What does the Bible say about dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs in the Bible: A Baptist Perspective
The topic of dinosaurs and their relationship to the Bible often sparks lively discussion among Christians. At its core, this debate touches on the age of the earth, the interpretation of Genesis, and how believers should reconcile Scripture with physical evidence. While the Bible does not use the term dinosaur—a word coined in the 19th century—it does describe creatures that could align with what we recognize as dinosaurs. The key question is whether humans and dinosaurs coexisted, and the answer largely depends on one’s understanding of the Bible’s account of creation and history.
Dinosaurs and the Bible’s Language
The Bible uses several Hebrew words to describe large, formidable creatures, which some interpret as dinosaurs or similar giant reptiles. One such term is tanniyn, which is translated in various ways, including “sea monster,” “serpent,” or “dragon” in the King James Version. These creatures are mentioned nearly thirty times throughout the Old Testament:
Psalm 74:13: “You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.”
Isaiah 27:1: “In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; and He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.”
Jeremiah 51:34: “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me; he has made me an empty vessel, he has swallowed me up like a monster; he has filled his stomach with my delicacies, he has spit me out.”
Another word, leviathan (Hebrew: livyathan), refers to a large and fierce sea creature. Leviathan is described in great detail in Job 41, painting a picture of an unstoppable, fire-breathing sea creature:
Job 41:1: “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?”
Job 41:33–34: “On earth there is nothing like him, which is made without fear. He beholds every high thing; he is king over all the children of pride.”
The behemoth is another intriguing creature described in Scripture. In Job 40:15–24, the behemoth is depicted as a massive, plant-eating animal:
Job 40:15–17: “Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; he eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.”
Attempts to identify the behemoth as an elephant or hippopotamus fall short, particularly because these animals have thin tails, nothing resembling a “cedar.” However, some dinosaurs, such as the Brachiosaurus or Apatosaurus, had tails that could be likened to cedars in size and strength. The description in Job 40 suggests a creature far larger and more powerful than modern animals.
Dinosaurs and a Literal Interpretation of Genesis
For those who hold to a literal interpretation of Genesis, including many Baptists who affirm a young-earth creationist view, dinosaurs were created alongside other land animals on the sixth day of creation:
Genesis 1:24–25: “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind’; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”
If humans and dinosaurs were created on the same day, they would have coexisted. Fossil evidence and ancient depictions of giant reptilian creatures could be understood as support for this coexistence. Artifacts such as petroglyphs, clay figurines, and carvings from various cultures appear to depict creatures resembling dinosaurs. This aligns with the idea that dinosaurs were known to humans and later became extinct.
What Happened to the Dinosaurs?
The Bible does not specifically address the extinction of dinosaurs, but it provides clues. The global flood of Noah’s time (Genesis 6–9) likely played a significant role. Dramatic environmental changes following the flood, coupled with increased human activity, may have contributed to the extinction of many species, including dinosaurs.
Genesis 7:21–23: “And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.”
After the flood, dinosaurs that survived in the ark may have faced challenges that led to their decline. These challenges include:
Environmental Changes: Post-flood conditions likely altered habitats, making survival difficult for large creatures.
Human Activity: Dinosaurs may have been hunted by humans, contributing to their extinction.
Evidence of Dinosaurs and Humans Coexisting
Historical records and ancient art provide intriguing evidence of human encounters with creatures resembling dinosaurs:
South American carvings depict animals similar to Triceratops and Diplodocus.
Roman mosaics and Babylonian walls feature images of large reptilian creatures.
Marco Polo’s accounts from the 13th century describe “huge serpents” with terrifying features, echoing biblical descriptions of dragons and leviathans.
While secular science often interprets such findings differently, young-earth creationists see them as supporting the biblical account of a young earth and the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs.
A Biblical Framework
The existence of dinosaurs does not contradict Scripture. Instead, it aligns with a biblical worldview that sees God as the Creator of all life, including the most magnificent and mysterious creatures:
Psalm 104:24–25: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—this great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great.”
Dinosaurs showcase God’s creative power and magnificence. Whether viewed as evidence of God’s judgment in the flood or as part of His diverse creation, these creatures remind us of His sovereignty and wisdom.
Conclusion
The question of dinosaurs in the Bible ultimately points us back to God’s Word as the foundation of truth. For those who hold to a young-earth perspective, Scripture provides a clear framework: dinosaurs were part of God’s original creation, coexisted with humans, and later went extinct due to post-flood environmental changes and human activity. The descriptions of the behemoth, leviathan, and tanniyn demonstrate the Bible’s acknowledgment of such creatures, even if it does not use modern terminology.
As Baptists, we affirm the authority and sufficiency of Scripture in explaining the origins of life and the history of creation. The presence of dinosaurs serves as a testament to the grandeur of God’s creation and His ultimate plan for redemption through Jesus Christ. Christians can trust that God’s Word is true and that His creation reflects His glory.
