Albert Barnes Commentary Job 41:22

"In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him." — Job 41:22 (ASV)

In his neck remaineth strength - That is, strength is “permanently residing” there. It is not assumed for the moment, but its neck is so constructed as to be the abode of strength. The word here rendered “remaineth” (ילין yālı̂yn) properly means to pass the night, then to abide or dwell; and there is a designed contrast here with what is said of “sorrow” in this verse.

This description of strength residing in the neck agrees well with the crocodile; see the figure of the animal on p. 255. It is not easy, however, to see how this is applicable to the whale, as Professor Lee supposes. The whale is indeed endowed with great strength, as Professor Lee has shown, but that strength is manifested mainly by the stroke of its tail.

And sorrow is turned into joy before him - Margin, “rejoiceth.” The proper meaning of the word used here (תדוץ tādûts) is “to dance, to leap, to skip;” and the sense is that “terror dances before him.” This does not refer to the motion of the animal, as if it were brisk and rapid; instead, it is a poetic expression, as if terror played or pranced along wherever it came.

Strength “resided” in its neck, but its approach made terror and alarm play before it wherever it went—that is, it produced terror and dread. In its neck is permanent, calm strength; before it, everything trembles and is agitated.

The beauty of the passage lies in this contrast between the strength and firmness which repose calmly in the neck of the animal, and the consternation which it everywhere produces, causing all to tremble as it approaches. Bochart has well illustrated this from the Classical writers.