As Christians, we believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. While it doesn’t use the word “dinosaur” (a term coined in the 1800s), Scripture does mention large and mysterious creatures that align with descriptions of what we know today as dinosaurs. Let’s explore seven areas in the Bible where these ancient beasts may be referenced.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Unicorns
Behemoth: A Creature of Great Power
The Book of Job describes a creature called “Behemoth,” which many believe could be a reference to a dinosaur-like animal. Its massive size and strength are clearly noted, highlighting God’s power in creation.
Job 40:15
“Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox.”
Job 40:16
“See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly.”
Job 40:17
“Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.”
Job 40:18
“Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron.”
Job 40:19
“It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it.”
Leviathan: The Fire-Breathing Beast
The Leviathan is another mysterious creature mentioned in the Bible. Some interpret it as a large sea monster, and others see it as symbolic. However, its detailed description could resemble a prehistoric aquatic reptile or even a dragon-like being.
Job 41:1
“Can you catch Leviathan with a hook or put a noose around its jaw?”
Job 41:14
“Who can pry open its jaws? For its teeth are terrible!”
Job 41:18
“When it sneezes, it flashes light! Its eyes are like the red of dawn.”
Job 41:19
“Lightning leaps from its mouth; flames of fire flash out.”
Job 41:21
“Its breath would kindle coals, for flames shoot from its mouth.”
Dragons and Serpents in Scripture
Throughout the Bible, dragons and serpentine creatures are often mentioned. While symbolic at times, these references might also reflect cultural memories of real creatures people once feared and revered—perhaps even dinosaurs.
Isaiah 27:1
“In that day the Lord will take his terrible, swift sword and punish Leviathan, the swiftly moving serpent, the coiling serpent. He will kill the dragon of the sea.”
Psalm 74:13
“You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.”
Psalm 91:13
“You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!”
Revelation 12:9
“This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.”
Revelation 20:2
“He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years.”
Creation of Land Animals
Genesis describes God’s creation of all animals, including the great beasts that roamed the earth. Though dinosaurs aren’t named, it is likely they were among the “wild animals” created on the sixth day.
Genesis 1:24
“Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.’ And that is what happened.”
Genesis 1:25
“God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.”
Genesis 2:19
“So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them.”
Job 12:7
“Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.”
Psalm 104:24
“O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.”
Fearsome Creatures as Symbols of Power
Many creatures in the Bible are depicted as fearsome and awe-inspiring. These could represent actual animals that were powerful and terrifying in their time, potentially including species now extinct like dinosaurs.
Isaiah 30:6
“This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev: The caravan moves slowly across the terrible desert to Egypt—donkeys weighed down with riches and camels loaded with treasure—all to pay for Egypt’s protection. They travel through the wilderness, a place of lionesses and lions, vipers and poisonous snakes.”
Jeremiah 51:34
“King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has eaten and crushed us and drained us of strength. He has swallowed us like a great monster and has filled his belly with our riches. He has thrown us out of our own country.”
Daniel 7:7
“Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet.”
Psalm 104:26
“See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.”
Amos 9:3
“Even if they hide at the bottom of the ocean, I will send the sea serpent after them to bite them.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Nature
God’s Sovereignty Over All Creatures
Ultimately, the Bible reminds us that every creature, no matter how great or terrifying, was created by God and remains under His control. From the mighty Behemoth to the smallest bird, all life reflects His glory.
Colossians 1:16
“For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see.”
Nehemiah 9:6
“You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens… and the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all.”
Psalm 148:7
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths.”
Romans 1:20
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature.”
Isaiah 43:20
“The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert.”
Dinosaurs and the Wonder of God’s Creation
Though the Bible does not explicitly mention “dinosaurs” by name, it describes mighty and mysterious creatures that inspire awe and point to the grandeur of God’s creation. These ancient beasts serve as reminders of God’s limitless power, wisdom, and creativity from the beginning of time to now.
Psalm 145:10
“All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you.”
Job 37:14
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!”
Isaiah 40:26
“Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name.”
Psalm 19:1
“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”
Romans 11:36
“For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”