I Doubt That - Q8
Where Do Dinosaurs Exist In the Bible?
The Bible doesn’t mention dinosaurs by name, and that’s likely because the word “dinosaur” wasn’t even created until the 1800s—long after the Bible was written. But that doesn’t mean the Bible denies their existence. In fact, many believers think there are hints or descriptions of large, powerful creatures that might align with what we now call dinosaurs.
For example, in the book of Job, God speaks of a creature called Behemoth (Job 40:15–24) and another called Leviathan (Job 41). Behemoth is described as a massive, grass-eating land animal with strong bones and a tail “like a cedar.” Leviathan is a fierce sea creature, breathing fire and smoke. Some see these as poetic descriptions of creatures that Job would’ve recognized—possibly even dinosaurs or other now-extinct animals. Others believe they could be symbolic, mythic imagery used to express God’s power and creativity. Either way, the message is that God is the Creator of all things, known and unknown.
It’s also okay to recognize that the Bible isn't a science textbook—it’s God’s story of His love, purpose, and redemption for humanity. So it doesn’t list every animal or explain every piece of natural history. But what we do see is that God made “the beasts of the earth” and “everything that has the breath of life” (Genesis 1:24–25), which certainly includes animals that lived long before us.
The Bible doesn’t mention dinosaurs by name, and that’s likely because the word “dinosaur” wasn’t even created until the 1800s—long after the Bible was written. But that doesn’t mean the Bible denies their existence. In fact, many believers think there are hints or descriptions of large, powerful creatures that might align with what we now call dinosaurs.
For example, in the book of Job, God speaks of a creature called Behemoth (Job 40:15–24) and another called Leviathan (Job 41). Behemoth is described as a massive, grass-eating land animal with strong bones and a tail “like a cedar.” Leviathan is a fierce sea creature, breathing fire and smoke. Some see these as poetic descriptions of creatures that Job would’ve recognized—possibly even dinosaurs or other now-extinct animals. Others believe they could be symbolic, mythic imagery used to express God’s power and creativity. Either way, the message is that God is the Creator of all things, known and unknown.
It’s also okay to recognize that the Bible isn't a science textbook—it’s God’s story of His love, purpose, and redemption for humanity. So it doesn’t list every animal or explain every piece of natural history. But what we do see is that God made “the beasts of the earth” and “everything that has the breath of life” (Genesis 1:24–25), which certainly includes animals that lived long before us.
Posted in I Doubt That