איוב, פרק מ״א, פסוק כ״ב

Deep beneath the ocean surface, the Leviathan makes its home, possessing a physical dominance that makes it completely invulnerable to its harsh surroundings. The primary approach among commentators focuses on the creature's extraordinary physical resilience. At the bottom of the sea, the Leviathan makes its bed upon jagged rocks, broken pottery shards, and thorny wood. Protected by incredibly thick skin and dense flesh, the creature remains completely unharmed and feels no pain from these hazards [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, רמב״ן, אבן עזרא, תקות אנוש]. In fact, the hard scales lining its belly act like sharp armor themselves, providing an impenetrable layer of defense [מלבי״ם].

Because of this total immunity to pain, the creature's resting habits highlight its sheer power. Even when it rests its massive weight upon cutting objects that resemble sharp iron threshing tools [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, רמב״ן, ביאור שטיינזלץ], the experience is entirely painless. To the Leviathan, lying on these piercing hazards feels as soft and comfortable as resting on a bed of wet mud [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

A completely different perspective shifts the focus from physical toughness to a display of radiant majesty. In this view, the creature's underbelly is not merely heavily armored, but it glows with an intense, polished brightness. The fins on its belly shine with a brilliance compared to the sun itself. When the Leviathan settles onto the ocean floor, its resting place illuminates the dark mud, shining as brightly as a bed of pure gold [רש״י]. Building on this theme of a golden resting place, another thought suggests that if the creature ever does feel discomfort from the broken remnants of sunken ships, it simply lines its bed with gold over the ocean mud [אלשיך].