Hope and Prophecy

Who Was Leviathan?

Leviathan is a powerful creature described in poetic and highly dramatic language in Job 41, Psalm 74, Psalm 104, and Isaiah 27. The Bible uses Leviathan both as a creature of God's creation and, in some passages, as symbolic imagery for hostile powers.

Biblical explanation

Job 41 gives the longest description: "Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook?" Job 41:1 God describes Leviathan as extraordinarily powerful and beyond human ability to control. Psalm 104:26 says: "There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein." This clearly presents Leviathan as part of God's creation. Psalm 74:14 uses Leviathan in a poetic context: "Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces." Isaiah 27:1 uses the imagery symbolically: "The LORD... shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent." The Bible does not identify Leviathan as a dinosaur in a straightforward scientific sense. Nor does every mention necessarily refer to exactly the same thing. Scripture uses Leviathan as both creature imagery and poetic symbolism.

Key takeaway

The great controversy reveals God's character as Christ ministers as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. The dead await the resurrection, Christ's return will be visible and personal, and prophecy calls believers to faithful mission rather than date-setting or fear.

Bible references