Job 41 in the early church

60 passages quote, allude to, or echo Job 41, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 22 · 23 · 27 · 29 · 30 · 31 · 33 · 34

Job 41:1

“Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie down his tongue with a rope?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:1 (40:25 LXX)On First Principles 1.5.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398)
Job 41:1On Prayer 16.3 · Origenecho, low confidenceca. 233–234
Job 41:1–2 (40:25-Job LXX)Fragment on Job, no. 25 · Methodius of Olympusallusion, high confidencelate 3rd cent. (disputed)
Job 41:1–2 (40:25-Job LXX)Life of Antony 24 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 357–360
Job 41:1Oration 39.16 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidenceca. 362–383
Job 41:1Letter 21.11 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–419
Job 41:1 (40:25 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.12 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385
Job 41:1Hexameron (Exameron) 5.5 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-390
Job 41:1 (40:25 LXX)Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.63.3 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-397
Job 41:1 (40:25 LXX)Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 16 · Rufinus of Aquileiaquotation, high confidenceca. 404
Job 41:1Against Vigilantius 1 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence406
Job 41:1 (40:20 Vulg.)Apologetic Book 4.6 · Orosiusecho, low confidenceca. 415–416

Job 41:2

Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:2 (40:26 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.12 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385
Job 41:2 (40:26 LXX)Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 16 · Rufinus of Aquileiaquotation, high confidenceca. 404

Job 41:3

Will he beg you for mercy or speak to you softly?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:3 (40:27 LXX)Demonstration of the Gospel 10.8.69 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 314–324

Job 41:4

Will he make a covenant with you to take him as a slave for life?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:4 (40:28 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.12 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385

Job 41:5

Can you pet him like a bird or put him on a leash for your maidens?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:5 (40:29 LXX)To the Bishops of Egypt 2 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 356
Job 41:5 (40:29 LXX)Life of Antony 24 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 357–360
Job 41:5 (40:29 LXX)Apostolic Constitutions 8.7.5 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380
Job 41:5 (40:29 LXX)Homily 15.2 on 1 Timothy · John Chrysostomallusion, medium confidenceca. 392-397

Job 41:6

Will traders barter for him or divide him among the merchants?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:6 (40:30 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 101 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:6 (40:30 LXX)Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.9.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397

Job 41:7

Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:7 (40:31 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 101 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:7 (40:31 LXX)Catechetical Lecture 3.11 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, medium confidenceca. 350

Job 41:8

If you lay a hand on him, you will remember the battle and never repeat it!

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:8 (40:32 LXX)Refutation of All Heresies 5.8.19 · Hippolytus of Romequotation, medium confidenceca. 222–235

Job 41:9

Surely hope of overcoming him is false. Is not the sight of him overwhelming?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:9–11 (41:1-Job LXX)Apology against Rufinus 2.7 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 401–402

Job 41:10

No one is so fierce as to rouse Leviathan. Then who is able to stand against Me?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:10 (41:2 LXX)Prophetic Extracts 3.9 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, medium confidencebefore 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Job 41:10 (41:2 LXX)Demonstration of the Gospel 5.20.7 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, low confidenceca. 314–324

Job 41:11

Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:11Commentary on Romans 11:34–35 · Ambrosiasterquotation, medium confidenceca. 366–384
Job 41:11 (41:3 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.30 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385
Job 41:11 (41:2 Vulg.)Book 1, chapter 24 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 440-450

Job 41:13

Who can strip off his outer coat? Who can approach him with a bridle?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:13 (41:5 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 101 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:13 (41:5 LXX)Oration I Against the Arians 1 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 339–346
Job 41:13 (41:5 LXX)To the Bishops of Egypt 3 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 356
Job 41:13–34Against Jovinianus 2.4 · Jeromequotation, medium confidence393

Job 41:14

Who can open his jaws, ringed by his fearsome teeth?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:14 (41:6 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 101 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:14 (41:6 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 103 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:14 (41:6 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.29 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385

Job 41:15

His rows of scales are his pride, tightly sealed together.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:15 (41:7 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 103 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:15Homily 5 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, medium confidenceca. 390–394

Job 41:18

His snorting flashes with light, and his eyes are like the rays of dawn.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:18–21 (41:10-Job LXX)Life of Antony 24 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–360
Job 41:18 (41:10 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.29 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385

Job 41:19

Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth!

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:19 (41:11 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 103 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254

Job 41:20

Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:20Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 6 · Eucherius of Lyonquotation, high confidenceca. 420-430

Job 41:22

Strength resides in his neck, and dismay leaps before him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:22 (41:14 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 103 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:22 (41:14 LXX)Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.9.3 · Ambrosequotation, medium confidenceca. 387-397

Job 41:23

The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:23 (41:15 LXX)Fragments on Job, column 103 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:23 (41:15 LXX)Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.9.3 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-397

Job 41:27

He regards iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:27 (41:19 LXX)Life of Antony 24 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–360

Job 41:29

A club is regarded as straw, and he laughs at the sound of the lance.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:29 (41:21 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.29 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385

Job 41:30

His undersides are jagged potsherds, spreading out the mud like a threshing sledge.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:30Book of Rules 7 · Tyconiusquotation, medium confidenceca. 380

Job 41:31

He makes the depths seethe like a cauldron; he makes the sea like a jar of ointment.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:31–32 (41:23-Job LXX)Life of Antony 24 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 357–360
Job 41:31 (41:23 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.29 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385

Job 41:33

Nothing on earth is his equal—a creature devoid of fear!

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:33 (41:25 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.29 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385
Job 41:33–34 (41:24-Job Vulg.)Part 4, chapter 6 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

Job 41:34

He looks down on all the haughty; he is king over all the proud.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Job 41:34 (41:26 LXX)On First Principles 2.8.3 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398)
Job 41:34Fragments on Proverbs, column 215 · Origenallusion, low confidenceca. 220-254
Job 41:34Commentary on Matthew 13.4 · Origenallusion, low confidenceca. 246–248
Job 41:34 (41:26 LXX)Sang. 4 · Methodius of Olympusquotation, high confidencelate 3rd cent. (disputed)
Job 41:34 (41:26 LXX)Eleven Tractates 1.30 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385