Job 41:32

32 It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair.

Job 41:32 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
English Standard Version (ESV)
32 Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.
New Living Translation (NLT)
32 The water glistens in its wake, making the sea look white.
The Message Bible (MSG)
32 With a luminous trail stretching out behind him, you might think Ocean had grown a gray beard!
American Standard Version (ASV)
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
32 It leaves a shining path behind it so that the sea appears to have silvery hair.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; one would think the deep had white hair!
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
32 It leaves a shiny trail behind it. You would think the ocean had white hair.

Job 41:32 Meaning and Commentary

Job 41:32

He maketh a path to shine after him
Upon the sea, by raising a white from upon it, through its vehement motion as it passes along, or by the spermaceti it casts out and leaves behind it. It is said F19 that whales will cut and plough the sea in such a manner, as to leave a shining glittering path behind them, the length of a German mile, which is three of ours;

[one] would think the deep [to be] hoary;
to be old and grey headed, or white like the hair of the head of an old man, a figure often used of the sea by poets F20; and hence "Nereus" F21, which is the sea, is said to be an old man, because the froth in the waves of it looks like white hair.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 Vid. Scheuchzer. ibid. (vol. 4.) p. 853.
F20 (polihv alov) , Homer. Iliad. 1. v. 350. (polihv yalasshv) , Iliad. 4. v. 248. "incanuit unda", Catullus.
F21 Phurnutus de Natura Deorum, p. 63.

Job 41:32 In-Context

30 Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31 It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair.
33 Nothing on earth is its equal— a creature without fear.
34 It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud.”
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