Job 41:28
The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 9
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַבְרִיחֶ֥נּוּ
cannot make him flee
H1272
יַבְרִיחֶ֥נּוּ
cannot make him flee
Strong's:
H1272
Word #:
2 of 9
to bolt, i.e., figuratively, to flee suddenly
בֶן
The arrow
H1121
בֶן
The arrow
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 9
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
קָ֑שֶׁת
H7198
קָ֑שֶׁת
Strong's:
H7198
Word #:
4 of 9
a bow, for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris
Historical Context
Arrows and slings were the primary ranged weapons of ancient warfare, allowing soldiers to engage enemies without close combat's dangers. David's defeat of Goliath with a sling (1 Samuel 17) demonstrated these weapons' potential effectiveness. Yet against Leviathan, even these celebrated weapons fail completely, emphasizing the creature's supernatural invulnerability.
Questions for Reflection
- What spiritual battles are you trying to fight from a 'safe distance' that require direct engagement under God's authority?
- How do your best efforts become 'stubble' when attempted in your own strength rather than God's power?
- What does it mean to have weapons mighty through God for pulling down strongholds in your specific circumstances?
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Analysis & Commentary
God's catalog of ineffective weapons continues. 'The arrow cannot make him flee' (lo-yavrisennu ben-qeshet, לֹא־יַבְרִיחֶנּוּ בֶּן־קֶשֶׁת) states that even projectiles shot from distance cannot drive Leviathan away. 'Slingstones are turned with him into stubble' (avnei-qela, אַבְנֵי־קֶלַע) describes stones from slings becoming like worthless chaff against the creature. Arrows and slings represented ranged warfare that allowed attacking from safety—yet even these fail. The progression from close combat (previous verses) to ranged weapons emphasizes that no human tactical advantage avails against Leviathan. Theologically, this teaches that we cannot defeat evil from a safe distance; spiritual warfare requires direct engagement under divine authority. It also reveals that our best efforts apart from God are transformed into worthlessness when facing spiritual opposition. Only in Christ do we have weapons mighty to pull down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).