| Barnes' Notes on the Bible His breath kindleth coals - It seems to be a flame, and to set on fire all around it. So Hesiod, "Theog." i. 319, describing the creation of the Chimera, speaks of it as πνέουσαν ἀμαισάκετον πῦρ pneousan amaimaketon pur. "Breathing unquenchable fire," So Virgil, "Georg." ii.:140: Haec loca non tauri spirantes naribus ignem Invertere. "Bulls breathing fire these furrows ne'er have known." Warton A similar phrase is found in a sublime description of the anger of the Almighty, in Psalm 18:8 : There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHis breath kindles coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. Hyperbolical expressions, which the above observations may seem to justify.
Geneva Study BibleHis breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
Wesley's Notes 41:21 Kindleth coals - An hyperbolical expression, denoting extraordinary heat.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary21. kindleth coals-poetical imagery (Ps 18:8).
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary41:1-34 Concerning Leviathan. - The description of the Leviathan, is yet further to convince Job of his own weakness, and of God's almighty power. Whether this Leviathan be a whale or a crocodile, is disputed. The Lord, having showed Job how unable he was to deal with the Leviathan, sets forth his own power in that mighty creature. If such language describes the terrible force of Leviathan, what words can express the power of God's wrath? Under a humbling sense of our own vileness, let us revere the Divine Majesty; take and fill our allotted place, cease from our own wisdom, and give all glory to our gracious God and Saviour. Remembering from whom every good gift cometh, and for what end it was given, let us walk humbly with the Lord. | 
