בְּהֵמוֹת (be.he.mot)
be.he.mot
Behemoth
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun behemoth appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Job 40:15, where it serves as God’s counterpart to the chaotic monster Leviathan. The word itself is a plural form, likely a "plural of majesty" used to emphasize greatness rather than multiple animals. It describes a creature of immense physical power and stability, one that cannot be moved by human effort or captured with simple tools.
While modern readers often speculate about dinosaurs, the ancient context points firmly to the hippopotamus. The description in Job highlights features consistent with this large river mammal: grass-eating habits, a body like a cedar tree, and powerful limbs that shake the ground. The text uses this earthly giant to illustrate God’s sovereign strength over all creation, reminding Job that if he cannot manage such a beast, he certainly cannot control the cosmos.
Translators typically render behemoth as "hippopotamus" or simply "beast," preserving the sense of overwhelming size. The word does not appear elsewhere in Scripture, making this single occurrence in Job unique. It stands as a literary device to humble human pride by contrasting finite human capability with the vast, untamable power of God’s creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Behemoth appears only once in the Bible, in Job 40:15. God describes this creature to Job as a massive, powerful beast created alongside him. It is not just an animal but a symbol of raw, untamable strength that humans cannot control. By pointing to such a wild and formidable creation, God reminds Job of His own sovereignty over the entire world.
This passage invites us to trust in a Creator who holds even the most chaotic forces of nature in His hands. When life feels overwhelming or beyond our understanding, we can find comfort in knowing that God is stronger than any difficulty we face. We do not need to grasp every detail of how He works; we only need to rest in His power and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Behemoth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְ֭הֵמוֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Job 40:15
“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
God uses this unique creature to demonstrate His creative power and to humble Job by showing that humans cannot control even the mightiest beasts.