Definition and Context:
The term "neesing" is an archaic word that refers to sneezing. It appears in the King James Version of the Bible in Job 41:18, describing the formidable creature known as Leviathan. In the Berean Standard Bible , this term is translated to reflect the creature's powerful and awe-inspiring nature.

Biblical Reference:
Job 41:18 describes Leviathan: "His snorting flashes with light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn." In this passage, the term "neesing" from older translations is understood as "snorting" in the BSB, emphasizing the creature's fearsome and majestic presence.

Theological Significance:
Leviathan is often interpreted as a symbol of chaos and power, representing forces that are beyond human control but under God's dominion. The description of Leviathan's "neesing" or "snorting" that emits light serves to highlight the creature's terrifying strength and the divine power that created and controls it. This imagery underscores the theme of God's sovereignty over all creation, including the most formidable and untamable forces.

Cultural and Historical Insights:
In ancient Near Eastern literature, sea monsters like Leviathan were common symbols of chaos. The biblical portrayal of Leviathan in Job 41 is unique in that it not only acknowledges the creature's might but also places it firmly under the authority of the Creator. This reflects a worldview where God is supreme over all aspects of the natural and supernatural world.

Linguistic Notes:
The Hebrew word translated as "neesing" in the King James Version is "עֲטִישָׁה" (atiyshah), which is more accurately rendered as "snorting" or "sneezing" in modern translations. This linguistic update helps convey the intended imagery of power and awe associated with Leviathan.

Interpretative Challenges:
The identity of Leviathan has been the subject of much debate among scholars and theologians. Some view it as a literal sea creature, possibly a crocodile or a whale, while others see it as a mythological symbol. Regardless of its identity, the passage serves to illustrate the grandeur and mystery of God's creation.

Application for Believers:
The depiction of Leviathan and its "neesing" invites believers to reflect on the majesty and authority of God. It serves as a reminder of the limits of human understanding and the need to trust in God's wisdom and power. The passage encourages humility and reverence in the face of the divine, acknowledging that even the most fearsome aspects of creation are subject to God's will.Neesing

Translated sneezing in 2 Kings 4:35; used in Job 41:18 to describe the violent breathing of the enraged leviathan, or crocodile.

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Neese.

2. (n.) Sneezing.

NEESING

ne'-zing (Job 41:18, the King James Version, the English Revised Version "by his neesings a light doth shine," the American Standard Revised Version "sneezings"): "Neese" in Elizabethan English (through two distinct derivations) could mean either "sneeze" or "snort," and it is impossible to say which force was intended by the King James Version editors. The Hebrew is `aTishah, a word found only here, but connected with a Semitic root meaning "sneeze," or, perhaps, "snort." Job 41:18 is part of the description of the "leviathan" or crocodile. This animal has a habit of inflating himself, and after this he discharges through his nostrils the moist, heated vapor, which sparkles in the sunlight. The act is neither a "sneeze" nor a "snort," but the latter word is sufficiently descriptive. There is no allusion to legendary "fire-spouting" monsters. Compare Job 39:20 Jeremiah 8:16.

In the older editions of the King James Version "neesed" is found in 2 Kings 4:35: "and the child neesed seven times" (later editions and the Revised Version (British and American) "sneezed").

Burton Scott Easton

Neesing
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Neese. 2. (n.) Sneezing.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NEESING. ne'-zing (Job ...
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Neesings (1 Occurrence)

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Needy (83 Occurrences)

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Sneeze
... sneezings (`atsishah) flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids
of the morning" (Job 41:18 (Hebrew 10)). See NEESING. ...
/s/sneeze.htm - 7k

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