Leviathan

Illustration of Leviathan

Leviathan is the fearsome sea creature God describes to Job - untamable, breathing fire and smoke, with scales like shields and a heart as hard as stone, 'king over all the children of pride.' No one dares rouse it, yet it is nothing before its Maker. In the Psalms and prophets, Leviathan becomes an image of the chaos and evil that God alone can master and will one day finally subdue.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
Job 41

Key Passages

Canst Thou Draw Out Leviathan?

Job 41:1-10

God challenges Job with the untamable Leviathan - if none dare stir it up, who then can stand before God?

C1anst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

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Job Job was a righteous and prosperous man living in the land of Uz, known for his deep faith and integrity. Inโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

Leviathan gets the longest animal description in the Bible - all of Job 41.

2

It breathes smoke and fire and cannot be caught by any human.

3

It is called 'king over all the children of pride.'

4

The Psalms and prophets use it as an image of chaos that God alone can master.