איוב, פרק מ״א, פסוק י״ג

A fearsome water creature possesses a power so intense that its very exhalation acts as a destructive force. The primary approach among commentators is that the life force driving this beast is not a spiritual entity, but rather a reference to its physical breath and the fierce wind that blasts from its nostrils [רמב״ן, אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, מצודת דוד ומצודת ציון]. Alternatively, this life force can be understood quite literally as its actual soul. Unlike any ordinary water creature, its inner essence shares the nature of a supreme fire, so intense that it can consume other fires [אלשיך].

This powerful breath acts as a force of pure combustion, capable of burning, scorching, and igniting everything in its path [רש״י, רלב״ג ומצודת ציון]. The exhalation blazes with the fierce heat of burning coals [מצודת ציון וביאור שטיינזלץ]. This terrifying process reaches its peak when the creature is provoked to anger. During these moments of rage, its internal heat builds, causing the smoldering embers within to fully ignite [מלבי״ם].

As a direct result of this internal ignition, a blazing flame shoots outward from the creature's mouth [רש״י, מצודת ציון וביאור שטיינזלץ]. While the primary approach among commentators takes this description literally as actual fire, another perspective suggests that the breath is simply so intensely hot and blazing that it creates the illusion of a real flame bursting forth [מצודת דוד].