Job 40:21
He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
He lies under the lotus plants
This 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 in Exodus 2:3. This connection underscores the idea of divine care and sovereignty over all creation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man of great faith and patience, who undergoes severe trials and questions God's justice.

2. Behemoth
A creature described by God in His response to Job, symbolizing God's power and the majesty of His creation.

3. Lotus Plants
Aquatic plants mentioned in the context of Behemoth's habitat, symbolizing a place of rest and concealment.

4. Reeds of the Marsh
The environment where Behemoth resides, indicating a natural habitat that provides shelter and sustenance.

5. God's Response to Job
The 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 Creation
The 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 Works
The 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 Limitations
Job'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 Provision
Just 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 Wisdom
The passage encourages us to meditate on the wisdom and depth of God's plans, fostering a deeper trust in His purposes for our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of the Behemoth in Job 40:21 enhance your understanding of God's power and creativity?

2. In what ways can you see God's provision in your own life, similar to how the Behemoth is sustained in its environment?

3. How does recognizing our human limitations, as seen in Job's dialogue with God, impact your relationship with Him?

4. What steps can you take to better appreciate and care for God's creation in your daily life?

5. How can reflecting on God's wisdom and sovereignty, as demonstrated in Job 40, help you navigate challenges and uncertainties?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:24-25
The creation of animals, highlighting God's authority and creativity in forming all living creatures, including the Behemoth.

Psalm 104:10-14
Describes God's provision for His creation, similar to how the Behemoth is sustained in its environment.

Isaiah 40:28-31
Speaks of God's everlasting power and understanding, reminding us of His control over all creation, as seen in His description of the Behemoth.

Romans 11:33-36
Reflects on the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, paralleling the themes of God's discourse to Job.

Revelation 4:11
Declares God's worthiness to receive glory for His creation, echoing the majesty of the Behemoth as part of God's handiwork.
Jehovah's AnswerDean Bradley.Job 40:1-24
The Lord's AnswerHomilistJob 40:1-24
Behemoth the GreatW.F. Adeney Job 40:15-24
People
Job
Places
Jordan River, Uz
Topics
Covert, Fen, Fens, Hidden, Lies, Lieth, Lotus, Lotus-bushes, Lotus-trees, Marsh, Mire, Plants, Pool, Reed, Reeds, Rest, River, Secret, Shade, Shades, Shady, Takes, Trees, Water-plants
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 40:21

     4502   reed

Job 40:15-24

     1305   God, activity of
     4604   animals, nature of

Job 40:21-22

     4402   plants

Library
Indwelling Sin
It is a doctrine, as I believe, taught us in Holy Writ, that when a man is saved by divine grace, he is not wholly cleansed from the corruption of his heart. When we believe in Jesus Christ all our sins are pardoned; yet the power of sin, albeit that it is weakened and kept under by the dominion of the new-born nature which God doth infuse into our souls, doth not cease, but still tarrieth in us, and will do so to our dying day. It is a doctrine held by all the orthodox, that there dwelleth still
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Whether the Parts to be Anointed are Suitably Assigned?
Objection 1: It would seem that these parts are unsuitably assigned, namely, that the eyes, nose, ears, lips, hands, and feet should be anointed. For a wise physician heals the disease in its root. Now "from the heart come forth thoughts . . . that defile a man" (Mat. 15:19,20). Therefore the breast ought to be anointed. Objection 2: Further, purity of mind is not less necessary to those who are departing this life than to those who are entering therein. Now those who are entering are anointed with
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether at the Coming Judgment the Angels Will be Judged?
Objection 1: It would seem that the angels will be judged at the coming judgment. For it is written (1 Cor. 6:3): "Know you not that we shall judge angels?" But this cannot refer to the state of the present time. Therefore it should refer to the judgment to come. Objection 2: Further, it is written concerning Behemoth or Leviathan, whereby the devil is signified (Job 40:28): "In the sight of all he shall be cast down"; and (Mk. 1:24)* the demon cried out to Christ: "Why art Thou come to destroy us
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Hope is in the Damned?
Objection 1: It would seem that there is hope in the damned. For the devil is damned and prince of the damned, according to Mat. 25:41: "Depart . . . you cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels." But the devil has hope, according to Job 40:28, "Behold his hope shall fail him." Therefore it seems that the damned have hope. Objection 2: Further, just as faith is either living or dead, so is hope. But lifeless faith can be in the devils and the damned, according
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

December 14 Evening
By nature the children of wrath, even as others.--EPH. 2:3. We ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.--Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.--The Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Letter xx. Self-Examination.
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves."--2 COR. 13:6. MY DEAR SISTER, In view of the positive injunction of Scripture, above quoted, no argument is necessary to show that self-examination is a duty. But if the word of God had been silent upon the subject, the importance of self-knowledge would have been a sufficient motive for searching into the secret springs of action which influence our conduct. A person ignorant of his own heart, is like a merchant, who knows
Harvey Newcomb—A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females

Whether God is a Body
Whether God is a Body We proceed to the first article thus: 1. It seems that God is a body. For what has three dimensions is a body, and sacred Scripture attributes three dimensions to God, as in Job 11:8-9: "It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." God is therefore a body. 2. Again, everything that has figure is a body, since figure is a mode of quantity. Now it seems that God has
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Whether God is a Body?
Objection 1: It seems that God is a body. For a body is that which has the three dimensions. But Holy Scripture attributes the three dimensions to God, for it is written: "He is higher than Heaven, and what wilt thou do? He is deeper than Hell, and how wilt thou know? The measure of Him is longer than the earth and broader than the sea" (Job 11:8,9). Therefore God is a body. Objection 2: Further, everything that has figure is a body, since figure is a quality of quantity. But God seems to have figure,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

False Profession.
As there are trees and herbs that are wholly right and noble, fit indeed for the vineyard, so there are also their semblance, but wild; not right, but ignoble. There is the grape, and the wild grape; the vine, and the wild vine; the rose, and the canker-rose; flowers, and wild flowers; the apple, and the wild apple, which we call the crab. Now, fruit from these wild things, however they may please the children to play with, yet the prudent and grave count them of little or no value. There are also
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Whether There is Hope in the Damned
Whether there is Hope in the Damned We proceed to the third article thus: 1. It seems that there is hope in the damned. For the devil is damned, and the prince of the damned, according to Matt. 25:41: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Yet the devil has hope, according to Job 41:9: "Behold, the hope of him is in vain." It seems, therefore, that the damned have hope. 2. Again, just as faith can be formed and unformed, so can hope. Now there can
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

On the Interior Man
The interior man is the rational soul; in the apostle: have in your hearts, in the interior man, Christ through faith. [Eph. 3:16] His head is Christ; in the apostle: the head of the man is Christ. [I Cor. 11:3] The crown of the head is the height of righteousness; in Solomon: for the crown of your head has received the crown of grace. The same in a bad part: the crown of hairs having walked about in their own delights, that is, in the height of iniquity. [Prov. 4:9; Ps. 67(68):22(21)] The hair is
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

The Tenth Commandment
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.' Exod 20: 17. THIS commandment forbids covetousness in general, Thou shalt not covet;' and in particular, Thy neighbour's house, thy neighbour's wife, &c. I. It forbids covetousness in general. Thou shalt not covet.' It is lawful to use the world, yea, and to desire so much of it as may keep us from the temptation
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

He Accuses Abaelard for Preferring his Own Opinions and Even Fancies to the Unanimous Consent of the Fathers, Especially Where He Declares that Christ did Not
He accuses Abaelard for preferring his own opinions and even fancies to the unanimous consent of the Fathers, especially where he declares that Christ did not become incarnate in order to save man from the power of the devil. 11. I find in a book of his sentences, and also in an exposition of his of the Epistle to the Romans, that this rash inquirer into the Divine Majesty attacks the mystery of our Redemption. He admits in the very beginning of his disputation that there has never been but one conclusion
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Wrath of God
What does every sin deserve? God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.' Matt 25: 41. Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God. He deserves God's curse. Gal 3: 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered; so, when God curses any, he withers in his soul. Matt 21: 19. God's curse blasts wherever it comes. He deserves also God's wrath, which is
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Book vii. On the Useful or the Ordinary
The bread is Christ or conversation of the Lord; in the gospel: I am the living bread. [John 6:41] The wine is the same as above; in Solomon: and drink this wine, which I have blended for you. [Prov. 9:5] Olive oil is mercy or the Holy Spirit; in the psalm: I have anointed him with my holy oil. The same in another part: Let not the oil of the sinner, that is, admiration, touch my head. [Ps. 88(89):21(20); Ps. 140(141):5] Pork is sin; in the psalm: they are sated with pork. [Ps. 16(17):14 (unknown
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags,"
Isaiah lxiv 6, 7.--"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags," &c. This people's condition agreeth well with ours, though the Lord's dealing be very different. The confessory part of this prayer belongeth to us now; and strange it is, that there is such odds of the Lord's dispensations, when there is no difference in our conditions; always we know not how soon the complaint may be ours also. This prayer was prayed long before the judgment and captivity came
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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