Lexical Summary chaddud: Sharpness, pointedness Original Word: חַדּוּד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sharp From chadad; a point -- sharp. see HEBREW chadad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chadad Definition sharpened, sharp, pointed NASB Translation sharp (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חַדּוּד] adjective sharpened, sharp, pointed, only construct, with superlative sense = substantive: תַּחְתָּיו חַדּוּדֵי חָ֑רֶשׁ Job 41:22 beneath him the sharpest of potsherds, of scales of crocodile, compare Di VB. Topical Lexicon Context of Job 41 The single biblical occurrence of the term appears in the divine speech that exalts God’s supremacy over Leviathan. Job 41 depicts a creature beyond human mastery; every verse magnifies its invincibility to humble Job and elevate the Creator. Verse 30 reads, “His undersides are jagged shards of pottery, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge” (Job 41:30). The word stresses the creature’s weapon-like anatomy, reinforcing the argument that only God can subdue such power. Imagery of Sharpness and Defense The phrase paints Leviathan’s belly as a bed of lethal fragments; even the soft part of the body is armed. The threshing-sledge simile recalls ancient agricultural boards studded with flint that shredded harvested grain (Isaiah 41:15). By evoking that image, the verse brands Leviathan’s movement as a destructive act, carving furrows in riverbeds as effortlessly as a farmer’s sled scores the threshing floor. The sharpness motif underlines complete protection—no vulnerable point exists for human weapons to exploit. Symbolism of Leviathan in Scripture Other passages present Leviathan as a representative of chaos and opposition to divine order (Job 3:8; Psalm 74:14; Psalm 104:26; Isaiah 27:1). Job 41 accents not merely frightful strength but meticulous design. The jagged shards teach that every detail of creation, even what appears terrifying, remains under sovereign craftsmanship. God’s interrogation—“Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook?” (Job 41:1)—culminates in the recognition that only the Maker commands the monstrous. Theological Significance 1. God’s sovereignty: The impenetrable armor formed by razor-like scales and undersides validates the Lord’s claim, “Who then is able to stand against Me?” (Job 41:10). Historical and Cultural Background Threshing sledges were weighted wooden platforms embedded with stone or iron teeth, dragged over grain to separate kernel from chaff. Readers in Job’s era instantly pictured a relentless, tearing device. Likewise, potsherds littered everyday life—broken vessels turned tools (Job 2:8). Both images were ordinary yet efficient cutting instruments; transferring those visuals to Leviathan turns common implements into metaphors of extraordinary might. Practical Ministry Applications • Awe-filled worship: Meditating on the shard-covered underside fosters reverence for God’s creative wisdom. Related Biblical Imagery • Iron and bronze armor (Job 41:27) – parallel invulnerability. Key Points for Teaching and Preaching 1. The word emphasizes design, not accident; Leviathan’s terrifying features are purposeful. Forms and Transliterations חַדּ֣וּדֵי חדודי chadDudei ḥad·dū·ḏê ḥaddūḏêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 41:30 HEB: תַּ֭חְתָּיו חַדּ֣וּדֵי חָ֑רֶשׂ יִרְפַּ֖ד NAS: His underparts are [like] sharp potsherds; KJV: Sharp stones INT: his underparts are sharp potsherds spreads 1 Occurrence |
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