Job 40:18
New International Version
Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.

New Living Translation
Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron.

English Standard Version
His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.

Berean Standard Bible
His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.

King James Bible
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

New King James Version
His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.

New American Standard Bible
“His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.

NASB 1995
“His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.

NASB 1977
“His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.

Legacy Standard Bible
Its bones are tubes of bronze; Its limbs are like bars of iron.

Amplified Bible
“His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.

Christian Standard Bible
His bones are bronze tubes; his limbs are like iron rods.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
His bones are bronze tubes; his limbs are like iron rods.

American Standard Version
His bones are as tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron.

Contemporary English Version
The bones in its legs are like bronze or iron.

English Revised Version
His bones are as tubes of brass; his limbs are like bars of iron.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Its bones are bronze tubes. They are like iron bars.

Good News Translation
His bones are as strong as bronze, and his legs are like iron bars.

International Standard Version
His bones are conduits of bronze; his strong bones are like bars of iron.

Majority Standard Bible
His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.

NET Bible
Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.

New Heart English Bible
His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.

Webster's Bible Translation
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

World English Bible
His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
His bones [are] tubes of bronze, "" His bones [are] as a bar of iron.

Young's Literal Translation
His bones are tubes of brass, His bones are as a bar of iron.

Smith's Literal Translation
His bones tubes of brass; his bones as a hammered bar of iron.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
His bones are like pipes of brass, his gristle like plates of iron.

Catholic Public Domain Version
His bones are like pipes of brass; his cartilage is like plates of iron.

New American Bible
His bones are like tubes of bronze; his limbs are like iron rods.

New Revised Standard Version
Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
His bones are strong as pieces of brass; yea, they are like bars of iron.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
His bones are strong as brass and like iron
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
His bones are as pipes of brass; His gristles are like bars of iron.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
His sides are sides of brass; and his backbone is as cast iron.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Humbles Himself Before the LORD
17His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. 18His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron. 19He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.…

Cross References
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Isaiah 40:15
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

Ezekiel 31:3-9
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ...

Daniel 4:11-12
The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth. / Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.

Psalm 29:5-6
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. / He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

Isaiah 2:13
against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan,

Psalm 92:12
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Isaiah 10:33-34
Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. / He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.

Psalm 104:16-17
The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted, / where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses.

Isaiah 44:14
He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.

1 Kings 4:33
He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

Ezekiel 17:22-24
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. / Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Mark 4:30-32
Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? / It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. / But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? / It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”


Treasury of Scripture

His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

Job 7:12
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

Isaiah 48:4
Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

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Bar Bars Bones Brass Bronze Iron Limbs Members Pieces Pipes Rods Strong Tubes
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Bar Bars Bones Brass Bronze Iron Limbs Members Pieces Pipes Rods Strong Tubes
Job 40
1. Job humbles himself to God
6. God stirs him up to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom
16. Of the behemoth














His bones are tubes of bronze;
This phrase describes the strength and durability of the creature being referenced, often identified as Behemoth. In ancient times, bronze was a symbol of strength and resilience. The use of "tubes of bronze" suggests a structure that is both strong and hollow, indicating a combination of power and flexibility. This imagery aligns with descriptions of other mighty creatures in the Bible, such as Leviathan in Job 41. The reference to bronze also connects to the construction of the Tabernacle and Temple, where bronze was used for items requiring durability, such as the altar (Exodus 27:1-2). This metaphor emphasizes the creature's formidable nature, reflecting God's power in creation.

his limbs are rods of iron.
Iron, in biblical times, was known for its strength and was used for tools and weapons, symbolizing power and invincibility. The comparison of the creature's limbs to "rods of iron" underscores its immense strength and stability. This imagery is reminiscent of the strength of nations and rulers, as seen in Daniel 2:40, where the fourth kingdom is described as strong as iron. The use of iron also points to the enduring nature of God's creation, as iron was a material that could withstand significant force and pressure. This phrase highlights the creature's robustness and serves as a reminder of the Creator's unmatched power and sovereignty over all creation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man of great faith and patience, Job is the central figure in the Book of Job. He undergoes severe trials and suffering, yet remains faithful to God.

2. Behemoth
A creature described in the Book of Job, often interpreted as a symbol of God's power in creation. The description of its strength and structure is a testament to God's creative authority.

3. God
The Almighty Creator who speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, challenging Job's understanding and reminding him of the divine wisdom and power.

4. The Land of Uz
The setting of the Book of Job, traditionally considered to be in the region of Edom or northern Arabia.

5. The Whirlwind
The medium through which God speaks to Job, symbolizing divine presence and authority.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Creation
The description of Behemoth's strength serves as a reminder of God's unmatched power and authority over all creation. We are called to trust in His sovereignty, even when we do not understand His ways.

Human Limitations
Job's encounter with God's questions highlights human limitations in understanding divine wisdom. We should approach God with humility, acknowledging our finite perspective.

Strength in Faith
Just as Behemoth's bones are described as strong and unyielding, our faith should be resilient and steadfast, grounded in the knowledge of God's power and goodness.

The Mystery of God's Creation
The detailed description of Behemoth invites us to marvel at the complexity and mystery of God's creation, encouraging us to seek a deeper appreciation for the world around us.

Trust in God's Wisdom
In times of trial, like Job, we are encouraged to trust in God's wisdom and timing, knowing that He is in control and has a purpose for everything.(18) Strong pieces.--Or, perhaps, tubes. His limbs are like bars of iron.

Verse 18. - His bones are as strong pieces of brass; rather, as tubes of bronze. The great thigh-bones - μηρία of the Greeks - are probably intended. These are hollow, being filled with marrow, and are so strong that they may be well compared to "tubes of bronze." (On the identity of nekhushah or nekhosheth with "bronze" rather than "brass," see the article on "Brass," in Dr. W. Smith's 'Dictionary of the Bible,' vol. 1. p. 225.) His bones (rather, his ribs) are like bars of iron. Either the ribs, or the solid bones of the lower leg, forearm, etc., are intended.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
His bones
עֲ֭צָמָיו (‘ă·ṣā·māw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame

are tubes
אֲפִיקֵ֣י (’ă·p̄î·qê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 650: Containing, a tube, a bed, valley of a, stream, a strong thing, a hero

of bronze;
נְחוּשָׁ֑ה (nə·ḥū·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5154: Copper, bronze

his limbs
גְּ֝רָמָ֗יו (gə·rā·māw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1634: A bone, self, very

are rods
כִּמְטִ֥יל (kim·ṭîl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4300: A wrought metal rod

of iron.
בַּרְזֶֽל׃ (bar·zel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1270: Iron, an iron implement


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OT Poetry: Job 40:18 His bones are like tubes of brass (Jb)
Job 40:17
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