Topical Bible: Dragon: Interpreted As Whale, In

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In biblical literature, the term "dragon" is often a subject of intrigue and varied interpretation. Within certain contexts, particularly in the Old Testament, the word "dragon" is sometimes understood to refer to a large sea creature, such as a whale. This interpretation is rooted in the Hebrew word "tannin," which can denote a sea monster or large aquatic animal.

Old Testament References

The concept of the dragon as a sea creature is evident in several passages. In the book of Genesis, the creation narrative includes the mention of great sea creatures: "So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:21). The term "great sea creatures" is often associated with the Hebrew "tannin," suggesting a link to large marine animals, possibly whales.

In the book of Job, the creature Leviathan is described in terms that evoke the imagery of a formidable sea monster: "Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie down his tongue with a rope?" (Job 41:1). While Leviathan is not explicitly called a dragon in this passage, the description aligns with the broader biblical motif of sea dragons or monsters, which some scholars equate with large sea creatures like whales.

Psalms and Prophetic Literature

The Psalms also contain references to sea creatures that can be interpreted as dragons. Psalm 148:7 calls for praise from the "great sea creatures and all ocean depths" . The use of "great sea creatures" here again ties back to the concept of "tannin," reinforcing the interpretation of dragons as large marine animals.

In prophetic literature, the imagery of the dragon is often symbolic, representing chaos or evil forces. However, in some instances, the dragon is depicted in a manner consistent with a natural sea creature. For example, in Ezekiel 32:2, Pharaoh is likened to a "monster in the seas" , which some interpret as a reference to a large sea creature, possibly a whale.

Cultural and Linguistic Considerations

The interpretation of dragons as whales or large sea creatures is influenced by the cultural and linguistic context of the ancient Near East. In these cultures, the sea was often viewed as a realm of chaos, inhabited by formidable creatures. The biblical use of "tannin" reflects this worldview, where dragons symbolize both literal and metaphorical threats from the sea.

The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, often translates "tannin" as "drakon," which can mean dragon or serpent. This translation choice has contributed to the varied interpretations of the term in Christian theology and literature.

Conclusion

The interpretation of dragons as whales in the Bible is a reflection of the ancient understanding of the natural world, where large sea creatures were both real and symbolic entities. This interpretation is supported by linguistic evidence and the broader cultural context of the biblical texts.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 1:21
And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Nave's Topical Index

Job 7:12
Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me?
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Library

In Time. The Beginning of Creation.
... called in another passage [4533] the great whale (leviathan) which ... to mock at, and
that the dragon was the ... His works." Here the term could be interpreted as in ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/17 -2 in time the.htm

On the Words, and Rose Again from the Dead on the Third Day, and ...
... mountains [1753] ; and yet he was in the belly of the whale. ... Matthew 28:5. The emphatic
humeis is rightly interpreted by Cyril ... [1781] Bel and the Dragon, v. 33 ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xiv on the words.htm

Notes
... In l.16 the first bird-notes are interpreted by the ... the Apocryphal "Bel and the Dragon")
with the OT prophet ... placing the prophet in the very jaws of the whale. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/notes.htm

On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man.
... 1380] Psalm 18:9. The "feet," interpreted allegorically, mean ... 1406] Death is here
called "the dragon," as in ... 17 he is called "the invisible whale," in allusion ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xii on the words.htm

Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
... That a whale swallowed Jonah, in whose belly he lay three ... seven heads" have by some
writers been interpreted to be ... the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter ii scriptural predictions of.htm

1 Cor. xv. 1, 2
... days and three nights in the whale's belly, so ... For as the dragon having taken the
food which the ... sign is variously yet without contradiction interpreted by the ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxviii 1 cor xv.htm

The Holy War,
... unborn were destroyed.' 'The women were beastlike abused.' This is interpreted by
two ... was determined that the giant Diabolus should assume the dragon, for that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy war.htm