalting the Creator whose power far exceeds it. Literary Significance The Hebrew poetry of Job often employs parallelism. In verse 22, the parallel lines couple internal might (“Strength resides in his neck”) with external effect (“dismay leaps before him”). The verse balances an inner attribute with an outward consequence, a pattern that intensifies both ideas. The sudden, energetic verb evokes a violent springing motion, conveying not gradual dread but immediate panic. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern literature frequently portrayed chaotic sea monsters. Scripture, however, reframes such imagery: Leviathan is no rival deity but a creature under God’s command (see Psalm 104:26; Isaiah 27:1). Job 41 harnesses that cultural picture to remind the reader that even the most terrifying forces in the cosmos are subject to the LORD. The vivid portrayal of terror leaping ahead of Leviathan would have resonated with ancient audiences familiar with tales of bedlam preceding a monster’s arrival. Theological Implications 1. God’s Sovereignty: The very terror that rushes ahead of Leviathan serves God’s purpose of humbling Job and, by extension, every reader. If people cannot master the dread spawned by a creature, how much less can they contend with the Creator (Job 41:10–11). Ministry Applications • Humility and Worship: Meditating on Job 41:22 cultivates reverent awe. Terror leaps at the sight of Leviathan; worship leaps in the heart that recognizes God’s unrivaled majesty. Related Biblical Themes and Cross-References • Terror that Goes Before: Exodus 15:16; Deuteronomy 2:25—God sends fear ahead of His people, echoing the principle that dread can precede a superior power. Conclusion The single use of this verb in Job 41:22 captures a moment when fear itself vaults forward, heralding the arrival of an untamable creature. In the broader sweep of Scripture, the verse magnifies God’s supremacy, confronts human pride, and directs hearts toward steadfast trust in the One who commands even the forces that make terror leap. Forms and Transliterations תָּד֥וּץ תדוץ tā·ḏūṣ tāḏūṣ taDutzLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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