Are there dinosaurs in the Bible?

TL;DR:

The Bible does not explicitly mention dinosaurs by name. However, it contains descriptions of creatures that some interpreters say are dinosaurs or similar beasts.

The term "dinosaur" was derived in 1841 from the Greek deinos (terrible) and sauros (lizard). Therefore, it is not found in the original text of the Bible. However, the Bible does mention mysterious, large and powerful creatures. These creatures are often referred to as "tanniyn," "leviathan" or “behemoth” in the Old Testament. Tanniyn, translated variously as “sea monster,” “sea serpent,” or “dragon,” may have been some sort of giant reptile. They are mentioned nearly thirty times in the Old Testament (e.g, Psalm 74:13; Isaiah 27:1; Jeremiah 51:34). Leviathan, a large, fierce, sea creature, is mentioned six times, in Job 3:8; 41; Psalm 74:14; 104-25-26; and Isaiah 27:1. Behemoth, some kind of large land creature that dwells by the water, is described in Job 40:15-24. The concept of sea monsters like leviathan and tannin had a significant impact on Jewish thought and literature. They served as symbols of God’s power and authority, as well as reminders of the dangers and uncertainties of the natural world. While the Bible does not provide direct evidence of dinosaurs, it contains descriptions of giant, ancient creatures that may have been dinosaurs or similar beasts.

from the old testament

Satan used a serpent in Genesis 3:1 to deceive Eve and ultimately get Adam to bring sin and death into the world (Romans 5:12).
Job 40:15-24 contains a description of behemoth, which somewhat resembles a hippopotamus, except a hippo's tail is thin, not like a cedar tree. Dinosaurs like the Brachiosaurus, Apatosaurus, and Saltasaurus, on the other hand, had huge tails that could easily be compared to a cedar tree.
Job 41 contains a lengthy discussion about the attributes of leviathan, which is presented as a formidable adversary. Leviathan is often considered as a sea-monster or dragon that terrorized sailors and fishermen. In the context of Job 41, God does not seem to consider leviathan to be mythical. Some believe that leviathan describes an ancient dragon-like dinosaur that either survived to Job’s day, or survived in oral tradition, so that God could refer to it as an example. Others consider that in this context, leviathan is nothing more than a mighty crocodile.
Psalm 74:13-14 mentions tanniyn and leviathan: "You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness."
Psalm 104:25-26 "Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it."
Isaiah 27:1 mentions both leviathan and tanniyn: "In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea."

from the new testament

Satan is metaphorically called a dragon in Revelation chapters 12 and 13.

implications for today

Nearly every ancient civilization has left some sort of art depicting giant reptilian creatures and nearly every culture has a myth about dragons: serpent-like creatures with wings. Ancient historians described dragons as real, living creatures, right alongside descriptions of other more familiar creatures. Petroglyphs and clay figurines found in North America resemble modern depictions of dinosaurs. Rock carvings in South America depict images of creatures resembling Triceratops, Diplodocus, and Tyrannosaurus Rex. Roman mosaics, Mayan pottery, and Babylonian city walls all testify to man’s trans-cultural memories of these creatures. The vast number of dragon and dinosaur descriptions, and the similarities of those descriptions across geographic space and historical time, may be best explained by genuine dinosaur encounters. Many different cultures have similar dragon legends that they could not get from just viewing dinosaur fossils.

If God made all land-living animals on day six of Creation, along with Adam and Eve, then we would expect to find ancient stories and art that connect humans and dinosaurs living at the same time. There is no need to explain away descriptions of creatures that sound like dragons and dinosaurs. If a longer time scale is true, including some form of evolution, there is no obvious explanation for the dragon legends that span the globe and the centuries. Ancient depictions and descriptions must be explained to avoid the idea that humans and dragons/dinosaur-like reptiles coexisted. It’s possible, according to the Bible, that humans lived on the Earth with huge reptiles that are now extinct. Under this interpretation, the ancients often called them dragons, amd modern people call them dinosaurs.

understand

The Bible does not mention dinosaurs by name but describes creatures like "leviathan," "behemoth," and "tanniyn."
The creatures mentioned in Old Testament passages like Job 40–41 symbolize God’s power and authority.
Ancient dragon myths and reptile depictions across cultures suggest possible encounters with dinosaur-like creatures or mythological interpretations.

reflect

How does the description of creatures like leviathan and behemoth affect your understanding of God’s power over creation?
What do the Bible’s references to these creatures teach you about trusting God amidst the unknowns in the natural world?
How might considering the possibility of humans and dinosaur-like creatures coexisting impact your view of biblical history?

engage

What are the implications for faith when ancient legends or myths appear to overlap with biblical descriptions?
How can discussions about dinosaurs and the Bible help us engage with others on the topic of creation and God’s authority over life?
How does the Bible enhance our understanding of science and dinosaurs?