The Leviathan is one of my favorite animals of the bible, not only because of it’s behavior and size, but also, it shows how powerful and creative our God, Jesus Christ really is.
Some people today believe the Leviathan was a whale, while bible commentaries strongly suggest it was a crocodile. However, God describes Leviathan as a ginormous and untamed reptile with shield like scales, tight and strong enough to keep out air and spears. Having sharp teeth, and the ability to breathe fire out of it’s mouth, and sneezing smoke out of it’s nostrils. God also says that it played by the ships, and sometimes came onto shore with it’s mysterious limbs.
So what was the Leviathan? Most creationists believe for a possibility it was either a Spinosaurus or a large extinct crocodile called, Sarcosuchus. But there are some creationists who believe the strongest possible evidence for what the Leviathan was, goes to the Deinosuchus. Deinosuchus is the largest fossil crocodilian ever discovered, it was 40 feet long, and had teeth as long as bananas.
In Job 41: 32 God says ” Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.” The ” Sharp stones” can be translated to it’s undersides. The bible doesn’t say what limbs Leviathan had, but it sounds like it had limbs that helped it move in the water and on land, just like a crocodile’s webbed feet. When God says “He spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.” It sounds like the Leviathan had some sharp pointy crocodile scutes, large enough to leave a ” luminescent wake behind him”. Sarcosuchus had very large scutes too, about almost the size of a person’s hand.
One of the most strangest things in the bible about Leviathan, is that it could breathe fire. In Job 18:19-21 God says ” By his sneezings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.”
No animal today can breathe fire. The Leviathan may have breathed fire. Just take a look at the animals today, there are some that have built in light, such as the angler fish, and the electric eel, when threatened or hunting, can shoot up to 400 volts per second. This can stun prey. The bombardier beetle has in it’s abdomen, two chemicals that when mixed together, it can shoot steaming hot smoke that can burn a person and any predator. If there are animals today that have built in light, quite possibly the Leviathan shot fire out of it’s mouth.
The Deinosuchus seems a lot like the description of the Leviathan.
This Leviathan can help us remember how powerful and wise our designer the Lord Jesus Christ is. Leviathan points to the truth of the power and glory of God.
Once again you wrote a very interesting article. I am amazed at how informed you are about the Leviathan. Now I am much more informed about the Bible Beast. Thank you. I will share this with my prayer group this week. They will be very interested in hearing this information. I thought your art work was very well done. You truly are gifted in art and writing.
Looking forward to your next interesting article.
I certainly feel blessed to have you in my life. GOD BLESS YOU
Thank you very much, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I will be writing more soon, God bless.