Leviathan - לויתן - Part 1 of 3 - Scriptural Text Analysis

Introduction: This 3 part blog post covers Leviathan. First Scripturally, then analyzing possible meanings and phrases, and then finally an overall analysis and inclusion of scope outside of the Old Testament alone. My interest is simply curiosity. My interest was piqued and I set out on a journey to see what I could uncover. For part one, I lay out the Scriptural references, and analyze some words used prior to any deeper assessment. The foundation for what is being discussed must be solid before trying to build anything on it. So, first things first, what does the Bible actually say about Leviathan? "Leviathan" is a transliteration of the Hebrew word לויתן. The word לויתן appears six times in the Bible. Job 3:8 - Job 41 (all) - Psalms 74:14 - Psalms 104:26 - Isaiah 27:1

With each verse, or group of verses, I have chosen specific words to examine more closely. However, each Hebrew verse is a hyperlink that leads you to a site where you can easily examine any word used in the verse. This will serve as an example of how I am looking at the words. The following two parts will focus more on analysis of what is said, but will be based upon this idea of referring to the original text for clarification more-so than the English translations. Job 41 will be last as it fits better there for the structure of my post. However, it is the most relevant as it is the only place where Leviathan is actually described in any way. All other instances use it as a known reference.

Job 3:8 - יקבהו אררי יום העתידים ערר לויתן

"Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan" (ESV) - KJV replaces Leviathan with "their mourning." ESV and NASB render the word as Leviathan. - The word used is לויתן livyâthân, liv-yaw-than' - This verse is the only time the KJV translates the word instead of transliterating it. Analysis of this anomaly will fit better in Part 2.

Psalms 74:14 - אתה ריצצת ראשי לויתן תתננו מאכל לעם לציים

"Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness." (KJV)

Leviathan

Strong's H3882 - לויתן - {6x} livyâthân, liv-yaw-than' from H3867; a wreathed animal, i.e. a serpent (especially the crocodile or some other large sea-monster); fig. the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of Babylon: -leviathan {5x}, mourning {1x} See TWOT -1089b; BDB 531b.

Psalms 104:24-26 - מה־רבו מעשיך ׀ יהוה כלם בחכמה עשית מלאה הארץ קנינך׃ זה ׀ הים גדול ורחב ידים שם־רמש ואין מספר חיות קטנות עם־גדלות׃ ם אניות יהלכון לויתן זה־יצרת לשחק־בו׃ "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein." (KJV) Ships Strong's H591 - אניות (plural) or אנית (singular) - {32x} 'ŏnîyâh, on-ee-yaw'

fem of H590; a ship: -ship (31x), shipman + H582 (1x) See TWOT - 125b; BDB - 58b Creeping Strong's H7431 - רמש - {17x} remes, reh'-mes from 7430; a reptile or any other rapidly moving animal:- that creepeth (1x), creeping thing (15x), moving thing (1x) See TWOT - 2177a; BDB - 943a Strong's H7430 - רמש - {17x} râmas, raw-mas' a primary root; prop. to glide swiftly, i.e. to crawl or move with short steps; by anal. to swarm: -creep (11x), move (6x) See TWOT - 2177; BDB - 942d Play Strong's H7832 - שחק - sâchaq, saw-khak' a primary root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication to play:- play (10x), laugh (10x), rejoice (3x), scorn (3x), sport (3x), merry (2x), mock (2x), deride (1x), mockers (1x) See TWOT - 1905c; BDB - 965d

Isaiah 27:1 - ביום ההוא יפקד יהוה בחרבו הקשה והגדולה והחזקה על לויתן נחש ברח ועל לויתן נחש עקלתון והרג את־התנין אשר בים׃ ס "In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea." (KJV) Piercing Strong's H1281 - בריח - {3x} bârîyach, baw-ree'-akh; or (short.) ברח - bârîach, baw-ree'-akh from H1272; a fugitive, ie. the serpent (as fleeing), and the constellation by that name:- crooked {1x}, nobles {1x}, piercing {1x} See TWOT - 284a; BDB - 138a Crooked Strong's H6129 - עקלתון - {1x} 'ăqallâthôwn, ak-al-law-thone'

from 6127; tortuous;- crooked {1x} See TWOT -1680b; BDB - 785c Slay Strong's H2026 - הרג - {167x} hârag, haw-rag'

a primary root; to smite with deadly intent:- slay (100x), kill (24x), kill... (3x), murder (2x), destroyed (1x), murder (1x), out of hand (1x), made (1x), put (1x), slain (31x), slyaer (1x), surely (1x)

• Harag means "to kill, slay, destroy."

• (6) In general, harag refers to violent "killing" and destruction, sometimes even referring to the "killing" of vines by hail (Ps 78:47) Syn.: H7523, H7819

See TWOT - 514; BDB - 246d Sea Strong's H3220 - ים - {396x} yâm, yawm from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean; sometimes a large river, or an artificial basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south:- sea (321x), west (47x), westward (21x), west side (4x), seafaring men (1x), south (1x), western (1x). Yam means "sea; ocean" Job 41 - תמשך לויתן בחכה ובחבל תשקיע לשנו׃ התשים אגמון באפו ובחוח תקוב לחיו׃ הירבה אליך תחנונים אם־ידבר אליך רכות׃ היכרת ברית עמך תקחנו לעבד עולם׃ התשחק־בו כצפור ותקשרנו לנערותיך׃ יכרו עליו חברים יחצוהו בין כנענים׃ התמלא בשכות עורו ובצלצל דגים ראשו׃ שים־עליו כפך זכר מלחמה אל־תוסף׃ הן־תחלתו נכזבה הגם אל־מראיו יטל׃ לא־אכזר כי יעורנו ומי הוא לפני יתיצב׃ מי הקדימני ואשלם תחת כל־השמים לי־הוא׃ בדיו ודבר־גבורות וחין ערכו׃ מי־גלה פני לבושו בכפל רסנו מי יבוא׃ דלתי פניו מי פתח סביבות שניו אימה׃ גאוה אפיקי מגנים סגור חותם צר׃ אחד באחד יגשו ורוח לא־יבוא ביניהם׃ איש־באחיהו ידבקו יתלכדו ולא יתפרדו׃ ע‍טישתיו תהל אור ועיניו כעפעפי־שחר׃ מפיו לפידים יהלכו כידודי אש יתמלטו׃ מנחיריו יצא עשן כדוד נפוח ואגמן׃ נפשו גחלים תלהט ולהב מפיו יצא׃ בצוארו ילין עז ולפניו תדוץ דאבה׃ מפלי בשרו דבקו יצוק עליו בל־ימוט׃ לבו יצוק כמו־אבן ויצוק כפלח תחתית׃ משתו יגורו אלים משברים יתחטאו׃ משיגהו חרב בלי תקום חנית מסע ושריה׃ יחשב לתבן ברזל לעץ רקבון נחושה׃ לא־יבריחנו בן־קשת לקש נהפכו־לו אבני־קלע׃ כקש נחשבו תותח וישחק לרעש כידון׃ תחתיו חדודי חרש ירפד חרוץ עלי־טיט׃ ירתיח כסיר מצולה ים ישים כמרקחה׃ אחריו יאיר נתיב יחשב תהום לשיבה׃ אין־על־עפר משלו העשו לבלי־חת׃ את־כל־גבה יראה הוא מלך על־כל־בני־שחץ׃ "Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?

Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?

Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.

One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.

They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.

The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.

His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.

The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.

Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.

Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride." (KJV) Hook Strong's H100 - אנמוך - {5x} 'agmôwn, ag-mone'; from the same H98; a marshy pool [others from a different root, a kettle]; by implication a rush (as growing there); collect. a rope of rushes:- rush (2x), bulrush (1x), caldron (1x), hook (1x) See TWOT - 19; BDB - 8c BDB 8c - noun masculine. Rush, bulrush. 1. used as a cord or line Hook Strong's H2443 - חכה - {3x} chakkâh, khak-kaw'; prob. from H2442; a hook (as adhering):- angle (2x), hook (1x). Syn.: H2053, H8240 See: TWOT - 693c; BDB - 341a, 335c Prevented Strong's H6923 - קדם - {26x} qâdam, kaw-dam'; a prim. root; to project (oneself), i.e. precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help):- prevent (15x), before (6x), me (2x), come (1x), disappoint (1x), go (1x) Most often, this verb is used in a martial context. Such confrontations may be peaceful, as in the meeting of allies; "For thou [dost meet] him with blessings of goodness..." (Ps21:3) BDB 869d, 870c - "come or be in front of me" Companion Bible notes "anticipated" as more current. *Seems that "prevented" is antiquated English. All signs point to "go before, precede, act first, give first." Discover Strong's H1540 - גלה - {188x} gâlâh, gaw-law'; a prim. root; to denude (espec. in a disgraceful sense); by impl. to exite (captives being usually stripped); fig. to reveal:- uncover (34x), discover (29x), captive (28x), carry away (22x), reveal (16x), open (12x), captivity (11x), shew (9x), remove (6x), appear (3x), misc (18x) Galah means "to leave, depart, uncover, reveal." Neesings Strong's H5846 - עטישה - {1x} 'ǎtîyshâh, at-ee-shaw'; from an unused root mean. to sneeze; sneezing; - sneezings (1x) See: TWOT - 1609a; BDB - 743a Lamps Strong's H3940 - לפיד - {14x} lappiyd, lap-peed'; or - לפד - lappîd, lap-peed'; from an unused root prob. mean. to shine; a falmbeau, lamp or flame:- lamp (7x), firebrand (2x), torch (2x), brand (1x), lightning (1x), burning (1x). See TWOT - 1122a; BDB - 542a

BDB 542a - Dn 10:6 - Simile of eyes of angel in vision

Zc 12:6 - Simile of conquering power of [chiefs of] Judah. Na 2:4 - Simile of flashes (reflected from) darting chariots

Jb 41:19 - Of flashing water-drops expelled by snortings of crocodile Ez 1:13 - Of flame between cherubim - Other examples in BDB leave word simply as "torch".

Breath Strong's H5315 - נפש - {753x} nepesh, neh'-fesh; from H5314; properly a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):- soul (475x), life (117x), person (29x), mind (15x), heart (15x), creature (9x), body (8x), himself (8x), yourselves (6x), dead (5x), will (4x), desire (4x), man (3x), themselves (3x), any (3x), appetite (2x), misc. (47x). Nepesh means soul; self; life; person; heart. (1) The basic meaning comes from its verbal form, naphash (5314), which refers t the essence of life, the act of breathing, taking breath (Gen 2:7). From this many abstract meanings were developed. (1c) The best Biblical definition is found in Ps 103:1 where nephesh is defined as "all that is within" a person: "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." (2) It is translated "soul" which makes sense in most passages. All other English translations, in the particular context, are stressing some aspect of the soul... Nether Strong's H8482 - תחתי - {19x} tachtîy, takh-tee'; from 8478; lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depts (figuratively a pit, the womb):- nether parts (5x), nether (4x), lowest (3x), lower (2x), lower parts (2x), misc (3x). See TWOT - 2504b; BDB - 1066d BDB 1066d - Jb 41:16 נפלח תחתית - like the lower mill-stone,

Breakings Strong's H7667 - שבר - {44x} sheber, sheh'-ber; or shêber, shay'-ber; from 7665; a fracture, figuratively ruin; specifically a solution (of a dream). I was not understanding this connection at all. The connection is to breaking open or unsealing, revealing the contents of (a dream). The connection was not obvious to me and I had to dig deeper.:- destruction (21x), breach (7x), hurt (4x), breaking (3x), affliction (2x), bruise (2x), crashing (1x), interpretation (1x), vexation (1x), broken footed (1x), broken handed (1x) See TWOT - 2321a; BDB - 991a, 991c Dart Strong's H4551 - מסצ - {2x} maççâ, mas-saw'; from 5265 in the sense of projecting; a missile (spear or arrow); also a quarry (whence stones are, as it were, ejected):- before it was brought (1x), dart (1x) See TWOT - 1380b, 1381a; BDB - 588z, 652d. BDB 652d - missile, dart; - only absolute Job 41 (שריה חנית)

Darts Strong's H8455 - תותח - tôwthâch, to-thawkh'; from an unused root meaning to smite; a club:- darts (1x) Syn H2671. See TWOT - 933a; BDB - 450c, 1064d

BDB 450c - noun, masculine. name of a weapon, perhaps club, mace (or dart, javelin; || ניררך) - Jb 41 Habergeon Strong's H8302 - שריוך - {9x} shiryôwn, shir-yone'; or ... (4 examples of different spelling excluded). from 8281 in the original sense of turning; a corslet (as if twisted):- habergeon (3x), coat (2x), harness (2x), coat of mail (1x), breast plate (1x). See TWOT - 2466a, 2465a; BDB - 1056b, 1056c See H5630 Hoary

Strong's H7872 - שיבה - {19x} sêybâh, say-baw'; fem of 7869; old age:- old age (6x), gray hairs (6x), hoar head (3x), hoary head (2x), gray headed (1x), hoary (1x) See TWOT - 2253b; BDB - 966c. Fear Strong's H2844 - חת - {4x} chath, khath; from 2865; concretely, crushed; also, afraid; abstractly, terror:- broken (1x), dismayed (1x), dread (1x), fear (1x) See: TWOT - 776; BDB - 366c, 369c Pride Strong's H7830 - שחץ - {2x} shachats, shakh'-ats; from an unused root apparently meaning to strut; haughtiness (as evinced by the attitude):- lion (1x), pride (1x) See TWOT - 2366a; BDB - 1006d BDB 1006d - noun, masculine. dignity, pride;- בבי-השחץ i.e. majestic wild beasts Jb 28 (||שחל), 41

Surely more words will need to be examined closely in parts 2 and 3. This will serve as a base and a reference for method, as I do not intend to clutter the other parts with as detailed lexical references.