Albert Barnes Commentary Job 41:25

"When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves." — Job 41:25 (ASV)

When he raises up himself – When he rouses himself for an attack or in self-defense.

The mighty are afraid – The Vulgate renders this “angels.” The meaning is that he produces alarm in those who are unaccustomed to fear.

By reason of breakings they purify themselves – This, though a literal translation, conveys no very clear idea, and this rendering is not necessary.

The word rendered “breakings” (שׁבר sheber) properly means “a breaking, breach, puncture”; “a breaking down, destruction”; and then it may mean “a breaking down of the mind, that is, terror.” This is evidently the meaning here: “By reason of the prostration of their courage, or the crushing of the mind by alarm.”

The word rendered “purify themselves” (חטא châṭâ') means in the Qal, “to miss,” as a mark; “to sin;” “to err.” In the Hithpael form, which occurs here, it means to miss one’s way or “to lose oneself”; and it may refer to the astonishment and terror by which one is led to miss his way in precipitate flight, as Gesenius notes.

The meaning then is, “They lose themselves from terror.” They do not know where to turn; they flee away with alarm (see Rosenmuller in loc.).