New International VersionUnder the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
New Living TranslationIt lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh.
English Standard VersionUnder the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
Berean Standard BibleHe lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
King James BibleHe lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
New King James VersionHe lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.
New American Standard Bible“He lies down under the lotus plants, In the hiding place of the reeds and the marsh.
NASB 1995“Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.
NASB 1977“Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.
Legacy Standard BibleUnder the lotus plants it lies down, In the hidden place of the reeds and the marsh.
Amplified Bible“He lies down under the lotus plants, In the hidden shelter of the reeds in the marsh.
Christian Standard BibleHe lies under the lotus plants, hiding in the protection of marshy reeds.
Holman Christian Standard BibleHe lies under the lotus plants, hiding in the protection of marshy reeds.
American Standard VersionHe lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen.
Contemporary English VersionIt rests in the shade of trees along the riverbank
English Revised VersionHe lieth under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the fen.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationIt lies down under the lotus plants in a hiding place among reeds and swamps.
Good News TranslationHe lies down under the thorn bushes, and hides among the reeds in the swamp.
International Standard VersionHe lies under the lotus trees, hiding under reeds and marshes.
NET BibleUnder the lotus trees it lies, in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.
New Heart English BibleHe lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
Webster's Bible TranslationHe lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
World English BibleHe lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe lies down under shades, "" In a secret place of reed and marsh.
Young's Literal Translation Under shades he lieth down, In a secret place of reed and mire.
Smith's Literal TranslationHe will lie down under the shades, in the covering of the reed and marsh. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.
Catholic Public Domain VersionHe sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.
New American Bible
Under lotus trees he lies, in coverts of the reedy swamp.
New Revised Standard Version
Under the lotus plants it lies, in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh.Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible
He lurks in the covert of reeds, he couches as a lion.
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Under its shade he lies down; in the shelter of the rushes he crouchesOT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917
He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and fens.
Brenton Septuagint Translation
He lies under trees of every kind, by the papyrus, and reed, and bulrush.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Job Humbles Himself Before the LORD… 20The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby. 21He liesunderthe lotus plants,hiddenamong the reedsof the marsh.22The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.…
Cross References Psalm 104:25-26Here 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 27:1In 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 29:3Speak 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.’
Genesis 1:21So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Psalm 74:13-14You 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 51:9Awake, 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?
Psalm 104:10-12He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains. / They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. / The birds of the air nest beside the springs; they sing among the branches.
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 148:7Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths,
Isaiah 43:20The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.
Matthew 12:40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Luke 11:30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
Revelation 12:9And 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 13:1Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Revelation 17:15Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
Treasury of Scripture He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. the reed Isaiah 19:6,7 And they shall turn the rivers far away;and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither… Isaiah 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay,shall be grass with reeds and rushes. Jump to Previous CovertHiddenLiesMarshMirePlantsPoolReedReedsRestRiverSecretShadeShadesShadyTreesWater-PlantsJump to Next CovertHiddenLiesMarshMirePlantsPoolReedReedsRestRiverSecretShadeShadesShadyTreesWater-PlantsJob 40 1.Job humbles himself to God6.God stirs him up to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom16.Of the behemothHe lies under the lotus plantsThis phrase describes the habitat of the behemoth, a creature mentioned in the Book of Job. The lotus plant, often associated with water and marshy areas, suggests a setting that is lush and abundant in resources. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the lotus was a symbol of fertility and life, which may imply the behemoth's strength and vitality. The imagery of lying under the lotus plants conveys a sense of rest and security, indicating the creature's dominance and lack of fear in its environment. This can be seen as a metaphor for God's creation, which is both powerful and at peace within its ordained place. hidden among the reeds of the marsh
The reeds of the marsh further emphasize the aquatic environment where the behemoth resides. Reeds were common in the ancient Near East, particularly in the regions surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This setting highlights the creature's ability to remain concealed and protected, symbolizing God's provision and the hidden mysteries of His creation. The marsh, a place of both life and potential danger, reflects the complexity and balance of the natural world. In a broader biblical context, the imagery of reeds and marshes can be connected to themes of deliverance and protection, as seen in the story of Moses being hidden among the reeds inExodus 2:3. This connection underscores the idea of divine care and sovereignty over all creation. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man of great faith and patience, who undergoes severe trials and questions God's justice. 2. BehemothA creature described by God in His response to Job, symbolizing God's power and the majesty of His creation. 3. Lotus PlantsAquatic plants mentioned in the context of Behemoth's habitat, symbolizing a place of rest and concealment. 4. Reeds of the MarshThe environment where Behemoth resides, indicating a natural habitat that provides shelter and sustenance. 5. God's Response to JobThe broader context of this verse is God's discourse to Job, emphasizing His sovereignty and the limitations of human understanding. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in CreationThe description of the Behemoth serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority over all creation. We are called to trust in His wisdom and power, even when we do not understand His ways. The Majesty of God's WorksThe intricate details of the Behemoth's habitat illustrate the beauty and complexity of God's creation. We should take time to appreciate and steward the natural world as a reflection of God's glory. Human LimitationsJob's encounter with God's questions highlights our limited understanding compared to God's infinite knowledge. This should lead us to humility and reliance on God's guidance. Finding Rest in God's ProvisionJust as the Behemoth finds shelter among the lotus plants and reeds, we can find rest and security in God's provision and care for us. Reflecting on God's WisdomThe passage encourages us to meditate on the wisdom and depth of God's plans, fostering a deeper trust in His purposes for our lives. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Job 40
Why does the Bible include mythical creatures such as Leviathan and Behemoth?
Job 40:17: If 'Behemoth' truly has a tail like a cedar, why do some translations or commentators equate it with a hippopotamus or elephant, which clearly have short tails?
Job 8:11-13 compares the fate of sinners to papyrus plants withering; does this metaphor conflict with other biblical teachings about God's mercy?
How does Job remain faithful amidst immense suffering?(21) He lieth under the shady trees.--If this description applies to any oneanimal, it seems on the whole more appropriate to the elephant than the hippopotamus. No doubt the judgment of critics has been biased by their pre-conceived notions about the circumstances under which they suppose the Book of Job to have been written; and the author was more likely, it is thought, to have been acquainted with the river-horse of Egypt than with the elephant of India, though, to be sure, elephants abound also in Africa, and may very well have been known to the writer of Job from that quarter, if the other is less likely. Verse 21. - He listh under the shady trees; or, under the lotus trees (Revised Version). The Lotus sylvestris or Lotus Cyrenaiea "grows abundantly an the hot banks of the Upper Nile" (Cook). and is thought to be the tree here intended (Schultens. Cook, Houghton, and others). But the identification is very doubtful. The dense shade of trees is sought alike by the hippopotamus and the elephant. In the covert of the reed, and fens. This is exactly descriptive of the hippopotamus; far less so of the elephant. Gordon Cumming says, "At every turn there occurred deep still pools, and occasional sandy islands, densely clad with lofty reeds Above and beyond these reeds stood trees of immense age. beneath which grew a rank kind of grass, on which the sea-cow (hippopotamus) delights to pasture" ('Lion-Hunter of South Africa,' p. 297).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew He liesיִשְׁכָּ֑ב(yiš·kāḇ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7901:To lie downunderתַּֽחַת־(ta·ḥaṯ-)Preposition
Strong's 8478:The bottom, below, in lieu ofthe lotus plants,צֶאֱלִ֥ים(ṣe·’ĕ·lîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6628:(a kind of) lotushiddenבְּסֵ֖תֶר(bə·sê·ṯer)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5643:A covering, hiding place, secrecyamong the reedsקָנֶ֣ה(qā·neh)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7070:A reed, a, rod, shaft, tube, stem, the radius, beamof the marsh.וּבִצָּֽה׃(ū·ḇiṣ·ṣāh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1207:A swamp
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OT Poetry: Job 40:21 He lies under the lotus trees (Jb) |
