Bible Study

Just for your thoughts.

The Book of Job

Bible Study – 43

The “Behemoth” (Behemoth / בְּהֵמוֹת) mentioned in Job 40:15-24 has been a subject of discussion among scholars for many centuries. It is helpful to examine this clearly and separately.

1. What does “Behemoth” mean?

In Hebrew, the word is בְּהֵמוֹת (Behemoth). Its basic word is בְּהֵמָה (behemah), which means “beast” or “animal.”

Although this word is in the plural form, here it does not necessarily refer to many animals. Rather, it may be used to emphasize or intensify the greatness and strength of one enormous animal.

2. What animal was it?

Most biblical scholars consider the hippopotamus to be the most likely identification.

Many of the characteristics described in Job 40 correspond well with the hippopotamus:

• It eats grass — 40:15
• It possesses tremendous physical strength — 40:16-18
• It lives near bodies of water — 40:21-23
• It is not afraid even in deep waters — 40:23
• It is so strong that a human being cannot easily capture it — 40:24
• It is associated with lotus plants and marshy areas — 40:21-22

Therefore, “Behemoth = hippopotamus” has remained a strong traditional interpretation.

3. But why is the statement that its “tail is like a cedar” a problem?

Job 40:17 says that its tail moves “like a cedar.”

The tail of a modern hippopotamus is very short. Therefore, some argue, “It cannot be a hippopotamus.”

Based on this, alternatives such as the elephant, rhinoceros, or an extinct giant creature such as a dinosaur have been proposed.

However, there is no direct linguistic or textual evidence that conclusively supports the idea that Behemoth was an extinct reptile-like creature.

4. Did hippopotamuses exist in ancient history?

Yes, very clearly.

Hippopotamuses were abundant in ancient Egypt. Depictions of Egyptians hunting hippopotamuses can be found as early as 4400–3100 BC, and similar depictions continued for more than 3,000 years afterward.

Furthermore, hippopotamus remains have been discovered in the Levant region, including areas corresponding to present-day Israel and Syria.

Therefore, we can say that the hippopotamus was not an unknown animal to people living in the time of Job.

5. Does that animal exist today?

The hippopotamus still exists today. Its scientific name is Hippopotamus amphibius.

It continues to live in rivers, lakes, and marshlands in Africa.

However, one important point is that there are no longer wild hippopotamuses in Egypt today. They became extinct there because of human hunting and the loss of their natural habitat.

Another important point is this:

The Bible does not directly say that “Behemoth was a particular extinct animal.”

At the same time, we also cannot say with one hundred percent certainty that “Behemoth was simply the name of the hippopotamus,” because some of the details in Job 40:15-24 do not completely correspond to the modern hippopotamus.

Therefore, the safest conclusion for Bible study would be:

«“Behemoth is the enormous and powerful land/water-dwelling creature that God describes in Job 40. Its description largely corresponds to the hippopotamus, but because every detail does not perfectly correspond to the modern hippopotamus, we cannot identify it with absolute certainty.”»

Whatever animal it was, we must believe what the Bible says—that this creature existed. That is our faith.

But the most important thing is the lesson that the Lord wants to teach us through this.

In Job 40, God’s purpose is not merely to give us the zoological identity of an animal. By showing Job that even this enormous creature, which Job could not control, was created and cared for by God, He teaches Job a fundamental lesson:

“Do you have enough knowledge to question the world that I rule?”

Job wanted a judge to examine his case; he wanted a court of law where his case could be heard. But when God Himself became the Judge and began asking the questions, Job became silent.

When we face various trials in our lives, we too often ask God, “Why?”

To some extent, it is understandable to ask. But we cannot question everything.

It is when we remain silent and trust God in the midst of our trials that He fulfills what He desires for us.

If we are busy justifying ourselves, we leave no room for God to work on our behalf. But when we surrender ourselves to God, we allow His will to be fulfilled in our lives.

It is greater to trust God than to question God.

It is better to surrender ourselves to God than to justify ourselves.