Lexical Summary tannin: Dragon, serpent, sea monster Original Word: תַּנִּין Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale Or tanniym (Ezek. 29:3) {tan-neem'}; intensive from the same as tan; a marine or land monster, i.e. Sea-serpent or jackal -- dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale. see HEBREW tan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tan Definition serpent, dragon, sea monster NASB Translation dragon (2), monster (3), sea monster (1), sea monsters (3), serpent (3), serpents (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs תַּנִּין (erroneous תַּנִּים) noun masculineEzekiel 29:3 serpent, dragon, sea-monster (Late Hebrew id. (rare); Arabic  , loan-word from Aramaic תַּנִּינָא,  Frä123; Ethiopic  ); — absolute ׳ת Exodus 7:9 +, יִ֯ם Ezekiel 29:3; Ezekiel 32:2 (by confusion with plural of [תַּן]); plural תַּנִּינַם Genesis 1:21, etc.; — 1 serpent, Deuteronomy 32:33 (venomous), Psalm 91:13 ("" מֶּתֶן), Exodus 7:9,10,12 (P). 2 dragon, as devourer (simile) Jeremiah 51:34; ׳עֵין הַתּ Nehemiah 2:13, near Jerusalem 3 sea- (or river-) monster, Genesis 1:21 (P); figurative Job 7:12; Psalm 74:13 (i.e. Egyptains), Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 51:9 ("" רַהַב, mythological personification of chaos); in summons to praise ׳י Psalm 148:7 ("" תְּהֹמוֺת). — See CheEncy. Bib. DRAGON GunkSeh-pfung 69 ff. BartonJAOS xv. 1 (1891). 23 f.; personified of water-spout RSSemitic i. 161; 2nd ed. 176; compare Greek fish-name θύννος LewyFremdw. 15. II. תנן (√ of following; apparently "" נתן; compare also I. תנה). Topical Lexicon Overview and Semantic Range תַּנִּין (tannin) denotes large, formidable creatures—sea monsters, serpents, dragons, and sometimes land beasts. The word gathers images of power, mystery, and danger, and Scripture employs it both literally (giant aquatic animals) and figuratively (agents or symbols of evil and national oppression). Occurrences and Distribution Approximately twenty-seven Old Testament verses use tannin: one in Pentateuchal creation (Genesis), three in Exodus, one in Deuteronomy, several in Wisdom and Psalms, and a cluster in Prophetic books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Malachi). The spread demonstrates its usefulness across historical narrative, poetry, and prophecy. Tannin in the Creation Narrative Genesis 1:21 sets the tone: “So God created the great sea creatures…”. The tanninim are part of the “very good” creation, firmly under divine command. Their appearance affirms that even the most imposing forces in the cosmos are the handiwork of the LORD, not rival deities. Sign of Divine Authority in Egypt Exodus 7:9-12 recounts Aaron’s staff becoming a tannin before Pharaoh. Human magicians imitate the sign, but Aaron’s serpent swallows theirs, foreshadowing the plagues and Israel’s deliverance. The episode magnifies the LORD’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods and occult powers. Poetic Depictions of Divine Dominion Job wrestles with God’s sovereignty: “Am I the sea or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?” (Job 7:12). Psalms celebrates victory: Each text exalts Yahweh as the tamer of primal forces and a protector of His people. Prophetic Imagery of Judgment and Restoration Isaiah and Jeremiah repeatedly enlist tannin to portray arrogant empires. These oracles turn the terror of tannin against pagan rulers, assuring Israel of God’s coming justice. Connection with Leviathan and Rahab While distinct terms, tannin, Leviathan, and Rahab overlap. Isaiah 27:1 binds them together: Leviathan (multiple epithets) and “dragon” receive the same fatal blow. Scripture thus layers mythic sea-beast imagery to dramatize the LORD’s unrivaled might. Literal and Figurative Uses: Great Beasts and Jackals Some occurrences (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:33; Micah 1:8; Malachi 1:3) refer to desert-dwelling tanninim often rendered “jackals.” Whether the creature is aquatic or terrestrial, the unifying theme is wildness and desolation—fitting metaphors for cursed land or forsaken cities (Isaiah 13:22; 34:13). Theological Themes 1. Creator versus Chaos: God rules the untamable. Practical Ministry Applications • Spiritual Warfare: Believers confront “dragons” of sin and demonic opposition, confident in Christ’s authority. Summary Tannin threads through Scripture as a vivid emblem of might—sometimes majestic, often menacing—yet always subordinate to the sovereign LORD. From creation’s first day to prophetic visions of the end, the Bible proclaims that every dragon yields to the Creator-Redeemer. Forms and Transliterations הַתַּנִּ֔ין הַתַּנִּ֖ין הַתַּנִּים֙ הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם התנים התנין התנינם וְתַנִּ֖ים וְתַנִּֽין׃ ותנים ותנין׃ כַּתַּנִּ֑ים כַּתַּנִּ֔ים כַּתַּנִּ֔ין כַּתַּנִּ֣ים כתנים כתנין לְתַנִּ֑ים לְתַנִּֽין׃ לְתַנִּינִ֑ם לתנים לתנין׃ לתנינם תַ֝נִּינִ֗ים תַּ֝נִּינִ֗ים תַּנִּ֑ים תַּנִּ֑ין תַּנִּ֖ים תַּנִּ֛ים תַּנִּֽים׃ תַּנִּֽין׃ תַּנִּינִ֖ם תַנִּ֔ים תַנִּים֙ תנים תנים׃ תנין תנין׃ תנינים תנינם hat·tan·nî·nim hat·tan·nîm hat·tan·nîn hattanNim hattannîm hattanNin hattannîn hattanniNim hattannînim kat·tan·nîm kat·tan·nîn kattanNim kattannîm kattanNin kattannîn lə·ṯan·nî·nim lə·ṯan·nîm lə·ṯan·nîn letanNim ləṯannîm letanNin ləṯannîn letanniNim ləṯannînim tan·nî·nim tan·nî·nîm ṯan·nî·nîm tan·nîm ṯan·nîm tan·nîn tanNim tannîm ṯannîm tanNin tannîn tanniNim tannînim tannînîm ṯannînîm vetanNim vetanNin wə·ṯan·nîm wə·ṯan·nîn wəṯannîm wəṯannînLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 1:21 HEB: אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־ הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת NAS: the great sea monsters and every KJV: great whales, and every living INT: created God sea the great and every Exodus 7:9 Exodus 7:10 Exodus 7:12 Deuteronomy 32:33 Nehemiah 2:13 Job 7:12 Job 30:29 Psalm 44:19 Psalm 74:13 Psalm 91:13 Psalm 148:7 Isaiah 13:22 Isaiah 27:1 Isaiah 34:13 Isaiah 35:7 Isaiah 43:20 Isaiah 51:9 Jeremiah 9:11 Jeremiah 10:22 Jeremiah 14:6 Jeremiah 49:33 Jeremiah 51:34 Jeremiah 51:37 Ezekiel 29:3 27 Occurrences |
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