What is the behemoth the Bible talks about?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The behemoth, described in Job 40, is a massive and mysterious creature that God created. While the exact identity of the behemoth is uncertain, clues from Scripture tell us it is a plant-eating animal that lives near water, possesses immense strength, and cannot be tamed by humans (Job 40:15–24). Some scholars suggest it may have been a massive prehistoric creature, perhaps even a dinosaur, but the focus of the text is less on identification and more on the lesson it conveys.

God uses the behemoth, along with the leviathan, to remind Job—and us—that His creation surpasses human understanding and control (Genesis 1:24–27; Job 40:10–14). Other passages like Colossians 1:16 and Romans 11:33–36 emphasize God’s sovereignty over all creation, visible and invisible, and the depth of His wisdom, contrasted with our limitations.

The behemoth reminds us that God is in control even when life feels beyond our understanding. The God who made the behemoth also made us, and we should stand in awe of His majesty, letting that awe shape how we live, speak, and proclaim who His greatness in this world.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The behemoth and the leviathan are mentioned by God as Job begins to justify himself and question God about his catastrophic troubles (Job 40:1–2). God responds by comparing His creation of these extraordinary creatures to the relative smallness and limitations of Job (Job 40:10–14). We do not know exactly what a behemoth is, but Job 40 provides several clues: it is familiar to Job, a plant-eating creature (Job 40:15), lives near water (Job 40:21–22), possesses immense strength (Job 40:16–18), and only its Creator can tame it (Job 40:19–20). The text emphasizes that it is impossible for humans to capture or control the behemoth (Job 40:24), highlighting God’s unmatched power and sovereignty over all creation.
• Genesis 1:24–27 says that all animals were created the same day God created man. We don't know exactly when dinosaurs became extinct, nor exactly why, but it is plausible that some existed during Job's time.
• So, what is the behemoth? Some say a hippopotamus, rhinoceros, or elephant, but Job 40:17 says this creature has a cedar-like tail, so those animals don't seem to fit. Some say the behemoth is a surviving dinosaur, such as a diplodocus or apatosaurus. These work because they are ten times the size of an elephant in weight, are the largest of all land animals, and had tree-trunk-like tails.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The behemoth is not directly mentioned in the New Testament, but Colossians 1:16 reminds us that all things, visible and invisible, were created by and for Christ.
• Romans 11:33–36 emphasizes the depth of God’s wisdom and understanding and human limitation. Just. Because we do not know what a behemoth is does not mean it did not exist.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

When we reflect on God’s response to Job, we are reminded that our understanding is limited compared to His infinite wisdom and power. Just as Job could not control or even hunt the behemoth and the leviathan, we cannot fully grasp or manage the vastness of God’s wisdom and purposes.

When we do not understand, we must not get angry at God. Instead, we should humbly recognize that God alone is sovereign over all things, seen and unseen. We should be comforted that we can go to Him to better understand what we do not. We can trust that He is in control, even with things that feel beyond our control, offering Him our worship and obedience even when we don’t understand His plans.

The reality of the behemoth and all of creation, from its most intricate details to the vast universe, also challenges us to stand in awe of His majesty and to let that awe shape the way we speak, act, and make decisions. We get to proclaim who He is, the God of all things, whose power and wisdom surpass all human understanding.

UNDERSTAND

• The behemoth is a massive creature that God created.
• The behemoth’s exact identity is uncertain, but it highlights God’s authority over all things.
• The behemoth’s calls us to awe, trust, and worship, trusting God’s wisdom and control over all creation.

REFLECT

• How are you challenged or encouraged by the mention of the behemoth in the Bible?
• What does God’s creation reveal about His character, and what helps you reflect on that?
• How can the awe of God’s majesty, seen in creatures like the behemoth, shape the way you live?

ENGAGE

• Why could God have chosen to highlight the behemoth and leviathan when responding to Job, rather than explaining His ways in words?
• How does the mystery of the behemoth challenge our desire to fully understand everything about God’s creation?
• How can we encourage each other to stand in awe of God’s power and trust His wisdom, even when life feels uncontrollable?