Bible Encyclopedia: Leviathan

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LEVIATHAN

le-vi'-a-than (liwyathan (Job 41:1-34), from lawah, "to fold"; compare Arabic name of the wry neck, Iynx torquilla, abu-luwa, from kindred lawa, "to bend"):

(1) The word "leviathan" also occurs in Isaiah 27:1, where it is characterized as "the swift serpent.... the crooked serpent"; in Psalm 104:26, where a marine monster is indicated; also in Psalm 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 Zarqa, 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, sec. II, 2, 5.

Alfred Ely Day

Strong's Hebrew

3882. Livyathan -- "serpent," a sea monster or dragon
... "serpent," a sea monster or dragon. Transliteration: Livyathan Phonetic Spelling:
(liv-yaw-thawn') Short Definition: Leviathan. ... leviathan, mourning. ...
/hebrew/3882.htm - 6k

Library

Antichrist in Isaiah
... "In that day the Lord with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish, Leviathan
the piercing Serpent, even Leviathan that crooked Serpent; and He shall ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/1 antichrist in isaiah.htm

In this Diagram were Described Ten Circles, Distinct from Each ...
... described ten circles, distinct from each other, but united by one circle, which
was said to be the soul of all things, and was called "Leviathan." [4413] This ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxv in this diagram.htm

The Antichrist Will be the Son of Satan
... 2. "In that day the Lord with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish
Leviathan the piercing Serpent, even Leviathan that crooked Serpent; and he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/ii the antichrist will be.htm

The Binding of Satan.
... For "in that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish
leviathan [the dragon], the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the binding of satan.htm

Since it Has Been Proved that the Son is True God...
... For holy Job prophesied of the coming of the Lord; of Whom he said in truth that
He would vanquish the great Leviathan, [2552] and it was done. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter ii since it has.htm

How Sowers of Strifes and Peacemakers are to be Admonished.
... Footnotes: [1280] So Vulgate. Gregory always takes Leviathan to signify the devil.
[1281] So Vulgate. Gregory always takes Leviathan to signify the devil. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxiii how sowers of.htm

The Two Talents
... There is a great ocean, and it needs inhabitants. O Lord, thou hast made
Leviathan to swim therein. There is a secret grotto, a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the two talents.htm

The Mission of the Son of Man
... A great monarch has acted like leviathan in the sea; he hath moved himself wherever
he pleased; he hath seemed mighty among the sons of men; all the rest of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the mission of the son.htm

Death.
... And he has heard from them of mightier monsters than his own Mediterranean breeds;
of the Leviathan, the whale, larger than the largest ship which he has ever ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xviii death.htm

One of Paul's Prayers
... You cannot draw out leviathan with a hook. ... For it is this same leviathan among men
who has written with his own hand this combined challenge and encouragement. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xii one of pauls prayers.htm

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A transliterated Hebrew word (livyathan), meaning "twisted," "coiled." In Job 3:8, Revised Version, and marg. of Authorized Version, it denotes the dragon which, according to Eastern tradition, is an enemy of light; in 41:1 the crocodile is meant; in Psalm 104:26 it "denotes any large animal that moves by writhing or wriggling the body, the whale, the monsters of the deep." This word is also used figuratively for a cruel enemy, as some think "the Egyptian host, crushed by the divine power, and cast on the shores of the Red Sea" (Psalm 74:14). As used in Isaiah 27:1, "leviathan the piercing [R.V. `swift'] serpent, even leviathan that crooked [R.V. marg. `winding'] serpent," the word may probably denote the two empires, the Assyrian and the Babylonian.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A large aquatic animal or vessel; a whale; a sea monster; an aquatic animal, described in the book of Job, ch. xli., and mentioned in other passages of Scripture.

2. (n.) The whale, or a great whale.

Thesaurus

Leviathan (5 Occurrences)
... As used in Isaiah 27:1, "leviathan the piercing [RV `swift'] serpent, even leviathan
that crooked [RV marg. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LEVIATHAN. ...
/l/leviathan.htm - 10k

Nightmonster
... such traces have been discovered: "Rahab" (rachabh), mentioned in Job 9:13; Job
26:12 Isaiah 51:9; "Tanin" (tannin), Isaiah 27:1; "Leviathan" (liwyathan), Job 3 ...
/n/nightmonster.htm - 17k

Night-monster
... such traces have been discovered: "Rahab" (rachabh), mentioned in Job 9:13; Job
26:12 Isaiah 51:9; "Tanin" (tannin), Isaiah 27:1; "Leviathan" (liwyathan), Job 3 ...
/n/night-monster.htm - 17k

Levi'athan (2 Occurrences)
Levi'athan. Leviathan, Levi'athan. Levied . ... Levi'athan (2 Occurrences). Job
3:8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan. ...
/l/levi'athan.htm - 6k

Gliding (4 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 27:1 In that day the Lord, with his great and strong and cruel sword, will
send punishment on Leviathan, the quick-moving snake, and on Leviathan, the ...
/g/gliding.htm - 7k

Monster (10 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 27:1 In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish
leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he ...
/m/monster.htm - 10k

Coiling (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 27:1 In that day the Lord, with his great and strong and cruel sword, will
send punishment on Leviathan, the quick-moving snake, and on Leviathan, the ...
/c/coiling.htm - 6k

Zoology
... Quail, Peacock GRALLATORES: Crane, Heron, Stork STEGANOPODES: Pelican, Cormorant
RATTAE: Ostrich Reptiles: CROCODILIA: Crocodile (Leviathan) CHELONIA: Tortoise ...
/z/zoology.htm - 18k

Punish (84 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 27:1 In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish
leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan the twisted serpent; and he ...
/p/punish.htm - 33k

Fleeing (38 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 27:1 In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish
leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan the twisted serpent; and he ...
/f/fleeing.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance

Leviathan (5 Occurrences)

Job 3:8 Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Psalms 74:14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 104:26 There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 27:1 In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Leviathan

Leviathan: "The Crooked (Rv) Serpent"

Leviathan: Created by God

Leviathan: Figurative

Leviathan: God's Power, Exhibited in Destroying

Leviathan: Nature and Habits of

Leviathan: Possibly a Crocodile

Leviathan: Power and Severity of God

Leviathan: Powerful and Cruel Kings

Related Terms

Nightmonster