Job 41:20
New International Version
Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.

New Living Translation
Smoke streams from its nostrils like steam from a pot heated over burning rushes.

English Standard Version
Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

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

King James Bible
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

New King James Version
Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

New American Standard Bible
“From his nostrils smoke goes out As from a boiling pot and burning reeds.

NASB 1995
“Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

NASB 1977
“Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

Legacy Standard Bible
Out of its nostrils smoke goes forth As from a boiling pot and burning reeds.

Amplified Bible
“Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth As from a boiling pot and [as from] burning rushes.

Christian Standard Bible
Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot or burning reeds.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot or burning reeds.

American Standard Version
Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and burning rushes.

Contemporary English Version
And smoke spews from its nose like steam from a boiling pot,

English Revised Version
Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, as of a seething pot and burning rushes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Smoke comes from its nostrils like a boiling pot heated over brushwood.

Good News Translation
Smoke comes pouring out of his nose, like smoke from weeds burning under a pot.

International Standard Version
Smoke billows from his nostrils; like a boiling pot or burning reeds.

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

NET Bible
Smoke streams from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning rushes.

New Heart English Bible
Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.

Webster's Bible Translation
Out of his nostrils issueth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

World English Bible
Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Smoke goes forth out of his nostrils, "" As a blown pot and reeds.

Young's Literal Translation
Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, As a blown pot and reeds.

Smith's Literal Translation
From his nostrils smoke will come forth as a blown pot, and a caldron.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, like that of a pot heated and boiling.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Smoke passes out of his nostrils, like a pot that is heated and boiling.

New American Bible
From his nostrils comes smoke as from a seething pot or bowl.

New Revised Standard Version
Out of its nostrils comes smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
From his nostrils smoke goes out as the flame of a caldron which is seething
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, As out of a seething pot and burning rushes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Out of his nostrils proceeds smoke of a furnace burning with fire of coals.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Power Shown in Leviathan
19Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth! 20Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. 21His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.…

Cross References
Psalm 18:8
Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.

Isaiah 30:33
For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.

Revelation 9:17-18
Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur. / A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.

Exodus 19:18
Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.

Isaiah 14:31
Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.

Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

Psalm 104:32
He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smolder.

Isaiah 34:9-10
Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. / It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it.

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Psalm 11:6
On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.

Isaiah 66:15-16
For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. / For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.

Revelation 8:7
Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.

Psalm 97:3
Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


Treasury of Scripture

Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

Jeremiah 1:13,14
And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north…

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Blown Boiling Burning Caldron Cauldron Fire Forth Goes Issueth Nose Nostrils Pot Pours Reeds Rushes Seething Smoke
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Blown Boiling Burning Caldron Cauldron Fire Forth Goes Issueth Nose Nostrils Pot Pours Reeds Rushes Seething Smoke
Job 41
1. Of God's great power in the leviathan














Smoke billows
The imagery of smoke billowing is evocative of a powerful and fearsome presence. In the Hebrew text, the word for "smoke" (עָשָׁן, 'ashan) often symbolizes divine wrath or judgment, as seen in other parts of the Old Testament. This phrase suggests an overwhelming and awe-inspiring force, much like the presence of God at Mount Sinai, where smoke enveloped the mountain (Exodus 19:18). The billowing smoke from the creature's nostrils emphasizes its formidable nature, drawing a parallel to the divine power and majesty of God Himself.

from his nostrils
The nostrils are often associated with breath and life in biblical literature. In Hebrew, the word for nostrils (אַף, 'aph) can also mean anger or wrath, indicating a fierce and intense emotion. This dual meaning enriches the description of the creature, suggesting not only its physical might but also its potential for destructive power. The nostrils as a source of smoke further underline the creature's terrifying presence, akin to a dragon or a mythical beast, which in ancient Near Eastern cultures often symbolized chaos and opposition to divine order.

as from a boiling pot
The comparison to a boiling pot conjures images of intense heat and energy. In ancient times, a boiling pot was a common metaphor for turmoil and upheaval, as seen in Jeremiah 1:13, where a boiling pot represents impending disaster. This phrase underscores the creature's dynamic and uncontrollable nature, much like the chaotic forces that God alone can tame. The boiling pot also signifies transformation and purification, hinting at the refining power of trials and tribulations in the believer's life.

over burning reeds
Reeds were commonly used as fuel in the ancient world, known for their quick and intense burn. The phrase "burning reeds" suggests a fierce and consuming fire, emphasizing the creature's fiery and destructive capabilities. In the broader biblical context, fire often symbolizes God's purifying presence and judgment, as seen in passages like Malachi 3:2-3. The burning reeds, therefore, not only highlight the creature's fearsome nature but also serve as a reminder of God's ultimate authority over all creation, including the most formidable forces of chaos and destruction.

(20) Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.--The last word is uncertain: it is the same as was rendered in the Authorised Version "hook" at Job 41:2; and taking the same sense here, we may render, as of a seething pot and rushes: i.e., a pot made hot with rushes.

Verse 20. - Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron; rather, as from a seething pot and rushes; i.e. as from a pot heated by burning rushes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Smoke
עָשָׁ֑ן (‘ā·šān)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6227: Smoke

billows
יֵצֵ֣א (yê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from his nostrils
מִ֭נְּחִירָיו (min·nə·ḥî·rāw)
Preposition-m | Noun - mdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5156: A nostril

as from a boiling
נָפ֣וּחַ (nā·p̄ū·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 5301: To breathe, blow

pot
כְּד֖וּד (kə·ḏūḏ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1731: A pot, a basket

over burning reeds.
וְאַגְמֹֽן׃ (wə·’aḡ·mōn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 100: A bulrush, a rope of bulrushes


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OT Poetry: Job 41:20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goes (Jb)
Job 41:19
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