The term "whale" in the Bible is often associated with large sea creatures, sometimes referred to as "sea monsters" in various translations, including the Revised Version (RV). The Hebrew word "tannin" is frequently translated as "sea monster" or "dragon," and it appears in several passages throughout the Old Testament. This term is used to describe large, formidable creatures of the sea, which could include what we understand today as whales.

In Genesis 1:21 , the creation account states, "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." Here, "great sea creatures" could encompass whales, highlighting their grandeur and significance in the created order.

The most notable biblical narrative involving a large sea creature is the story of Jonah. In Jonah 1:17 , it is written, "Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish." While the text refers to a "great fish," traditional interpretations and cultural depictions often equate this creature with a whale, given its size and capacity to swallow a man whole.

In the New Testament, Jesus references Jonah's experience as a sign of His own death and resurrection. In Matthew 12:40 , Jesus states, "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." This comparison underscores the significance of the "great fish" or whale as a symbol of divine intervention and foreshadowing of Christ's redemptive work.

The imagery of sea monsters or whales also appears in poetic and prophetic literature, symbolizing chaos and the power of God over creation. In Job 7:12 , Job laments, "Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?" This rhetorical question reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of sea creatures as embodiments of untamed natural forces, yet ultimately subject to God's sovereign control.

In summary, the biblical references to whales or sea monsters serve as powerful symbols of God's creative power, His authority over nature, and His ability to use even the most formidable creatures for His purposes. These references invite believers to marvel at the majesty of God's creation and to trust in His providential care.Job 7:12
Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me?
Nave's Topical Index

On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man.
... For the water from the rock was a sign, the sea divided, the sun turning back, and
the like. ... 17 he is called "the invisible whale," in allusion to the case ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xii on the words.htm

The True Sign
... of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the Sea of Galilee ... not send them away hungry,
and He called upon His ... and three nights in the belly of the whale, Christ was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 44 the true sign.htm

On the Words, and Rose Again from the Dead on the Third Day, and ...
... A cave of the rock He called the cave which was erewhile ... 1753] ; and yet he was in
the belly of the whale. ... is He that brought them up out of the sea with the ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xiv on the words.htm

Matt. xii. 38, 39
... And He called it "adulterous," declaring both their former and their ... For tell me,
was Jonah in the whale's belly a mere ... we have a sea of fire, a sea not like ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xliii matt xii 38.htm

The Second vision "On Earth"
... the water is full of animalculae " the whale food ... True, Christ is sometimes called
"the Angel of the Covenant ... setting or planting of this feet on sea and land ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm

Notes
... Elijah may be called "priest" from his having offered ... the prophet in the very jaws
of the whale. ... aequoris Arcton, "the Bear that never touches the sea"). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/notes.htm

Summary of the Book of Jonah - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What was the leviathan? | GotQuestions.org

How does the geologic timescale fit with the view of a young earth? | GotQuestions.org

Whale: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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