Job 40:21
New International Version
Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.

New Living Translation
It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh.

English Standard Version
Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.

Berean Standard Bible
He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

King James Bible
He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

New King James Version
He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.

New American Standard Bible
“He lies down under the lotus plants, In the hiding place of the reeds and the marsh.

NASB 1995
“Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.

NASB 1977
“Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.

Legacy Standard Bible
Under the lotus plants it lies down, In the hidden place of the reeds and the marsh.

Amplified Bible
“He lies down under the lotus plants, In the hidden shelter of the reeds in the marsh.

Christian Standard Bible
He lies under the lotus plants, hiding in the protection of marshy reeds.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He lies under the lotus plants, hiding in the protection of marshy reeds.

American Standard Version
He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen.

Contemporary English Version
It rests in the shade of trees along the riverbank

English Revised Version
He lieth under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the fen.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It lies down under the lotus plants in a hiding place among reeds and swamps.

Good News Translation
He lies down under the thorn bushes, and hides among the reeds in the swamp.

International Standard Version
He lies under the lotus trees, hiding under reeds and marshes.

Majority Standard Bible
He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

NET Bible
Under the lotus trees it lies, in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.

New Heart English Bible
He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.

Webster's Bible Translation
He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

World English Bible
He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He lies down under shades, "" In a secret place of reed and marsh.

Young's Literal Translation
Under shades he lieth down, In a secret place of reed and mire.

Smith's Literal Translation
He will lie down under the shades, in the covering of the reed and marsh.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.

New American Bible
Under lotus trees he lies, in coverts of the reedy swamp.

New Revised Standard Version
Under the lotus plants it lies, in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He lurks in the covert of reeds, he couches as a lion.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Under its shade he lies down; in the shelter of the rushes he crouches
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and fens.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He lies under trees of every kind, by the papyrus, and reed, and bulrush.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Humbles Himself Before the LORD
20The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby. 21He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh. 22The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.…

Cross References
Psalm 104:25-26
Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. / There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.

Ezekiel 29:3
Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’

Genesis 1:21
So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Psalm 74:13-14
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea; / You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

Isaiah 51:9
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

Psalm 104:10-12
He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains. / They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. / The birds of the air nest beside the springs; they sing among the branches.

Ezekiel 32:2
“Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’

Psalm 148:7
Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths,

Isaiah 43:20
The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Luke 11:30
For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Revelation 13:1
Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

Revelation 17:15
Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.


Treasury of Scripture

He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

the reed

Isaiah 19:6,7
And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither…

Isaiah 35:7
And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Jump to Previous
Covert Hidden Lies Marsh Mire Plants Pool Reed Reeds Rest River Secret Shade Shades Shady Trees Water-Plants
Jump to Next
Covert Hidden Lies Marsh Mire Plants Pool Reed Reeds Rest River Secret Shade Shades Shady Trees Water-Plants
Job 40
1. Job humbles himself to God
6. God stirs him up to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom
16. Of the behemoth














He lies
The phrase "He lies" suggests a position of rest or concealment. In the context of the Book of Job, this refers to the behemoth, a creature of great strength and mystery. The Hebrew root for "lies" is "שָׁכַב" (shakab), which often implies a state of repose or dwelling. This imagery conveys the creature's comfort and dominion over its environment, symbolizing God's creation's power and majesty. It serves as a reminder of the divine order and the peace that comes from trusting in God's sovereignty.

under the lotus plants
The "lotus plants" are often associated with lush, fertile environments. The Hebrew word "צֶאֱלִים" (tse'elim) is used here, which can refer to a type of tree or plant that provides shade and sustenance. This imagery evokes a sense of abundance and provision, highlighting God's care for all His creatures. The lotus, in its historical and cultural context, symbolizes purity and renewal, reinforcing the theme of God's sustaining power and the renewal He offers to His creation.

in the hiding
The term "hiding" suggests a place of refuge and safety. The Hebrew root "סָתַר" (satar) means to conceal or protect. This indicates that the behemoth finds security in its environment, a metaphor for the protection God offers to His people. It reflects the idea that, even in the midst of chaos or suffering, there is a divine shelter available to those who seek it.

of the reeds and marsh
"Reeds and marsh" describe a habitat that is both nurturing and protective. The Hebrew words "גּוֹמֶא" (gome) for reeds and "בִּצָּה" (bitzah) for marsh suggest a wetland area rich in resources. Historically, such environments were seen as places of life and growth, teeming with biodiversity. In the scriptural context, this setting underscores the theme of God's provision and the intricate balance of His creation. It serves as a metaphor for the spiritual nourishment and protection found in God's presence, encouraging believers to trust in His providence and care.

(21) He lieth under the shady trees.--If this description applies to any one animal, it seems on the whole more appropriate to the elephant than the hippopotamus. No doubt the judgment of critics has been biased by their pre-conceived notions about the circumstances under which they suppose the Book of Job to have been written; and the author was more likely, it is thought, to have been acquainted with the river-horse of Egypt than with the elephant of India, though, to be sure, elephants abound also in Africa, and may very well have been known to the writer of Job from that quarter, if the other is less likely.

Verse 21. - He listh under the shady trees; or, under the lotus trees (Revised Version). The Lotus sylvestris or Lotus Cyrenaiea "grows abundantly an the hot banks of the Upper Nile" (Cook). and is thought to be the tree here intended (Schultens. Cook, Houghton, and others). But the identification is very doubtful. The dense shade of trees is sought alike by the hippopotamus and the elephant. In the covert of the reed, and fens. This is exactly descriptive of the hippopotamus; far less so of the elephant. Gordon Cumming says, "At every turn there occurred deep still pools, and occasional sandy islands, densely clad with lofty reeds Above and beyond these reeds stood trees of immense age. beneath which grew a rank kind of grass, on which the sea-cow (hippopotamus) delights to pasture" ('Lion-Hunter of South Africa,' p. 297).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He lies
יִשְׁכָּ֑ב (yiš·kāḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

under
תַּֽחַת־ (ta·ḥaṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

the lotus plants,
צֶאֱלִ֥ים (ṣe·’ĕ·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6628: (a kind of) lotus

hidden
בְּסֵ֖תֶר (bə·sê·ṯer)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5643: A covering, hiding place, secrecy

among the reeds
קָנֶ֣ה (qā·neh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7070: A reed, a, rod, shaft, tube, stem, the radius, beam

of the marsh.
וּבִצָּֽה׃ (ū·ḇiṣ·ṣāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1207: A swamp


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OT Poetry: Job 40:21 He lies under the lotus trees (Jb)
Job 40:20
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