איוב, פרק מ״א, פסוק כ״ג

The immense power of this amazing creature completely changes its natural environment, turning the cold, quiet ocean depths into a bubbling, active pot. It violently stirs the deep ocean [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ] with the same speed and ease as water boiling in a small pot over a fire [רש״י, מצודת ציון].

There are two complementary ways to understand how this intense boiling happens. One approach suggests it comes entirely from physical movement. As the giant creature swims, its sheer size and force shake the water, creating violent movement and chaos [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רמב״ן]. Another approach focuses on actual heat. Flames and hot breath pour from the creature, heating the sea just as a fire warms a cooking pot [רמב״ן, מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. It looks as though an actual fire is rising directly from the deep abyss where the creature rests [מלבי״ם].

The chaos in the water is compared to a merchant mixing spices [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Just as a perfumer uses fire to melt and blend different spices, the powerful boiling of the sea violently mixes everything inside it [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא].

This extreme mixing and heat have severe effects on the ocean. The boiling water kills all other living creatures nearby [מלבי״ם]. Additionally, the intense heat from the creature's breath melts any metals found in the sea, fusing them together just like the perfumer melting spices into a single mixture [אלשיך].