“Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?”
God introduces the final creature: 'Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?' This verse begins the description of Leviathan, a sea creature of immense power. The questions about drawing the creature out with a fishhook or controlling its tongue with a cord establish that Leviathan is not subject to human capture or control. The specific mention of fishhook and cord suggests tools of human hunting and fishing; these tools are useless against Leviathan. Job is invited to contemplate a creature so powerful that the instruments of human hunting are futile. The introduction of Leviathan after Behemoth suggests a progression to even greater power or to a power of a different kind (water rather than land).
Church Fathers on Job 41:1
Wilt thou be able to draw out Leviathan with a hook? 17. For Leviathan means ‘their addition.’ Of whom, in truth, but of men? amongst whom he introduced once for all the guilt of sin, and carries it onward to eternal death by the most evil suggestions day by day. And while he multiplies their guilt by the usury of sin, he doubtless without ceasing adds to their punishment. He can also be called Leviathan by way of mocking. For he declared in his cunning persuasion that he…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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