Behemoth
“Great beasts (intensive plural), possibly from Egyptian 'water ox'”
Summary
A large and powerful creature described in Job, generally identified as the hippopotamus, used by God to demonstrate His creative power.
☩Identity
The Hebrew word behemoth appears to be an intensive plural of behemah ('beast'), used to denote a creature of extraordinary size and power. Most commentators identify it with the hippopotamus, based on the description's references to its grass-eating habits, its lying under lotus plants in marshes and fens, its great strength, and the difficulty of capturing it. Some elements of the description have been thought to fit the elephant as well.
☩Divine Purpose
God calls Job's attention to behemoth as one of His masterpieces of creation, saying 'Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee.' The point is to humble Job by showing him creatures whose power and majesty he cannot match or control, demonstrating that only their Creator possesses such authority.
☩Description
The creature is described as eating grass like an ox, with tremendous strength in its loins and belly muscles. Its bones are 'as strong tubes of copper' and its frame 'like bars of iron.' Though so powerful, it lies peacefully under lotus bushes in the covert of reeds and marshes. Even when a river overflows, it remains untroubled, confident in its ability to survive.
Related Verses1 mention
Job· 1 verse
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Behemoth," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Behemoth," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).