King James Version
What Does Job 41:6 Mean?
“Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?”
Job 41:6 · KJV
Context
4
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
5
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6
Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
8
Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
Commentary
KJV Study Commentary"Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?" Can fishermen cooperatively catch and sell Leviathan for commercial profit? The Hebrew chaberim (חֲבָרִים, "companions/trading partners") and kenanim (כְּנַעֲנִים, "merchants/traders") suggests business enterprise. Leviathan resists commodification. God created certain things that cannot be bought, sold, or reduced to commercial value. This teaches that not everything should be subject to market forces; some realities transcend economic calculation.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
Ancient fishing was commercial enterprise; fishermen cooperated to catch and market fish. Leviathan's immunity to such enterprise taught that God preserves aspects of creation beyond human economic systems. This challenged materialistic thinking that reduces all value to commercial terms.
Reflection Questions
- What non-commodifiable realities does modern culture try to reduce to market value?
- How does recognizing certain things as beyond price shape your values and priorities?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 6 wordsעָ֭לָיו2 of 6
H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בֵּ֣ין5 of 6
H996between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
כְּֽנַעֲנִֽים׃6 of 6
“him among the merchants”
H3669a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c
Study Guide
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Job. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Job 41:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Job 41:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge