The term "monstrous" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of monstrosity can be explored through various biblical narratives and descriptions of creatures, behaviors, and events that evoke a sense of the unnatural or the grotesque. In Scripture, monstrosity often symbolizes chaos, evil, or divine judgment.

Biblical Creatures and Imagery

1. Leviathan and Behemoth: In the Book of Job, two formidable creatures are described—Leviathan and Behemoth. These creatures are often interpreted as symbols of chaos and power beyond human control. Job 41:1-34 describes Leviathan as a fearsome sea creature, "His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together" (Job 41:15). Behemoth, described in Job 40:15-24, is a powerful land creature, "His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit" (Job 40:17). These creatures, while not monstrous in a moral sense, represent the awe-inspiring and sometimes terrifying aspects of God's creation.

2. The Beast in Revelation: The Book of Revelation contains vivid imagery of monstrous beings, particularly the Beast rising from the sea. Revelation 13:1-2 describes, "And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads." This beast symbolizes oppressive political powers and spiritual deception, embodying the monstrous nature of evil in opposition to God.

Monstrous Behavior and Sin

1. The Nephilim: In Genesis 6:1-4, the Nephilim are mentioned as "the mighty men who were of old, men of renown" (Genesis 6:4). Their presence is associated with the corruption and violence that led to the flood, representing a monstrous deviation from God's intended order.

2. Sodom and Gomorrah: The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are often cited as examples of monstrous sinfulness. Genesis 19 describes the depravity of these cities, leading to their destruction by divine judgment. The behavior of the inhabitants is depicted as exceedingly wicked, illustrating the monstrous nature of sin when humanity turns away from God's righteousness.

Symbolism of Monstrosity

Monstrosity in the Bible often serves as a symbol of the spiritual and moral chaos that ensues when humanity rebels against God. It is a representation of the disorder and destruction that sin brings into the world. The imagery of monstrous beings and actions underscores the need for divine intervention and redemption.

Divine Judgment and Restoration

While the Bible presents images of monstrosity as symbols of evil and chaos, it also emphasizes God's ultimate authority over all creation. The monstrous is often used to highlight the contrast between the fallen world and the order and peace that God intends. In the end, God's sovereignty prevails, as depicted in Revelation 19:20 , where the beast is captured and defeated, "But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf."

In summary, while the term "monstrous" is not explicitly used in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout Scripture to illustrate the consequences of sin, the power of evil, and the ultimate triumph of God's righteousness.1. (a.) Marvelous; strange.

2. (a.) Having the qualities of a monster; deviating greatly from the natural form or character; abnormal; as, a monstrous birth.

3. (a.) Extraordinary in a way to excite wonder, dislike, apprehension, etc.; -- said of size, appearance, color, sound, etc.; as, a monstrous height; a monstrous ox; a monstrous story.

4. (a.) Extraordinary on account of ugliness, viciousness, or wickedness; hateful; horrible; dreadful.

5. (a.) Abounding in monsters.

6. (adv.) Exceedingly; very; very much.

6381. pala -- to be surpassing or extraordinary
... 3), made his wonderful (1), made marvelous (1), makes a difficult (1), makes a special
(1), marvelous (1), marvelously (1), miracles (5), monstrous things (1 ...
/hebrew/6381.htm - 6k

But Let this Monstrous and Impious Fancy be Put Far from Us...
... Book II. 45 But let this monstrous and impious fancy be put far from us?
But let this monstrous and impious fancy be put [3718 ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/45 but let this monstrous.htm

The Case of Monstrous Births.
... Chapter 87."The Case of Monstrous Births. We are not justified in affirming
even of monstrosities, which are born and live, however ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 87 the case of monstrous.htm

Disclosure of the Monstrous Tenets of the Manich??ans.
... On the Morals of the Manich??ans. Chapter 16. "Disclosure of the Monstrous Tenets
of the Manich??ans. 38. O the obscurity of the nature of things! ...
/.../chapter 16 name of the 2.htm

Whether Certain Monstrous Races of Men are Derived from the Stock ...
... Book XVI. Chapter 8."Whether Certain Monstrous Races of Men are Derived
from the Stock of Adam or Noah's Sons. It is also asked ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 8 whether certain monstrous races.htm

I Confess That, in Reflecting on Such Monstrous Stories in My Own ...
... Book V. 30 I confess that, in reflecting on such monstrous stories in my
own mind? I confess that, in reflecting on such monstrous ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/30 i confess that in.htm

"As Verily as Sin is Unclean, So Verily is it Unkind" --A Disease ...
... CERTAIN POINTS IN THE FOREGOING FOURTEEN REVELATIONS CHAPTER LXIII "As verily as
sin is unclean, so verily is it unkind""a disease or monstrous thing against ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxiii as verily as.htm

After the Matter of the Diagram, He Brings Forward Certain ...
... Chapter XXVII. After the matter of the diagram, he brings forward certain
monstrous statements? After the matter of the diagram ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxvii after the matter.htm

That the Mind Commandeth the Mind, but it Willeth not Entirely.
... Not Entirely. 21. Whence is this monstrous thing? And why is it? Let ... answer
me. Whence is this monstrous thing? and why is it? The ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ix that the mind commandeth.htm

The Human Race Then was Wasting
... impossible to evade the law, since it had been laid down by God because [213] of
the transgression, and the result was in truth at once monstrous and unseemly.3 ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 6 the human race.htm

After this He Continues as Follows: "They Speak, in the Next Place ...
... After this he continues as follows: "They speak, in the next place, of a deluge,
and of a monstrous [3875] ark, having within it all things, and of a dove and ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xli after this he.htm

Monstrous (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Marvelous; strange. 2. (a.) Having the qualities of a monster; deviating
greatly from the natural form or character; abnormal; as, a monstrous birth. ...
/m/monstrous.htm - 7k

Monster (10 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Any thing or person of unnatural or excessive ugliness, deformity, wickedness,
or cruelty. 4. (a.) Monstrous in size. 5. (vt) To make monstrous. Int. ...
/m/monster.htm - 10k

Rhodes (2 Occurrences)
... Shakespeare represented Caesar as bestriding the world like a colossus-this gigantic
figure is conceived as an image of a human being of monstrous size with ...
/r/rhodes.htm - 13k

Enormity (2 Occurrences)
... magnitude; atrociousness; as, the enormity of a disaster; the state or quality of
exceeding a measure or rule, or of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous ...
/e/enormity.htm - 8k

Enormous (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Exceedingly wicked; outrageous; atrocious; monstrous; as, an enormous
crime. Multi-Version Concordance Enormous (5 Occurrences). ...
/e/enormous.htm - 8k

Dragon (20 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A fabulous animal, generally represented as a monstrous winged serpent or
lizard, with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful ...
/d/dragon.htm - 56k

Monsters (5 Occurrences)

/m/monsters.htm - 7k

After (10866 Occurrences)
... Sabbath in the civil year (about the middle of September) being counted as the
"first-first" Sabbath; (4) the term deuteroprotos, is a monstrous combination of ...
/a/after.htm - 12k

Slapping (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Slap. 2. (a.) Very large; monstrous;
big. Multi-Version Concordance Slapping (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/slapping.htm - 6k

Triune
... for at least four centuries, any other form was either unknown, or regarded, unless
in the case of dangerous illness, as an exceptional, almost monstrous case ...
/t/triune.htm - 13k

What was the leviathan? | GotQuestions.org

What is the behemoth? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong for a Christian to be a fan of superhero fiction? | GotQuestions.org

Monstrous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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