What is the Bible's perspective on dinosaurs?

I. Terminology and Scope

The term “dinosaur” is not found in the Bible itself. This modern designation, introduced by Sir Richard Owen in the 19th century, applies to large reptilian creatures that, according to most scientific classifications, roamed the earth in the distant past. The Bible, however, uses other descriptive words and phrases that may refer to creatures akin to dinosaurs. When seeking the biblical perspective, the focus is on what Scripture says about large land animals and sea creatures, as well as how these fit into the overall narrative of creation, the Flood, and beyond.

II. Creation and the Biblical Timeline

Scripture teaches that God created all things. Genesis 1:24–25 states: “And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds…’ And it was so. God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds…” This account places the creation of land-dwelling creatures on Day Six of the creation week, the same day humanity was formed (Genesis 1:26–27).

Some interpret the earth and all its life as only thousands of years old, based on genealogies and chronologies that trace back to Adam (e.g., calculations similar to those of Archbishop James Ussher). Within this viewpoint, dinosaurs were part of the original animal “kinds,” created alongside other living creatures. According to Scripture, physical death entered the world only after the first human sin (Romans 5:12), explaining why there was no pre-Adamic extinction of dinosaurs in this framework.

III. Behemoth and Leviathan: Possible Dinosaur-Like Creatures

1. Behemoth (Job 40:15–19).

“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox. Behold the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly. His tail sways like a cedar… His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God.”

Some scholars have suggested Behemoth might be a hippopotamus or an elephant. Others argue that neither animal has a tail that “sways like a cedar,” pointing instead to a large sauropod dinosaur. The text highlights extraordinary size and physical power, fitting the description of a colossal land creature.

2. Leviathan (Job 41).

This chapter describes a fearsome aquatic creature with formidable jaws, a scaly hide, and the power to spawn terror. Verses like Job 41:14—“Who can open his jaws, ringed by his fearsome teeth?”—have led some commentators to propose that Leviathan could be a giant marine reptile or an ancient sea creature. While theories include crocodiles or large whales, the biblical description suggests something even more extraordinary.

IV. The Impact of the Flood on Dinosaurs

Genesis 6–9 recounts a global Flood that devastated all land-based life outside the Ark. Within a biblical timeframe, the fossil record of dinosaurs (and other creatures) can be viewed as evidence of a massive, worldwide cataclysm. Rapid burial in layers of sediment explains the preservation of many fossils. This position suggests that either representatives of these large creatures were brought aboard Noah’s Ark (Genesis 7:13–16), or they died out early in post-Flood history due to environmental shifts, human activity, or other factors.

V. Scriptural Consistency with Ancient “Dragons” and “Serpents”

Throughout Scripture, references to large reptilian or dragon-like beings appear, often as metaphors or symbolic representations (e.g., Isaiah 27:1 pictures the defeat of “Leviathan the serpent”). Although symbolic in many contexts, these passages align with a cultural memory of fearsome reptilian creatures. The biblical authors, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were describing creatures consistent with actual living beings known in their time or preserved in cultural histories (cf. Psalm 74:13–14; Isaiah 30:6–7).

VI. Archaeological and Historical Corroborations

Outside the Bible, historical artwork and anecdotes from varied civilizations depict reptile-like or dragon-like creatures strikingly similar to known dinosaur shapes. Some point to artifacts from ancient cultures—such as certain Mesopotamian carvings or Central American figurines—as resembling dinosaurs. While mainstream scholarship often interprets these differently, others hold that they offer potential corroboration that humans encountered large reptilian creatures in relatively recent times.

Additionally, scientific findings like soft tissue remnants in certain dinosaur fossils (for instance, discoveries by Dr. Mary Schweitzer in the early 2000s) have sparked debate about fossil dating. Advocates of a younger earth perspective argue that such soft tissues support a more recent timeline for dinosaur existence.

VII. The Purpose of All Creatures in Scripture

In the biblical outlook, every creature showcases the creativity and power of its Creator. As Psalm 148:7 declares: “Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths.” Whether or not the term “dinosaur” appears in the Bible, the overarching message is that these animals, too, were part of the divine design. Colossians 1:16 underscores that all things were created through and for God, indicating that every aspect of creation, from the smallest insect to the largest dinosaur, ultimately points to His glory.

VIII. Conclusion

From a biblical perspective, “dinosaurs” fit into the category of grand, mighty creatures that testify to the power and majesty of their Maker. References to Behemoth and Leviathan in the book of Job serve as examples of how Scripture might be describing such animals. Within a young-earth viewpoint, dinosaurs were originally created on Day Six alongside humanity, affected by the Fall and subsequent Flood, and may have died out due to changing post-Flood conditions.

The Bible’s ultimate emphasis is not on classifying every species that walked the earth, but rather on communicating that all creation belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1). Dinosaurs, like every other creature, are woven into the narrative of God’s sovereign handiwork, inviting a response of awe, humility, and worship of the Creator.