Job 41:15
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
American King James Version (AKJV)
His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
American Standard Version (ASV)
His'strong scales are his pride, Shut up together as with a close seal.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
His back is made of lines of plates, joined tight together, one against the other, like a stamp.
Webster's Revision
His scales are his pride, shut together as with a close seal.
World English Bible
Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal.
English Revised Version (ERV)
His strong scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
Clarke's Job 41:15 Bible Commentary
His scales are his pride - They are impenetrable, as we have already seen.
Barnes's Job 41:15 Bible Commentary
His scales are his pride - Margin, "strong pieces of shields." The literal translation of this would be, "Pride, the strong of shields;" that is, the strong shields. There can be no doubt that there is reference to the scales of the animal, as having a resemblance to strong shields laid close to each other. But there is considerable variety of opinion as to its meaning. Umbreit and Prof. Lee take the word here rendered "pride" (גאוה gê'voh) to be the same as (גוה gêvâh), "back," and then the meaning would be that his back was armed as with a shield - referring, as Prof. Lee supposes, to the dorsal fin of the whale. But there is no necessity for this supposition, and it cannot be denied that it is somewhat forced. The "connection" requires that we should understand it, not of the dorsal fin, but of the scales; for a description immediately follows in continuation of this, which will by no means apply to the fin. The obvious and proper meaning is, that the pride or glory of the animal - that on which his safety depended, and which was the most remarkable thing about him - was his "scales," which were laid together like firm and compact shields, so that nothing could penetrate them. This description accords better with the crocodile than with any other animal. It is covered with scales, "which are so hard as to resist a musket-ball." "Ed. Ency." The description cannot be applied to a whale, which has no scales; and accordingly Prof. Lee supposes that the reference in this verse and the two following is not to the "scales," but to the "teeth," and to "the setting in of the dorsal fin!"
Shut up together - Made close or compact.
As with a close seal - As if they had been sealed with wax, so that no air could come between them.
Wesley's Job 41:15 Bible Commentary
41:15 Shut - Closely compacted together, as things that are fastened together by a seal. This likewise is true of the crocodile, but the skin of the whale is smooth and entire without any scales at all.