The hippopotamus, a large, mostly herbivorous mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, is often associated with the biblical creature "Behemoth" mentioned in the Book of Job. The Behemoth is described in Job 40:15-24, and many scholars and theologians have speculated that this description aligns with the characteristics of a hippopotamus.

Biblical Description:

In Job 40:15-24 , God speaks to Job, highlighting the power and majesty of His creation, including the Behemoth:

"Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox. See the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly. His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God, yet his Maker can approach him with His sword. The hills yield him their produce, and all the beasts of the field play nearby. He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh. The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him. Though the river rages, he is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan should surge against his mouth. Can anyone capture him as he looks on, or pierce his nose with a snare?"

Interpretation and Characteristics:

1. Physical Attributes:
· The description of Behemoth's strength, particularly in its loins and belly, aligns with the robust and powerful build of the hippopotamus.
· The reference to a tail that "sways like a cedar" has been a point of debate, as a hippopotamus has a relatively short tail. Some suggest this could be metaphorical, emphasizing strength rather than literal size.

2. Habitat:
· The Behemoth is depicted as dwelling among reeds and marshes, which corresponds to the hippopotamus's natural habitat in riverine environments.
· The mention of the creature being unafraid of raging rivers further supports the identification with the hippopotamus, known for its comfort and agility in water.

3. Diet:
· The Behemoth is described as feeding on grass, similar to the herbivorous diet of the hippopotamus.

4. Symbolism:
· In the context of Job, the Behemoth represents the might and incomprehensibility of God's creation. It serves as a reminder of human limitations in understanding and controlling the natural world.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The identification of Behemoth with the hippopotamus has been a traditional interpretation, especially in regions where the animal was known and observed. Ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Egyptians, were familiar with the hippopotamus, often depicting it in their art and mythology. This familiarity may have influenced the biblical description.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the Behemoth, potentially the hippopotamus, is a testament to God's creative power and sovereignty. It exemplifies the theme of divine wisdom and strength that surpasses human understanding, a central message in the Book of Job. The creature's formidable presence and the inability of humans to tame it underscore the notion that God's creation is both wondrous and beyond human control.Hippopotamus

[BEHEMOTH]

(n.) A large, amphibious, herbivorous mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius), common in the rivers of Africa. It is allied to the hogs, and has a very thick, naked skin, a thick and square head, a very large muzzle, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, and short legs. It is supposed to be the behemoth of the Bible. Called also zeekoe, and river horse. A smaller species (H. Liberiencis) inhabits Western Africa.HIPPOPOTAMUS

hip-o-pot'-a-mus (Job 41:1 margin).

See BEHEMOTH.

930. Behemoth -- a kind of animal
... Behemoth. In form a plural or bhemah, but really a singular of Egyptian derivation;
a water-ox, ie The hippopotamus or Nile- horse -- Behemoth. ...
/hebrew/930.htm - 6k

The Birth of Saint George.
... To nurse a small crocodile or alligator, or even a young hippopotamus, would have
been bad enough, but a green dragon, with claws and a long wriggling fork ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter one the birth of.htm

The Gods of Egypt
... voyages round the world, and encounters with the serpent Apopi"The Moon-god and
its enemies"The Star-gods: the Haunch of the Ox, the Hippopotamus, the Lion ...
/.../chapter ii the gods of egypt.htm

The First Theban Empire
... sacrilegious tyrant like Kheops and Khephren, states that he was dragged down under
the water and there devoured by a crocodile or hippopotamus, the appointed ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

The Adventures of Saint Patrick of Ireland.
... of the crocodile. A delicate maiden might as well have tried to pierce the
hide of an aged hippopotamus with a bodkin. At last, losing ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter nine the adventures of.htm

Egypt
... mother-city, is strange. But we are told that he was slain by a hippopotamus,
the Egyptian symbol of a foe. It may be, therefore ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

Job
... almost fierce emotion. Doubt also attaches to the sections descriptive of
the hippopotamus and the crocodile, xl. l5-xli. The defence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/job.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... lotus; the sycamore and the date-palm, the acacias, the dom-palms"The fauna: the
domestic and wild animals; serpents, the urstus; the hippopotamus and the ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

The Creation of Moving Creatures.
... Herod. and Arist. The dog-Greek hippopotamus, properly a horse-river, is
first found in Galen. [1610] cf. Arist., De Part. Anim. iii. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily vii the creation of.htm

Scenes in the Lives of the Patriarchs.
... These are the unicorn, supposed by many to be the rhinoceros of the present day;
the behemoth, thought to be the hippopotamus or river-horse; and the leviathan ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/scenes in the lives of.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... The Pharaoh of Egypt, alarmed at the approach of so formidable an invader, sent
him presents, which included a crocodile and a hippopotamus, and on the eastern ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

Hippopotamus
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A large, amphibious, herbivorous mammal (Hippopotamus
amphibius), common in the rivers of Africa. ...HIPPOPOTAMUS. ...
/h/hippopotamus.htm - 7k

Behemoth (1 Occurrence)
... Some have supposed this to be an Egyptian word meaning a "water-ox." The Revised
Version has here in the margin "hippopotamus," which is probably the correct ...
/b/behemoth.htm - 9k

Hip (8 Occurrences)

/h/hip.htm - 10k

Hips (6 Occurrences)

/h/hips.htm - 8k

Zoology
... Badger, Marten (sv CAT) (e) Ursidae, Bear UNGULATA: (a) Odd-toed: Horse, Ass, Mule,
Rhinoceros (b) Even-toed non-ruminants: Swine, Hippopotamus (Behemoth) (c ...
/z/zoology.htm - 18k

Elephant
... el'-e-fant (Job 40:15 the King James Version margin, the American Revised Version,
margin "hippopotamus," the Revised Version (British and American) "ivory ...
/e/elephant.htm - 7k

Bit (46 Occurrences)
... me" (acted in an unbridled (unrestrained) manner); Job 41:13, said of "leviathan"
(the Revised Version (British and American) "the hippopotamus"), "Who can ...
/b/bit.htm - 24k

Bridle (12 Occurrences)
... me" (acted in an unbridled (unrestrained) manner); Job 41:13, said of "leviathan"
(the Revised Version (British and American) "the hippopotamus"), "Who can ...
/b/bridle.htm - 15k

Calf (39 Occurrences)
... family of quadrupeds. Also, the young of some other mammals, as of the elephant,
rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and whale. 2. (n.) Leather ...
/c/calf.htm - 49k

Cane (11 Occurrences)
... expression "company of spearmen" is in the margin and the Revised Version "beasts
of the reeds," referring probably to the crocodile or the hippopotamus as a ...
/c/cane.htm - 11k

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Hippopotamus: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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