The Behemoth is a mysterious creature mentioned in the book of Job in the Bible. Job 40:15-24 describes the Behemoth as a powerful, gigantic beast that lives among the reeds of the riverbanks. The passage portrays the Behemoth as an incredibly strong animal that only God can approach and subdue.
Scholars have debated the identity of the Behemoth for centuries. Some believe it refers to real animals like the hippopotamus, rhinoceros, or elephant. Others think it may refer to a mythical creature. But the description in Job points to a powerful, dangerous animal unlike anything familiar to humans. Let’s explore key details about the Behemoth from the biblical text.
Notable Features of the Behemoth
The passage in Job vividly describes distinctive features of this mysterious creature:
Huge size and strength: The Behemoth is exceptionally large and powerful, with muscles and bones like bars of iron and bronze (Job 40:18). This shows its mighty stature and strength beyond any other creature.
Plant-based diet: Despite its great size and strength, the Behemoth is an herbivore, eating grass like an ox (Job 40:15). The image is of a giant, bulky creature grazing on vegetation.
Lives among reeds and marshes: The Behemoth dwells in marshy wetlands, concealed among the reeds and hidden streams (Job 40:21-22). This habitat suggests an affinity for swampy regions.
Powerful tail: It has a tail described as being stiff and move like a cedar tree, perhaps indicating a certain rigidity or upright posture (Job 40:17). This unique tail likely refers to a prominent muscular feature.
Impervious to weapons: Humans would be helpless to try capturing or subduing the Behemoth with snares or weapons, indicating its raw power and wild, untamable nature (Job 40:19, 24).
A creation of God: Like other creatures, God made the Behemoth and it belongs to Him, reflecting His wisdom and power as Creator (Job 40:15, 19). The Behemoth draws attention to God’s sovereign authority.
So the Behemoth has elephant-like size and strength, loves marshes and wetlands, eats plants, and has a tail unlike other creatures—a remarkably unusual animal.
Possible Identifications
The unique features of the Behemoth have led to various theories about what real or mythical animal it could represent:
Hippopotamus: Some point to the hippo’s aquatic habitat, herbivore diet, and enormous strength as parallels with the Behemoth. But the hippo’s short tail doesn’t match the Behemoth’s tail.
Rhinoceros: The rhino’s solitary wetland habitat and herbivorous diet align with details about the Behemoth. But again, the tail does not match the exceptional tail described.
Elephant: Elephants are incredibly strong with prominent muscular tails, eat plant matter, and can live in marshy regions. But elephants socialize in herds, unlike the solitary Behemoth.
Dinosaur such as sauropod: Some wonder if the Behemoth describes a species of dinosaur, like a sauropod known for massive size, muscular tails, and plant-based diets. But dinosaurs became extinct long before Job’s time.
Mythical beast: Since no known animal fully fits the characteristics in Job, some propose the Behemoth is a mythical beast, imaginatively highlighting God’s power over even legendary creatures.
Yet the Behemoth is described as real, not mythical, so this option is unlikely.
Symbolic representation: Another view is that the Behemoth symbolically represents the worldly chaos, violence, and sin that only God can control and subdue through Jesus Christ. This would make the Behemoth represent something greater than any one animal.
There are good reasons for and against each identification. But the Behemoth remains puzzling since no known single animal perfectly fits the portrait in Job. The true species behind the Behemoth may remain a mystery.
Key Themes and Meaning
Whether real or symbolic, the primary role of the Behemoth in the book of Job is to highlight important truths about God:
God’s power over all creation: The Behemoth displays that God alone has authority over the most powerful creatures He made, no matter how strong or wild (Job 40:19). It highlights God’s supremacy.
Contrast between God and humans: Just as no human can control the fearsome Behemoth, the passage shows the limits of human strength and wisdom compared to God’s (Job 40:15). Humanity cannot tame or fully understand God’s creation without Him.
God’s sovereignty in adversity: The Behemoth passage comes when Job struggles with adversity. God points to the Behemoth to remind Job his wisdom is greater than humanity’s in allowing adversity for His purposes.
All creation testifies to God’s glory: Even the mysterious, untamable Behemoth was created by God and under His authority, reflecting His majestic splendor, wisdom and power (Job 40:19, Psalm 19:1).
In summary, the Behemoth’s purpose is to magnify God’s supreme worth and control over even the most powerful earthly forces. This would encourage Job’s faith during suffering. The Behemoth shows humans should worship God for His sovereignty rather than blame Him. Just as no one can stand against the Behemoth, no one can thwart God’s ultimate plans.
Other Key Passages
A couple other Bible passages may also reference the mysterious Behemoth:
Psalm 73:22 “I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.” Some translations render “brute beast” here as Behemoth. The imagery reinforces humanity’s finiteness compared to God.
Psalm 148:7-10 “Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.” This poetic praise lists the Behemoth alongside other elements of creation that glorify God.
So references to the Behemoth exalt God’s supreme power and wisdom in designing His wondrous world. The Behemoth’s mysterious identity intrigues Bible scholars, but ultimately points to the might and authority of God the Creator.
The Behemoth in Ancient Near Eastern Lore
Since the land of Uz where Job lived was adjacent to ancient Mesopotamia, scholars explore possible links between the biblical Behemoth and beasts in ancient Near Eastern lore.
Some propose the Behemoth was inspired by Tiamat, the Babylonian sea monster goddess of chaos slain by the god Marduk to create order. Parallels like water dwelling and symbolizing chaos exist, but key details differ. Tiamat was female, multi-headed, invented by pagan myth, and defeated by a false god.
The ancient Sumerians told tales of the wild ox Lahmu, worshipped as a god. Like the Behemoth, Lahmu symbolized strength, lived in marshes, and ate plants. But Lahmu traveled in herds, unlike the solitary Behemoth.
The Ugaritic sea monster Litanu in pagan myth also shares aquatic habitat and herbivore traits with the biblical Behemoth. But Litanu was polytheistic fiction, while the Behemoth honors the true God.
So the Behemoth may have subtle literary links to ancient Near Eastern mythical beasts. But the Behemoth is rooted in true biblical history to exalt the one true God, not mythology. Any similarities only highlight how God’s reality surpasses fictional tales. The Behemoth is no imaginary myth, but part of God’s authentic creation.
The Behemoth and Dinosaurs
Could the Behemoth’s huge size point to extinct dinosaur species like the sauropods? Some see potential parallels like:
– Plant-based diets
– Tremendous strength
– Prominent tails
– Marsh-dwelling habitats
Sauropod fossils bear this out. Giant sauropod dinosaurs were the largest land creatures ever, 100 ft long weighing over 100 tons. Sauropods lived in swampy areas and used their long muscular tails for balance. This has led some creationists to associate sauropods with the biblical Behemoth.
Yet mainstream scientists date sauropod fossils to at least 65 million years before humans, undermining dinosaur-Behemoth links. Believers understanding Genesis as reliable history, however, maintain dinosaurs and humans coexisted, so sauropods feasibly could have inspired the Behemoth account.
While it’s not certain, a sauropod-like dinosaur makes a reasonable candidate for the immense Behemoth. Rather than evolution’s story, the sheer size and strength of such dinosaurs magnificently reflect the creative power of God. Their extinction long ago fits the fossil record after the Flood in Genesis. So linking the Behemoth to sauropods honors Scripture and God’s majestic designs.
The Behemoth and Leviathan
Job 40-41 records two cryptic creatures displaying God’s greatness: Behemoth and Leviathan. Just as no human can stand against the fearsome Behemoth on land, no one dares rouse the mighty marine Leviathan (Job 41:1-10).
God created both impressive creatures. Together Behemoth and Leviathan bookend God’s speeches from the whirlwind, structuring the message that God’s wisdom in creation far exceeds man’s understanding.
Some key parallels between these creatures include:
– None can contend with them, they are unconquerable (Job 40:19, 41:10)
– Unlike any other creatures, displaying God’s matchless creativity (Job 40:15, 41:33)
– God alone controls them, under His sovereignty (Job 40:19, 41:11)
– Humans cannot domesticate or tame them (Job 40:24, 41:5-7)
Yet Behemoth inhabits the swamps while marine Leviathan thrives at sea. Each uniquely testifies to God’s supreme power and authority over every realm of creation. Together they rebuke Job’s hasty questioning of God’s ways.
Specifically, Leviathan symbolizes the cosmic sea monster of chaos that God alone can subdue. In that ancient Near Eastern cultural context, depicting God’s mastery over such mythical beasts exalts His unmatched prowess. God is supreme over land, sea, and every force either real or imagined – including the Behemoth and Leviathan.
Other Bible Passages About God’s Creative Power
Various other Bible texts help us stand in awe at God’s power and wisdom in creating amazing creatures that highlight His greatness:
Isaiah 27:1 refers to Leviathan as a twisting serpent God will slay, symbolizing conquering evil and death through Jesus.
Psalm 104:24-26 extols God’s work in creating the immense sea creatures, from Leviathan to ships sailing the oceans.
Job 7:12 compares God to the sea or a sea monster that must be guarded against, in irony that rather than protect people, God terrifies Job in his misery.
Psalm 74:14 praises God crushing the many heads of Leviathan and giving him as food to the desert creatures, poetically celebrating God’s salvation through the Exodus.
Isaiah 30:6 laments God’s people rebelling and rejecting instruction from God, instead devising their own help and protection like carrying the burden of beasts south to Egypt.
Psalm 148:7 includes the familiar Behemoth reference among all parts of creation praising the Lord for His glorious excellence.
Job 26:12-13 declares God’s power and wisdom in creating and destroying sea monsters, stirring up the sea by His understanding and piercing the fleeing serpent.
Each reference reveals aspects of God’s might, authority, and incomparable ways. The Behemoth and Leviathan compose one thread in Scripture’s rich tapestry exalting the Lord’s supreme majesty through His artistic hand in creation.
The Behemoth and Spiritual Lessons for Life
Beyond historical context, what spiritual significance does the Behemoth hold for believers today? Reflecting on key lessons can enrich our walk with Christ:
1. All creation belongs to God, under His control and for His glory. As seen in mammoths and microscopic mites, God crafted so many amazing creatures, even those long extinct like dinosaurs, to display His artistic brilliance.
2. God has complete power over every force of nature and sustains all things by His strength (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3). Just as no one contends with the Behemoth, nothing can thwart God’s sovereign plans.
3. Human knowledge is so limited compared to God’s supreme wisdom and understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). If the Behemoth confounds us, we should humbly trust God in everything we cannot fully grasp.
4. God oversees all the challenges in life faithfully for His good purposes, even amid our suffering and doubts (Romans 8:28). The Behemoth reminds us God is with us helping us through hardship in ways we may not understand now but will one day.
5. All creatures great and small, from ancient behemoths to microscopic amoebas, reflect God’s signature of stellar design and tell of His grand glory. The wonders of creation should lead us to worship the Maker.
By God’s grace, the Behemoth can reorient our perspective to stand in awe of the Almighty and live joyfully assured of His loving sovereignty. Let’s praise the God who is superior to all, even the powerful Behemoth.