The Bible makes references to various mysterious creatures that could be considered “monsters.” While some of these may be symbolic or allegorical, others seem to refer to actual creatures that inhabited the lands known to the biblical writers. Let’s explore some of the more notable monsters mentioned in the scriptures.
Leviathan
Perhaps the most well-known monster in the Bible is Leviathan. This mighty sea creature is described most fully in the book of Job:
“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook? Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words? Will it make an agreement with you for you to take it as your slave for life? Can you make a pet of it like a bird or put it on a leash for the young women in your house? Will traders barter for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants? Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears? If you lay a hand on it, you will remember the struggle and never do it again! Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering.” (Job 41:1-9)
Leviathan is described as a powerful sea serpent or dragon that no human can tame or defeat. Some key characteristics include:
- Massive strength and power
- Armored scales or hide impervious to human weapons
- Terrifying appearance
- Living in the ocean depths
The name Leviathan is used in other parts of the Bible as well, including Isaiah 27:1 which declares: “In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, With His fierce and great and mighty sword.”
Origins and Symbolism
The description of Leviathan echoes ancient myths about chaos monsters battled by creation deities. It is thought to derive from the Canaanite sea monster Lotan or the Babylonian sea goddess Tiamat defeated by Marduk. Biblically, Leviathan represents the chaotic forces of evil. God’s power is shown to be absolute by his ability to control Leviathan, reflecting His supremacy over all the powers of chaos.
Behemoth
Leviathan’s monstrous counterpart in the Book of Job is Behemoth, a powerful land creature.
“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly! Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron. It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.” (Job 40:15-19)
Key features of Behemoth include:
- Enormous size and strength
- Tree-like tail
- Bones and limbs like metal
- A grass-eating herbivore
Behemoth is not fully identified but is associated with strength and stability in contrast with Leviathan’s chaos. Biblical scholars have theorized it may represent a real animal like a hippopotamus or elephant or a mythological beast. Like Leviathan, it demonstrates God’s supreme power and control over all creation.
The Ziz
The Ziz is an enormous mythical bird referenced in Psalms 50:11 and 80:13 which state: “I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine” and “The boar from the forest ravages it, and insects from the fields feed on it.”
Characteristics
- Gigantic bird, large enough to block out the sun with its wingspan
- Associated with other mythic birds like the phoenix and rokh
- Possibly a giant griffin-like creature
The Ziz represents divinely-controlled natural forces and is similar to various primordial bird creatures in Near East legends like the ancient god Zu. Its enormous size reflects God’s miraculous power and control over nature.
The Serpent
One of the most infamous monsters in the Bible is the serpent who tempts Eve in the Garden of Eden:
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
This serpent is associated with traits like:
- Cunning intelligence and craftiness
- The ability to speak and reason
- A connection to Satan/evil
While the serpent is an animal, it displays human-like sentience and is possessed by Satan to tempt humanity. It inaugurates mankind’s fall from grace and is cursed by God as a result. The serpent remains a potent symbol of evil and temptation.
The Plagues of Egypt
The ten plagues sent by God against Egypt often involved the transformation and multiplication of natural creatures into monsters:
- The Nile turning to blood, bringing death to fish and making water undrinkable (Exodus 7:14-25)
- Frogs swarming from the rivers as a plague (Exodus 8:1-15)
- Gnats or lice infesting people and animals (Exodus 8:16-19)
- Swarms of flies covering Egypt (Exodus 8:20-32)
- Disease killing Egyptian livestock (Exodus 9:1-7)
- Festering boils afflicting people and animals (Exodus 9:8-12)
- Hail and fire devastating crops and livestock (Exodus 9:13-35)
- Locusts devouring plants across the land (Exodus 10:1-20)
- Darkness covering Egypt for three days (Exodus 10:21-29)
- Death of the firstborn in every Egyptian household (Exodus 11:1-12:36)
God supernaturally empowers these creatures and natural forces to bring catastrophic destruction on Egypt in response to Pharaoh’s defiance. The swarms vividly display God’s absolute dominion over the physical world and all its creatures.
Unclean Spirits
The New Testament contains dozens of references to “unclean spirits” (also translated as impure or evil spirits) which possess people:
“Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out….” (Mark 1:23)
Nature of Unclean Spirits
- Spiritual forces that oppress, harm and control people
- Cause physical/mental illness and disturbance
- Compelled by Jesus to leave their human hosts
- Associated with demons
These invisible monsters afflict humans in the Gospels until they are exorcised by Jesus. They demonstrate supernatural evil opposed to God’s kingdom and subject to Christ’s absolute authority.
The Beasts of Revelation
The book of Revelation contains visionary descriptions of several monstrous beasts, including:
The Great Red Dragon
“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.” (Revelation 12:3)
This dragon attempts to destroy the prophesied child of the woman interpreted as the Messiah. It is identified with Satan and evil forces opposed to God.
The Beast out of the Sea
“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.” (Revelation 13:1)
This beast derives power from Satan and has great authority over the earth. It represents kingdoms opposed to God.
The Beast out of the Earth
“Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.” (Revelation 13:11)
This beast promotes worship of the first beast and performs miraculous signs to deceive humanity. It symbolizes spiritual forces that aid worldly powers opposed to God.
Together, these beasts reflect Satanic power and those who do the dragon’s bidding on earth. They will be defeated by the power of God.
Conclusion
The Bible’s symbolic monsters vividly embody spiritual realities concerning good and evil. God allows chaotic forces like Leviathan and humanity-destroying plagues to demonstrate His absolute supremacy. Satan works through creatures like the serpent and spirits that oppress people until overcome by Christ’s power. The fantastic beasts of Revelation represent the climactic struggle between the kingdoms of God and Satan. As fearsome as these monsters may seem, the Scriptures declare God’s authority over them and ultimate victory through Him.