Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 41:7
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? – Referring to its thickness and impenetrability. A common method of taking fish is by the spear; but it is here said that the leviathan could not be caught in this manner. The common method of taking the crocodile now is by shooting him; see the notes at Job 41:1. Nothing is more remarkable in the crocodile than the thick and impenetrable skin with which it is covered; and the description here will agree better with this animal than with any other.
Or his head with fish spears – The word here rendered fish-spears ( tselatsal) means properly a tinkling, clanging, as of metal or arms, and then any tinkling instrument. Here it evidently refers to some metal spear, or harpoon, and the name was given to the instrument on account of its clanging noise. The Septuagint renders this strangely, referring it to the Phenicians, or merchants mentioned in the previous verse – With their whole fleet they could not carry the first skin of his tail, nor his head in their fishing-barks.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons?] This refers to some kind of harpoon work, similar to that employed in taking whales, and which they might use for some other kinds of animals; for the skin of the crocodile could not be pierced. Herrera says that he saw a crocodile defend itself against thirty men; and that they fired six balls at it without being able to wound it. It can only be wounded under his belly.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This may be understood, either,
1. Of the whale. And whereas it is objected that the whales at this day are taken in this manner, and therefore this cannot be understood of them; it may be replied, both that this art and way of taking whales is a late invention, and was not known in Jobs time; and that he doth not speak of the absolute impossibility, but of the great difficulty of taking them. Or,
2. Of the crocodile, whose skin is so hard that an iron or spear will not pierce it, as we shall see hereafter.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. His hide is not penetrable,as that of fishes.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?] This seems not so well to agree with the whale; whose skin, and the several parts of his body, are to be pierced with harpoons and lances, such as fishermen use in taking whales; and their flesh to be cut in pieces with their knives: but better with the crocodile, whose skin is so hard, and so closely set with scales, that it is impenetrable; [See comments on Eze 29:4]. Or if the words are rendered, as by some, “wilt thou fill ships with his skin? and the fishermen’s boat with his head” n? it makes also against the whale; for this is done continually, ships of different nations are loaded every year with its skin, flesh, and the bones of its head.
n Vid. Schultens in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. Barbed irons Sukkoth; a general term for pointed weapons.
Fish spears Tsiltsal dagim. At the root of tsiltsal lies the idea of “tinkling,” or “clanging,” and “buzzing,” and is spoken of insects, cymbals, fishing instruments, etc. The spear was evidently hurled from the hand like a harpoon. The weapon was used in taking the life of the hippopotamus. See note, Job 40:24; also, Gesenius, Thesaurus, 1167.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 41:7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
Ver. 7. Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? ] Harpagonibus. Heb. With thorns; sc. to pull him to the shore? Opianus, Albertus Magnus, Gesner, and others now write, how whales are to be taken; and experience proves it to be seizable. They are sometimes cast upon the land by the surging rage or violence of the sea, or, by the ebbing thereof, left in a ford, where they cannot swim, and so they become a prey to the fishermen with their guns, darts, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Canst: The Leviathan, [Strong’s H3882],
fish: Job 41:26-29
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 41:7-8. Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? A whales skin you may; but the skin of a crocodile is so hard that an iron, or spear, will not pierce it. It may, however, be understood also of the whale, for though they are taken at this day by piercing their skin with barbed irons, this art and way of taking them is but a late invention, and was not known in Jobs time; and, besides, he doth not speak of the absolute impossibility, but of the great difficulty of taking them. Lay thy hand upon him Seize upon him, and take him by a strong hand, if thou darest to do so. Remember the battle, &c. But ere thou attempt that, consider what thou art doing, and how hazardous thy enterprise is, and with what sort of a creature and with what disadvantage thou art going to contend; and, as it follows, do no more Proceed no further; draw back thy hand, and be thankful for so great a deliverance. Or, as , al tosaph, literally signifies, non addes, that is, as Mercer very justly explains it, if once thou lay thy hand upon him, or attempt to do it, thou wilt no more remember the engagement with him, or any one else; for he will quickly despatch thee. Heath, however, gives a different turn to the sense, thus: Be sure thou strike home; mind thy blow; rely not on a second stroke.