The meaning of “לִוְיָתָן”
Understanding livyâthân reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
leviathan, mourning. - a wreathed animal, i.e. a serpent (especially the crocodile or some other large sea-monster) - fi...
לִוְיָתָן
leviathan, mourning. - a wreathed animal, i.e. a serpent (especially the crocodile or some other large sea-monster) - figuratively, the constellation of the dragon - also as a symbol of Babylon 1) leviathan, sea monster, dragon 1a) large aquatic animal 1b) perhaps the extinct dinosaur, plesiosaurus, exact meaning unknown ++++ Some think this to be a crocodile but from the description in Job 41:1-34 this is patently absurd. It appears to ba a large fire breathing animal of some sort. Just as the bomardier beetle has an explosion producing mechanism, so the great sea dragon may have an explosive producing mechanism to enable it to be a real fire breathing dragon.
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Job 3:8 | “Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.” Word: לִוְיָתָן (livyâthân) | |
| Job 41:1 | “Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?” Word: לִוְיָתָן (livyâthân) | |
| Psalms 74:14 | “Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.” Word: לִוְיָתָן (livyâthân) | |
| Psalms 104:26 | “There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.” Word: לִוְיָתָן (livyâthân) | |
| Isaiah 27:1 | “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 slay the dragon that is in the sea.” Word: לִוְיָתָן (livyâthân) |
Related Words
Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.