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NASB | Job 40:15 ¶ "Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Job 40:15 ¶ "Behold now, Behemoth, which I created as well as you; He eats grass like an ox. |
Subject: Is this refering to dinosaurs? |
Bible Note: Job 40:15–24 behemoth. While this is a generic term used commonly in the OT for large cattle or land animals, the description in this passage suggests an extraordinary creature. The hippopotamus has been suggested by the details in the passage (vv. 19–24). However, the short tail of a hippo is hardly consistent with v. 17, where tail could be translated “trunk.” It could refer to an elephant, who could be considered “first” or chief of God’s creatures whom only He can control (v. 19). Some believe God is describing His most impressive creation of land animals, the dinosaur species, which fit all the characteristics. Job 40:23 God was not saying this creature lived in the Jordan River, but rather, recognizing that the Jordan was familiar to Job, used it to illustrate how much water this beast could ingest. He could swallow the Jordan! It was a word used to refer to something of enormous size and threatening power. Job 41:1 Leviathan. This term appears in 4 other OT texts (Job 3:8; Psalms 74:14; 104:26; Is. 27:1). In each case Leviathan refers to some mighty creature who can overwhelm man but who is no match for God. Since this creature lives in the sea among ships (Ps. 104:26), some form of sea monster, possibly an ancient dinosaur, is in view. Some feel it was a crocodile, which had scaly hide (v. 15), terrible teeth (v. 14) and speed in the water (v. 32). But crocodiles are not sea creatures, and clearly this one was (v. 31). Some have thought it was a killer whale or a Great White Shark, because he is the ultimate killer beast over all other proud beasts (v. 34). It could also have been some sea-going dinosaur. Job 41:4 Will he make a covenant with you? “Will this monstrous creature need, for any reason, to come to terms with you, Job? Are you able to control him?” God asked. Job 41:10 Who then is able to stand against Me? This was the essential question being asked in both the Behemoth and Leviathan passages. God created these awesome creatures, and His might is far greater than theirs. If Job couldn’t stand against them, what was he doing contending with God? He would be better off to fight a dinosaur or a killer shark. From The MacArthur Study Bible |