Job 41:17
New International Version
They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted.

New Living Translation
Each scale sticks tight to the next. They interlock and cannot be penetrated.

English Standard Version
They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.

Berean Standard Bible
They are joined to one another; they clasp and cannot be separated.

King James Bible
They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

New King James Version
They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.

New American Standard Bible
“They are joined one to another; They clasp each other and cannot be separated.

NASB 1995
“They are joined one to another; They clasp each other and cannot be separated.

NASB 1977
“They are joined one to another; They clasp each other and cannot be separated.

Legacy Standard Bible
They cling one to another; They are interlocked and cannot be separated.

Amplified Bible
“They are joined one to another; They stick together and cannot be separated.

Christian Standard Bible
They are joined to one another, so closely connected they cannot be separated.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They are joined to one another, so closely connected they cannot be separated.

American Standard Version
They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered.

Contemporary English Version
than breath to breath.

English Revised Version
They are joined one to another; they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Each is joined to the other. They are locked together and inseparable.

Good News Translation
They all are fastened so firmly together that nothing can ever pull them apart.

International Standard Version
Each is attached to the other, grasping each other so they cannot be separated.

Majority Standard Bible
They are joined to one another; they clasp and cannot be separated.

NET Bible
They lock tightly together, one to the next; they cling together and cannot be separated.

New Heart English Bible
They are joined one to another. They stick together, so that they can't be pulled apart.

Webster's Bible Translation
They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

World English Bible
They are joined to one another. They stick together, so that they can’t be pulled apart.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They adhere to one another, "" They stick together and are not separated.

Young's Literal Translation
One unto another they adhere, They stick together and are not separated.

Smith's Literal Translation
They will adhere each in his brotherhood, they will hold together, and they will not be separated.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They stick one to another and they hold one another fast, and shall not be separated.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They adhere to one another, and they hold themselves in place and will not be separated.

New American Bible
So joined to one another that they hold fast and cannot be parted.

New Revised Standard Version
They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
His teeth are so close together that no air can come between them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They are joined one to another and shut and are not separated
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They are joined one to another; They stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They will remain united each to the other: they are closely joined, and cannot be separated.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Power Shown in Leviathan
16One scale is so near to another that no air can pass between them. 17They are joined to one another; they clasp and cannot be separated. 18His snorting flashes with light, and his eyes are like the rays of dawn.…

Cross References
Psalm 18:29-30
For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall. / As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

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 29:3-4
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.’ / But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales.

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 51:9-10
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? / Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

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 43:16-17
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, / who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

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 89:9-10
You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them. / You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

Isaiah 14:29
Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg.

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 20:2
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

Matthew 12:29
Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

Mark 3:27
Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

Luke 11:21-22
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure. / But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.


Treasury of Scripture

They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

Jump to Previous
Adhere Apart Clasp Cling Fast Fellow Grip Joined Parted Pulled Separated Stick Together
Jump to Next
Adhere Apart Clasp Cling Fast Fellow Grip Joined Parted Pulled Separated Stick Together
Job 41
1. Of God's great power in the leviathan














They are joined to one another;
This phrase describes the impenetrable unity and strength of the creature's scales, often interpreted as Leviathan. In biblical context, Leviathan is a symbol of chaos and power, representing forces that are beyond human control. The imagery of being "joined" suggests a perfect and unbreakable bond, reflecting the creature's formidable nature. This can be seen as a metaphor for the unity and strength found in God's creation, where everything is intricately designed and connected. Theologically, it can also symbolize the unity of the body of Christ, where believers are joined together in faith and purpose.

they clasp and cannot be separated.
The description of the scales clasping and being inseparable emphasizes the invulnerability and resilience of Leviathan. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of mythical sea creatures as embodiments of chaos that only divine power could control. The imagery of inseparability can be connected to the idea of God's covenant with His people, which is unbreakable and enduring. In a broader biblical context, this can also be seen as a type of Christ, whose love and sacrifice bind believers to Him in an unbreakable bond, as reflected in passages like Romans 8:38-39, where nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man of great faith and patience, Job is the central figure in the Book of Job. He undergoes severe trials and suffering, which lead to profound dialogues about God's nature and human suffering.

2. Leviathan
A mythical sea creature described in Job 41, symbolizing chaos and power. The description of Leviathan serves to illustrate God's unmatched power and the futility of human attempts to control or understand His creation fully.

3. God
The ultimate speaker in Job 41, God is addressing Job, highlighting His sovereignty and the majesty of His creation, which includes creatures like Leviathan.

4. The Book of Job
A poetic and philosophical book in the Old Testament that explores themes of suffering, divine justice, and the human condition.

5. Ancient Near East
The cultural and historical context of the Book of Job, where creatures like Leviathan were part of the mythological understanding of the world.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Power
The description of Leviathan in Job 41, including verse 17, emphasizes God's unmatched power and control over creation. Believers are reminded of the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty, even when circumstances are beyond human understanding.

Unity and Strength in Creation
The imagery of Leviathan's scales being inseparable can be seen as a metaphor for the strength found in unity. In the body of Christ, believers are called to be united, supporting one another to withstand challenges.

Human Limitations
Job 41:17 highlights the limitations of human power and understanding. This serves as a reminder to approach God with humility, acknowledging that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.

The Mystery of God's Creation
The intricate and powerful design of creatures like Leviathan points to the mystery and majesty of God's creation. Believers are encouraged to marvel at God's handiwork and recognize His wisdom in the natural world.Verse 17. - They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered; literally, they are soldered one to another (comp. Isaiah 41:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They are joined
יְדֻבָּ֑קוּ (yə·ḏub·bā·qū)
Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1692: To impinge, cling, adhere, to catch by pursuit

to one
אִישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

another;
בְּאָחִ֥יהוּ (bə·’ā·ḥî·hū)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

they clasp
יִ֝תְלַכְּד֗וּ (yiṯ·lak·kə·ḏū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3920: To catch, to capture, occupy, to choose, to cohere

and cannot
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be separated.
יִתְפָּרָֽדוּ׃ (yiṯ·pā·rā·ḏū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6504: To break through, spread, separate


Links
Job 41:17 NIV
Job 41:17 NLT
Job 41:17 ESV
Job 41:17 NASB
Job 41:17 KJV

Job 41:17 BibleApps.com
Job 41:17 Biblia Paralela
Job 41:17 Chinese Bible
Job 41:17 French Bible
Job 41:17 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 41:17 They are joined one to another (Jb)
Job 41:16
Top of Page
Top of Page