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Job 41:11

Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Prevented - done me a favour first: anticipated me with service (Psalms 21:3). None can call me to account ("stand before me," Job 41:10) as unjust, because I have withdrawn favours from him (as in Job's case) which I was not in the least bound to give: for none has laid me under a prior obligation by conferring on me something which was not already my own. What can man give to Him who possesses all, including man himself? Man cannot constrain the creature to be his "servant" (Job 41:4) much less the Creator.

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See also Job 41:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Job 41:11. _WHO HATH PREVENTED ME_] Who is it that hath laid me under obligation to him? Do I need my creatures? All under the heavens is my property....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHO HATH PREVENTED ME? - As this verse is here rendered, its meaning, and the reason why it is introduced, are not very apparent. It almost looks, indeed, as if it were an interpolation, or had been i...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 41 _ 1. Leviathan, the untamable beast of power (Job 41:1)_ 2. Its description (Job 41:12) 3. His remarkable strength (Job 41:25)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB 40:15 TO JOB 41:34. BEHEMOTH AND LEVIATHAN. Most scholars regard this passage as a later addition to the poem. The point of Job 40:8 is God's reply to Job's criticism of His righteousness; the des...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB 41. LEVIATHAN. The author regards the crocodile as impossible of capture. In Job 41:1 b perhaps the meaning is that when caught the crocodile cannot be led about by a rope round his tongue and low...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    PREVENTED. anticipated. IS. that is....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _who hath prevented me_ Rather, WHO HATH FIRST GIVEN TO ME? So Tyndale, _Or who hathe geven me anye thinge afore hand, that I am bounde to reward him agayne_? As none dare contend with God (Job 41:10)...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    In these verses the speaker turns aside from describing the invincibility of Leviathan to impress the moral which he intends to teach by introducing the monster. If none dare stir up this creature, wh...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Job 40:6 to Job 42:6. The Lord's Second Answer to Job out of the Storm Shall Man charge God with unrighteousness in His Rule of the World? All that the first speech of the Lord touched upon was the...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHO HATH PREVENTED ME— _Who hath made me any present, that I may requite him?_ Heath. See Micah 6:6....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT 41:1-34 41 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord? 2 Canst thou put a rope Into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 3 Will he make ma...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SECOND SPEECH OF THE ALMIGHTY (CONCLUDED) The second great creature, the Crocodile (with which the 'leviathan' is generally identified) is now described. If Job cannot control the crocodile, dare...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 41 GOD FINISHES HIS SPEECH...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    God created all the animals. So God is more powerful than any animal. And God is also more powerful than the devil. So people who trust God do not need to be afraid of the devil. Instead, they should...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHO HATH PREVENTED ME? — It is manifest that this appeal would come more appropriately at the end of the following detailed description than, as it does here, just before it. “Who hath prevented me,”...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Job 41:3]_ מִ֣י הִ֭קְדִּימַנִי וַ אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם תַּ֖חַת...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XXVIII. THE RECONCILIATION Job 38:1 - Job 42:6 THE main argument of the address ascribed to the Almighty is contained in Chapter s 38 and 39 and in the opening verses of chapter 42. Job makes submis...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE PARABLE OF THE CROCODILE Job 41:1 The last paragraph described the hippopotamus; the whole of this chapter is devoted to the crocodile. In a series of striking questions the voice of the Almighty...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Leviathan is almost certainly the crocodile, and there is the playfulness of a great tenderness in the suggestions Jehovah makes to Job about these fierce creations. Can Job catch him with a rope or a...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Who hath prevented me, that I should (b) repay [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine. (b) Who has taught me to accomplish my work?...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Smoke; breath, or streams of water sent upwards._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (11) В¶ Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. (12) I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. (13) Who can discover...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 38 THROUGH 42. Jehovah then speaks, and addressing Job, carries on the subject. He makes Job sensible of his nothingness. Job confesses himself to be vile, an...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHO HATH PREVENTED ME, THAT ONE SHOULD REPAY [HIM]?.... First given me something that was not my own, and so laid me under an obligation to him to make a return. The apostle seems to have respect to t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Who hath prevented me, that I should repay [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine. Ver. 11. _Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him?_] Who can tax me wath injustice, who am bound...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Job 41:11. "Who hath prevented Me, that I should repay him?" These words are a great evidence that leviathan is here spoken of as a type of the devil. For no other leviathan was ever subject to God's...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Who hath prevented me?_ Namely, with offices or services done for me, and thereby hath laid the first obligation upon me, for which I am indebted to him? _That I should repay him?_ Should be engaged...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Who hath prevented Me, having given something to God in the first place, having become His creditor, THAT I SHOULD REPAY HIM? Who among all men has the right to claim anything at the hand of God? WHAT...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JOB'S WEAKNESS WHEN COMPARED WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE CROCODILE...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    LEVIATHAN (vv.1-34) Leviathan was a water creature, and appears to be the crocodile, the most fearsome of all aquatic beasts, unless it was another similar animal, now extinct. Job could use a hook...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WHO HATH PREVENTED ME, to wit, with offices or service done for me, by which he hath laid the first obligation upon me, for which I am indebted to him? Who can be beforehand with me in kindnesses, sin...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 41:11 preceded H6923 (H8689) pay H7999 (H8762) heaven H8064 Who - Job 22:2-3,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: God's challenge to Job concluded. CHARACTERS: God, Job. CONCLUSION: Man is utterly unable to contend against the Almighty. If the inferior creatures keep man in awe, how wonderful must the...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 41:1. _Canst thou draw out leviathan?_ This word is rendered by the LXX, “dragon.” It occurs in Isaiah 27:1, and is rendered _whale, dragon,_ and _serpent._ Men are now satisfied that it is not th...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Canst thou draw out Leviathan?_ BEHEMOTH AND LEVIATHAN The description of the “behemoth” in the preceding chapter and the “leviathan” here suggests a few moral reflections. I. The prodigality of c...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 41:1 The Lord describes the power of LEVIATHAN in terms of man’s inability to subdue him. He compares such power to his own (vv. Job 41:9)....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 41:9 If people are unable to subdue Leviathan, who is a part of God’s creation, then how much more cautious should Job be about his desire to bring his case and STAND BEFORE God....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    NOTES Job 41:1. “_Canst thou draw out Leviathan with a hook_.” The term “Leviathan” (לִוְיָתָן) rendered here by the SEPTUAGINT, SYRIAC, and ARABIC, “the dragon.” The VULGATE and TARGUM leave it untra...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 41:1 The crowning description of a natural marvel—the "leviathan," or crocodile—is now given, and with an elaboration to which there is no parallel in the rest of Scripture. It forms,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And then in the next chapter God speaks of the leviathan. Now just what the leviathan is, they're not quite sure. Some think that it is perhaps a crocodile, some think that it's perhaps even a dragon,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 29:11; 1 Corinthians 10:26; 1 Corinthians 10:28; Deuteronomy 10:14;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Prevented — Hath laid the first obligation upon me, for which I am indebted to him. Who can be before — hand with me in kindnesses, since all things under heaven are mine....

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