A-Z: General definitions: Behemoth

Definition

Thought to be an animal with enormous strength. The Bible suggests that the behemoth is an animal that lives near water (Job 40:15-22).

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹And the Lord said to Job: ²Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it. ³Then Job answered the Lord and said: ⁴Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further. ⁶Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ⁷Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. ⁸Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? ⁹Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? ¹⁰Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. ¹¹Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. ¹²Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. ¹³Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. ¹⁴Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. ¹⁵Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. ¹⁶Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. ¹⁷He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. ¹⁸His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. ¹⁹He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! ²⁰For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. ²¹Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. ²²For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. ²³Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. ²⁴Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?

¹Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, ²Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. ³Then Job answered the LORD, and said, ⁴Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. ⁵Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. ⁶Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, ⁷Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. ⁸Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? ⁹Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? ¹⁰Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. ¹¹Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. ¹²Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. ¹³Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. ¹⁴Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. ¹⁵Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. ¹⁶Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. ¹⁷He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. ¹⁸His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. ¹⁹He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. ²⁰Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. ²¹He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. ²²The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. ²³Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. ²⁴He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

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