איוב, פרק מ״א, פסוק י׳

The Leviathan is a creature of immense internal power, so much so that its routine physical actions radiate intense light and heat. When the creature sneezes, the action itself produces a brilliant glow, spreading light much like a shining candle [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Commentators offer various ways to picture this spectacular sight. The sneeze can appear as a sudden flash of lightning [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or as a burst of light that reveals itself when the creature lifts its head above the surface, scattering water in every direction [רמב״ן]. Others explain this phenomenon through the creature's unique physiology. While fish are naturally cold, the Leviathan is fueled by an enormous amount of natural heat and a burning internal fire. Because of this, the breath expelled during a sneeze glows and shines with great brightness [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

This same internal fire fuels the appearance of the creature's eyes, which are large, wide, and intensely radiant [רמב״ן, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. The glow of its eyes is compared to the breaking of the morning light. This imagery borrows the concept of an opening eyelid to describe the exact spot on the horizon where the sun is about to rise, capturing the deep reddening of the sky in the quiet hours just before dawn [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג].

These miraculous traits reveal a deeper truth about the essence of the Leviathan. The fact that a sea creature can radiate light from a simple sneeze proves that it is not merely a normal, physical animal. Instead, it is a being that holds high spiritual qualities, much like the fruits found in the Garden of Eden. This wondrous, spiritual nature is exactly what prepares the creature to serve as the future banquet for the righteous. That meal is uniquely designed to nourish both the body and the soul, granting those who partake in it a profound spiritual elevation and an abundance of holiness [אלשיך].