A-Z: Common sayings from the Bible: Behemoth

Usage

Refers to any monstrously big and powerful creature.

Definition

Probably the hippopotamus. In the context of Job, God asks Job to consider the animal and marvel at the works of God.

Bible References

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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