Many mythical and non-mythical animals are mentioned in the Bible, including unicorns. What is the case with dragons? Are dragons mentioned in the Bible?
Dragons are reptile-like, fire-breathing mythical creatures. In Western culture, dragons are traditionally seen as evil monsters. On the other hand, in Chinese culture, the dragon is associated with good fortune. How are dragons described in the Bible?
Dragons in the Bible
Dragons can be found in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
Dragons in the Bible have different names. Sometimes, they are called dragons. But the dragons are also described as serpents and sea monsters.
Dragons in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the dragon is portrayed as a dreadful sea monster. It is called Tannin, Leviathan, or Rahab.
It is also mentioned that dragons are poisonous creatures. They are described to make jackal- and owl-like sounds.
These dragon quotes can be found in the Old Testament:
Psalm 74:13 It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
Psalm 74:14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
Isaiah 27:1 In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword- his fierce, great and powerful sword- Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
Job 41:18 Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn.
Deuteronomy 32:33 Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.
Micah 1:8 Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.
Dragons in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the dragon is portrayed as the devil who tries to tempt people and make them worship it.
These are some of the dragon quotes found in the New Testament:
Revelation 12:4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.
Revelation 13:2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Revelation 13:4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?"
What do the dragons in the Bible represent?
What do the dragons symbolize in the Bible? In the Old Testament, the dragon is portrayed as the opposite of God. The dragon is described as a monster that God defeats in the end.
In the New Testament, the dragon represents the devil. That's what the descriptions of the dragon in the Old Testament make you think as well.
The image of the dragon in the Bible is not a positive one. The mythical creature is portrayed as an evil monster that lured people to live against the will of God.
In conclusion, this is what the Bible says about dragons:
- In the Old Testament, the dragon is described as a sea monster called Tannin, Leviathan, or Rahab
- In the New Testament, the dragon is a metaphor for the Devil
- Dragons in the Bible represent an opposing force to God
What do you think the dragons represent in the Bible?
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