Leviathan

In the book of Job we meet with the mention of this huge creature, Job xli. Some have supposed it the whale, and others the crocodile. The word itself is probably compounded of Leviath, what is joined together - - - and Than, a great fish. It should seem to be a specific word, in allusion to this sea - monster, as if they said, there is the leviathan, that is, the great fish, whose parts are so closed together that nothing scarce can pierce them. The sacred writers, in more than one instance, make use of this name figuratively, to des - cribe the devil and his ministers. Thus (Isa. 27. 1.) "In that day the Lord, with his sore and great and strong sword, shall punish the leviathan, the piereing serpent, even leviathan, that crooked, serpents and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea." The great enemy of souls will be reckoned with in the great day of God, and he shall be punished in due time; and subordinately to him, all the enemies of the church of Christ, the leviathans, and dragons, and serpents which act in the devil’s name, and fight in his cause, willcome in also for the doom. So again the Psalmist, speaking figuratively, saith, (Ps. l24. 14.) "Thou brakest the head of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to thy people inhabiting the wilderness:" meaning, that as in the Red Sea the Lord overthrew and destroyed that type of the devil, Pharaoh, so in the after - journies of the people during their wilderness state, whenever they were put to wilderness straits, the recollection of the Lord’s deliverance of them in that memorable instance, became meat for their faith tofeed upon. He that had delivered them from so great a death, they were taught to believe, did and would still deliver them. It is blessed thus to feast upon past mercies; when new ones are only coming on, and not fully come. Every enemy subdued, every affliction past, then becomes sanctified, when the Holy Ghost as the Remembrancer of Christ Jesus, brings them forth again to our recollection. Oh, how many leviathans, and serpents, and scorpions, have the Lord’s people, in the Lord’s strength, contended with andconquered during their short pilgrimage state. Surely it may be said of the church now, as well as of the church of old, the Lord thy God led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions and drought, where there was no water." And what was the result? The Lord thy God brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; he fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latterend." (Deut. 8. 15, 16.)

לויתן , Job 3:8; Job 41:1; Psa 74:14; Psa 104:26; Isa 27:1. The old commentators concurred in regarding the whale as the animal here intended. Beza and Diodati were among the first to interpret it the crocodile: and Bochart has since supported this last rendering with a train of argument which has nearly overwhelmed all opposition, and brought almost every commentator over to his opinion. It is very certain that it could not be the whale, which does not inhabit the Mediterranean, much less the rivers that empty themselves into it; nor will the characteristics at all apply to the whale. The crocodile, on the contrary, is a natural inhabitant of the Nile, and other Asiatic and African rivers; of enormous voracity and strength, as well as fleetness in swimming; attacks mankind and the largest animals with most daring impetuosity; when taken by means of a powerful net, will often overturn the boats that surround it; has, proportionally, the largest mouth of all monsters whatever; moves both its jaws equally, the upper of which has not less than forty, and the lower than thirty-eight sharp, but strong and massy, teeth; and is furnished with a coat of mail, so scaly and callous as to resist the force of a musket ball in every part, except under the belly. Indeed, to this animal, the general character of the leviathan seems so well to apply, that it is unnecessary to seek farther.

Levi´athan (Job 3:8 [mourning—A.V.]; 41:1; Psa 74:14; Psa 104:26; Isa 27:1) [BEHEMOTH, CROCODILE, DRAGON]. Gesenius very justly remarks that this word, which denotes any twisted animal, is especially applicable to every great tenant of the waters, such as the great marine serpents and crocodiles, and, it may be added, the colossal serpents and great monitors of the desert. In general it points to the crocodile, and Job 41 is unequivocally descriptive of that Saurian. Probably the Egyptian crocodile is therein depicted in all its magnitude, ferocity, and indolence, such as it was in early days, when as yet unconscious of the power of man, and only individually tamed for the purposes of an imposture, which had sufficient authority to intimidate the public and protect the species, under the sanctified pretext that it was a type of pure water, and an emblem of the importance of irrigation; though the people in general seem ever to have been disposed to consider it a personification of the destructive principle. At a later period the Egyptians, probably of such places as Tentyris, where crocodiles were not held in veneration, not only hunted and slew them, but it appears from a statue that a sort of Bestiarii could tame them sufficiently to perform certain exhibitions mounted on their backs. The intense musky odor of its flesh must have rendered the crocodile, at all times, very unpalatable food, but breast-armor was made of the horny and ridged parts of its back. We have ourselves witnessed a periodical abstinence in the great Saurians, and have known negro women, while bathing, play with young alligators; which, they asserted, they could do without danger, unless they hurt them and thereby attracted the vengeance of the mother; but the impunity most likely resulted from the period of inactivity coinciding with the then state of the young animals, or from the negro women being many in the water at the same time. The occurrence took place at Old Harbor, Jamaica.

Psa 74:14 104:26, an aquatic monster described in the book of Job, Job 41:1-34 . Probably the animal denoted is the crocodile, the terror of the Nile; as BEHEMOTH, in Job 40:1-24, is the hippopotamus of the same river.\par The crocodile is a native of the Nile, and other Asiatis and African rivers; in some instances even thirty feet in length; of enormous voracity and strength, as well as fleetness in swimming; attacks mankind and the largest animals, with most daring impetuosity; when taken by means of a powerful net, will often overturn the boats that surround it; has proportionally the largest mouth of all monsters whatever; moves both its jaws alike, the upper of which has not less than thirty-six, and the lower thirty sharp, but strong and massy teeth; and is furnished with a coat of mail so scaly and callous as to resist the force of a musket-ball in every part, except under the belly. The general character of the LEVIATHAN in fact seems so well to apply to this animal, in modern as well as in ancient times the terror of all the coasts and countries about the Nile, that it is unnecessary to seek further. In several passages in the Bible, the king of Egypt appears to be addressed as leviathan, Isa 27:1 Eze 29:3 .\par The following extract of a letter from an American gentleman in Manila gives a graphic view of the strength and size of the crocodile: "My last operation in the sporting line, was no less than killing a crocodile, which for a year or two before had infested a village on the borders of the lake, taking off horses and cows, and sometimes a man. Having understood that he had killed a horse a day or two before, and had taken him into a small river, I proceeded to the spot, accompanied by my host, closed the mouth of the river with strong nets, and attacked the huge brute with guns and spears. After something of a desperate battle, we succeeded in driving him against the nets, where, being considerably exhausted by the wounds he had received from balls and lances, he got entangled, was dragged on shore, and the coup de grace given to him. He measured twenty feet in length, and from eleven to thirteen feet in circumference, the smallest part being eleven and the largest thirteen. The head alone weighed two hundred and seventy-five pounds. He had nearly the whole of the horse in him, and the legs, with the hoofs, were taken out entire."\par

Leviathan. (jointed monster). Leviathan occurs five times in the text of the Authorized Version, and once in the margin of Job 3:8 where the text has "mourning." In the Hebrew Bible, the word livyathan, which is, with the foregoing exception, always left untranslated in the Authorized Version, is found only in the following passages: Job 3:8; Job 41:1; Psa 74:14; Psa 104:26; Isa 27:1.

In the margin of Job 3:8 and text of Job 41:1, the crocodile is most clearly the animal denoted by the Hebrew word. Psa 74:14 also clearly points to this same saurian. The context of Psa 104:26 seems to show that, in this passage, the name represents some animal of the whale tribe, which is common in the Mediterranean; but it is somewhat uncertain what animal is denoted in Isa 27:1.

As the term leviathan is evidently used in no limited sense, it is not improbable that the "leviathan the piercing serpent," or "leviathan the crooked serpent," may denote some species of the great rock-snakes which are common in south and west Africa.

From lewy "joined" (referring to its joined, plate armour like scales) and than a monster drawn out, i.e. long; or else Arabic lavah "to twist." So Job 41:15-17. The crocodile. The whale having a smooth skin and no scales cannot be meant. The crocodile’s teeth, 30 on each side of each jaw, lock into each other. Lips are wanting, so that the teeth are seen even when the mouth is closed, illustrating Job 41:14, "who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about." As behemoth is the hippopotamus, so leviathan is the crocodile, both found in Egypt along the Nile. The term elsewhere is used for any large monster of the "sea" or water. Psa 104:26; Psa 74:13-14; "Thou breakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness." The king of Egypt is symbolized by the "dragons" and "leviathan" (compare Eze 32:2; Eze 29:3); he and his host at their overthrow in the Red Sea became a spoil to Israel (compare "bread for us," Num 14:9) "in the wilderness."

The context shows that it is the benefits of God to Israel that are here recounted. In Job 3:8 translated "let them curse it (my day of birth) ... who are ready to raise up a leviathan," i.e. necromancers who rouse and control wild beasts at will (compare Psa 58:5). In Isa 27:1, "leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked (wriggling) serpent," "the dragon in the sea," literally refers to the crocodile in the sea or Nile, or else to the great rock snakes. Spiritually every foe of Israel and the church. Antitypically and finally Satan "the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil" (Rev 20:2; Rev 20:10), whom finally "Jehovah with His sore, great, and strong sword shall punish." For" piercing" (bariach) translated "darting from side to side." Foiled on one side he tries to gain on the other side (Job 26:13; 2Co 11:14; 2Co 2:11). Typhon, the destroyer, was worshipped in Egypt under the form of a crocodile.

Leviathan (jointed monster). This word occurs five times in the A. V., and once in the margin, Job 3:8, where the text has "mourning." In Hebrew the word livya-than is found only in Job 3:8; Job 41:1; Psa 74:14; Psa 104:26; Isa 27:1. In the margin of Job 3:8 and text of Job 41:1 the crocodile is no doubt the animal meant, and also in Psa 74:14. In Psa 104:26 the name represents some animal of the whale tribe in the Mediterranean; but it is uncertain what animal is intended in Isa 27:1. The term may denote some species of snakes which are common in south and west Africa.

This is really a Hebrew word (livyathan ), and is generally believed to refer to any great sea or land monster, it is now postulated that the description is likely to be of a dinosaur.

It is thus an apt symbol of the enemy of God’s people. Psa 74:14. In Isa 27:1 it also typifies Satan: "leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent," whom God will punish. In Psa 104:26 the reference may be to any sea monster, for it is in connection with the ’great and wide sea,’ that is, the Mediterranean. In Job 3:8 it should be translated ’leviathan,’ instead of ’their mourning,’ and this confirms the general meaning of some monster.

The LORD Destroying The Leviathan

Psa_74:12-14; Isa_27:1.

LEVIATHAN.—In four of the five passages where this word appears, the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] have dragon, and their belief that a creature of serpentine form was meant is coo-firmed by the derivation of Heb. lavâh, which signifies ‘to twist or wind.’ The leviathan of Job 41:1-34 is the crocodile, with added traits drawn from the ancient Creation myths. On the assumption that Psa 74:2-17 refers to the Exodus, we should again find the crocodile in Psa 74:14. But it is at least equally probable that the allusion is to the creation of the world (Psa 74:16-17), and to the mythological sea-monsters then vanquished. Leviathan here has several heads; the great serpent of Babylonian tradition had seven. Isa 27:1 distinguishes between two leviathans, the flying serpent, and the crooked or coiled serpent—symbols of two heathen kingdoms. The identification of the kingdoms depends on the date of the prophecy: Assyria and Babylon, Persia and Greece, Syria and Parthia, are rival suggestions. The species of sea-monster pointed to in Psa 104:26 is left indefinite. The leviathan (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ; AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘their mourning’) aroused by magicians (Job 3:8) is most likely a denizen of the abyss which threatens the world with destruction. Many, however, take him to be the mythical sky-dragon which was supposed to cause eclipses. It will be noted that there is a close connexion between leviathan and the watery world. Robertson Smith held that it is a personification of the water-spout (RS [Note: S Religion of the Semites.] ², p. 176). The Apocalyptic and Rabbinical writers gave full scope to their fancy in dealing with this theme. Leviathan and Behemoth were created on the fifth day, and the depths of the sea were assigned to the former as his abode; during the last quarter of each day God plays with him (as the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] and some recent expositors interpret Psa 104:26); the Jordan empties itself into his mouth; his flesh will be for food to the godly in the days of the Messiah; part of his skin will be made into a tent for them, whilst the rest is spread on the walls of Jerusalem, and its brightness is visible to the ends of the earth (En 60.7ff., 2Es 6:40, Apoc. [Note: Apocalypse, Apocalyptic.] Bar 29:4; Aboda zara, 3b; Baba bathra, 74b; Targ. on Num 11:26 f.). Cf. art. Behemoth.

J. Taylor.

(Hebrew: probably lavah, to bend or twist)

An enormous beast. The term is found in the Latin Vulgate in Job 3:8, 40:20; Isaiah 27:1. The same Hebrew term livyathan, is found in Psalms 73:14 and 103:26. In these two last places the Vulgate renders it draco, a dragon. Buxtorf gives the first meaning, whale. The generally accepted meaning is crocodile. It may have had the indefinite signification of a monster, which at times was applied to the crocodile, and at other times to the whale. In Psalms 103:26; Job 3:8, 40:20, it surely means the whale, especially in Psalms 103:25-26, where the home of leviathan is "the sea great and wide."

lḗ-vi´a-than (לויתן, liwyāthān (Job 41:1-34), from לוה, lāwāh, “to fold”; compare Arabic name of the wry neck, Iynx torq̱uilla, abū-luwā, from kindred , lawā, “to bend”):

(1) The word “leviathan” also occurs in Isa 27:1, where it is characterized as “the swift serpent ... the crooked serpent”; in Psa 104:26, where a marine monster is indicated; also in Psa 74:14 and Job 3:8. The description in Job 41 has been thought by some to refer to the whale, but while the whale suits better the expressions denoting great strength, the words apply best on the whole to the crocodile. Moreover, the whale is very seldom found in the Mediterranean, while the crocodile is abundant in the Nile, and has been known to occur in at least one river of Palestine, the Zarḳa, North of Jaffa. For a discussion of the behemoth and leviathan as mythical creatures, see EB, under the word “Behemoth” and “Leviathan.” The points in the description which may well apply to the crocodile are the great invulnerability, the strong and close scales, the limbs and the teeth. It must be admitted that there are many expressions which a modern scientist would not use with reference to the crocodile, but the Book of Job is neither modern nor scientific, but poetical and ancient.

(2) See ASTRONOMY, II, 2, 5.

Crocodile