Dinosaurs in the Bible

How is it that the word "dinosaur" never appears in the Bible? We know for certain that dinosaurs existed in the past from the fossil records that have been excavated all over the world. How do we reconcile dinosaurs with the Bible?


First, the taxon Dinosauria was formally named in 1842 by paleontologist Sir Richard Owen, who used it to refer to the "distinct tribe or sub-order of Saurian Reptiles" that were then being recognized in England and around the world. The term is derived from the Greek words δεινός (deinos, meaning "terrible," "potent," or "fearfully great") and σαῦρος (sauros, meaning "lizard" or "reptile"). Though the taxonomic name has often been interpreted as a reference to dinosaurs' teeth, claws, and other fearsome characteristics, Owen intended it merely to evoke their size and majesty.

Second, the English Bible was translated in 1611 into the King James Bible which was way before the word "dinosaur" was invented. The Bible translators were familiar with another term "dragon" and used that in the English translations.

Third, in modern English Bible translations, we also never see this word appearing at all because the bible translators did not believe that dinosaurs and man existed together at the same time. They were influenced by evolution theory that dinosaurs lived at least 65 million years before man and had already died off. Hence, these translators attempted to use footnotes to explain some unknown creature or a hippopotamus or a crocodile when it came to animals resembling the dinosaur.

Fourth, we do find the word "dragon" appearing all over the Bible. Legends of "dragon" in many cultures like the English, Indian, Chinese, African, Middle Eastern, American, etc are told with creatures like the dinosaurs we have come to know from the fossilized bones.

Dinosaur and the Behemoth
Next, let us review Job 40:15-24 concerning the BEHEMOTH.

15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.

20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

Certainly, as you can tell, this animal is the chief of the ways of God or the biggest God has made. Furthermore, God clearly tells Job that this animal was made together with man. The description of this animal shows how big and strong it is - his loins, belly, tail, sinews, bones, the way it drinks, etc.

A quick comparison with the cedar tree in this picture will show you how big and tall the cedar tree really is. The tail of this animal is really big.

The Cedar Tree in comparison to the size of man

Unfortunately, many scholars attempt to explain that the behemoth is really an elephant or even a hippopotamus (from ancient Egypt writings - river ox). But take another look at the tails of these two animals and you can tell that God was not referring to these animals when He was telling Job to consider the Behemoth.

Elephant's Tail

Hippopotamus' Tail

God says what He means and means what He says when He talks about the Behemoth. God knows best what the Behemoth really is. From dinosaur fossil evidences today, we believe that the Behemoth may be one of the Sauropod family of dinosaurs.

Sauropod Argentinosaurus is the largest dinosaur found. The sauropods were found in Germany, China and Argentina.

You can see the sauropod's loins, belly, tail, sinews, bones as compared to God describing it to Job. This is certainly a magnificent beast which is a herbivore. It eats grass like an ox like a gentle animal and it must have been just incredible to watch it drink, taking in huge amounts of water, like God says it drinks up the river.

Dinosaurs, Adam and Noah
God has declared that He made the Behemoth with man. God made the land animals on Day 6 of Creation. The dinosaurs were given names by Adam and he had dinosaurs as companions in the Garden of Eden. Which also means that dinosaurs were also in the Ark of Noah to be preserved for breeding after the Flood. Remember, it was God who brought the animals to Noah and God must know which dinosaurs to bring so that they can survive the world after the Flood. They must have been babies and of the smaller kind of dinosaurs as the post-Flood environment did not avail to large creatures like the Behemoth to breathe.

For further studies, you can research on the Leviathan in Job 41 as well as in other passages. Do not forget to study the dragon as well like Eze 29:3, Psa 91:13 and Jer 9:11.

Faith in God and Genesis
Those who wish to deny God that He created the world and the dinosaurs attempt to show that dinosaurs lived long before man and died out before man ever came into being through the slow process of evolution. Remember, these arguments are all THEORIES, not science. Sadly, there are many Christians who embrace the theories as if they were scientific facts and find themselves having to explain away the Bible when it comes to this topic. These theories require FAITH to believe them as there is no REAL scientific evidence to back it up. Dating methods using the geological column and key fossil indicators are circular reasoning which cannot hold up as REAL science.

We can believe God and believe what He says about dinosaurs and believe that it is He who created them on Day 6 with man.

And we have even more scientific evidence to support Genesis as well.

Watch out for newer postings to come....

Further reading:
1. Could Behemoth Have Been A Dinosaur? - Answers in Genesis
2. Dinosaurs and the Bible - Answers in Genesis (with audio download)
3. Dinosaurs in the Bible - Creation Today