The LORD's great power in the leviathan
Chapter 41
The leviathan was a water creature, as the LORD mentions things used for fishing which would be incapable of catching this formidable creature: a hook, a line which is lowered, a reed for its nose, harpoons, fishing spears. It would therefore be one of the great sea creatures created on the fifth day.
Its description indicates a monster unknown today: fearless, indomitable, impossible to be marketed, unharmed when attacked by humans, and terrible when it defended itself or was aroused. Since God created such a creature, who can stand before Him, who received nothing from anyone and owns everything that exists under the whole heaven?
God continued by describing its limbs, its great strength, the graceful proportions of its structure, its outer covering like an impenetrable double shield, its strong mouth like strong doors with terrible teeth all around, its scales which were inseparably adhered to each other, as if closed by a tight seal. Light flashed when it sneezed (like the exhalation of whales) and it had enormous eyes.
It shot flames and sparks of fire out of its mouth, and smoke came out of its nostrils, coals burned with the flames from its mouth. These characteristics are unknown among historical animals, although commonly included in descriptions of dragons found in the traditions of many different civilizations.
It had a very strong neck that jumped in front of him spreading terror. The flesh was firm, and its heart was like stone. When raised, the bravest were afraid and became unconscious. It couldn't be injured by sword, spear, dart, javelin, iron or bronze weapons, arrows, slingstones or darts. Its undersides were very sharp and left pointed marks in the mire. It made deep water boil and moved the sea leaving a shining wake behind it. Unique on earth, it feared nothing.
The leviathan was mentioned by David in Psalm 104:26 as inhabiting the sea in his days.
It has been suggested that it could have been a large sea crocodile, something of the kind found in Australia today. It bears many of these characteristics, but the leviathan appears to have been of much greater proportions than the crocodiles seen today and one can hardly call crocodiles graceful. The mention of it producing fire and smoke make it resemble the dragons in the traditions of many lands. A dragon (as a symbol) is mentioned in Isaiah 27:1, 51:9, 29:3 and Ezekiel 32:2 (to represent the Pharaoh) and Revelation 12, 13. 16:20 (to represent "that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan").
The fire and smoke may have been only a figure of speech, or an impression received by those who saw the animal. If so, there is a monster whose fossilized bones have been found in areas of the Mediterranean, which seems to best meet the description given in this chapter. It is the plesiosaur, which grew to gigantic sizes. It was abundant in the seas and in some respects was graceful as dolphins.
An artist´s impression of the plesiosaur
The descriptions of all these animals, starting with harmless creatures and ending with these monsters reflect the glory, power and majesty of the LORD himself, which poor Job couldn't hope to match at all.
R David Jones
1"Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?2 Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you leash him for your maidens?6 Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears?8 Lay your hand on him; remember the battle - never do it again!9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.12 "I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power, or his graceful proportions.13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?14 Who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around?15 His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;16 One is so near another that no air can come between them;17 They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; sparks of fire shoot out.20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.22 Strength dwells in his neck, and sorrow dances before him.23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; tThey are firm on him and cannot be moved.24 His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone.25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; because of his crashings they are beside themselves.26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; nor does spear, dart, or javelin.27 He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.28 The arrow cannot make him flee; slingstones become like stubble to him.29 Darts are regarded as straw; he laughs at the threat of javelins.30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; he spreads pointed marks in the mire.31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; one would think the deep had white hair.33 On earth there is nothing like him, which is made without fear.34 He beholds every high thing; he is king over all the children of pride."