Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageHis back scales are his glory — row upon row of shields, locked together like a tight seal.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GHis pride is rows upon rows of shields, sealed tight as a stamp.
KJV
King James VersionHis scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleHis rows of scales are his pride, tightly sealed together.
Footnotes
The word *ga'avato* (גַּאֲוָתוֹ) means 'his pride' — the same word used for human arrogance that YHWH opposes. Here it is repurposed to describe Leviathan's dorsal scales, his back. The wordplay is deliberate and exquisite: Leviathan's very body is *pride made flesh* — the thing that defines him anatomically and morally. *Afikey maginim* (אֲפִיקֵי מָגִנִּים) means channels or rows of shields — the overlapping scales like a warrior's shield-wall. *Chotam tzar* (חוֹתָם צָר) is a tight or narrow seal, as used on a signet ring to authenticate and close a document. FOG renders the wordplay by preserving 'pride'; FOG Message explains the anatomy first and calls it his 'glory' to capture the same weight.