Leviathan
“Twisted one or wreathed one, from roots meaning to coil or join”
Summary
A great sea or river monster described extensively in Job 41, generally identified as the crocodile, and used symbolically throughout Scripture to represent powerful enemies of God's people and ultimately Satan himself.
☩Identification
The Hebrew word liwyathan, derived from roots meaning 'wreathed' or 'twisted,' appears five times in Scripture. In Job 41, the detailed description—including plate-like armored scales that lock together, terrible teeth, imperviousness to weapons, and fearsome power—most clearly points to the crocodile. The crocodile was abundant in the Nile and occasionally found in Palestinian rivers. Some passages may also include large sea creatures like whales (Psalm 104:26), as the Mediterranean contained various cetaceans in ancient times. The term functions as a comprehensive word for any great monster of the waters.
☩God's Challenge in Job
The extended description in Job 41 forms part of God's response to Job, demonstrating divine sovereignty over all creation. The leviathan cannot be captured by hooks or harpoons (41:1-2), cannot be tamed or made a servant (41:3-5), and inspires terror in all who confront it (41:9-10). Its scales are its pride, 'shut up together as with a close seal' (41:15); its teeth are terrible round about (41:14); fire seems to proceed from its mouth (41:18-21). The point of God's description is clear: if mere creatures inspire such terror and cannot be subdued by man, how much less can man contend with their Creator? 'None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?' (41:10).
☩Symbolic and Prophetic Usage
Scripture uses leviathan symbolically for powerful enemies of God's people. Psalm 74:14 recalls how God 'broke the heads of leviathan in pieces' at the exodus, referring to Egypt's destruction in the Red Sea. Ezekiel applies similar imagery to Pharaoh as 'the great dragon that lies in the midst of his rivers' (Ezekiel 29:3). Most significantly, Isaiah prophesies that 'in that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea' (Isaiah 27:1). This ultimate fulfillment points to Satan himself, 'that old serpent' (Revelation 20:2), whom God will finally destroy.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Leviathan," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Leviathan," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).