Job 40:21

Modern

He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

Traditional

He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

Literal

Beneath the lotus trees he lies down, in the covering of reed and marsh.

Latin

Sub umbra dormit in secreto calami, et in locis humentibus.

Hebrew

English

He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

After listing natural animals, God described Behemoth and "Leviathan" as creatures humans cannot control (39:1–30; 40:15–24; 41:1–34). Job could not control the wild donkey or ox (39:5–12; 40:15–24). However, God created and could control them, and Job had to accept this fact (41:2).
Here, Behemoth appears to be a natural creature:

It is an animal God made, just as he made Job (40:15).
It is not a fierce predator but eats grass like an ox (40:15).
It is in a poem about God’s creation of the natural world, not in a myth about the world's formation. Most commentators think Behemoth is the hippopotamus, a large, grass-eating animal (40:15–19). It rests in the river among lotus plants and reeds (40:21). Like the wild ox, Behemoth is strong (40:16–18, 24; 39:11). Yet it is mostly peaceful (40:20–23).

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah 19:6–7
The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither.
Isaiah 35:7
The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.