Leviathan is the name given to the most formidable creature of the deep, a being of such immense power and terrifying proportions that it serves as the ultimate symbol of chaos and untameable strength. Unlike the common beasts of the field, Leviathan belongs to the depths of the sea, a realm often used in Scripture to represent the restless and rebellious nations of the earth.
Throughout the biblical text, Leviathan is described not merely as an animal, but as a “king over all the children of pride.” The most detailed forensic description of this creature is found in the book of Job, where the Lord uses the sheer scale of Leviathan to humble man. It is described as having scales like rows of shields, shut up together as with a close seal, and eyes like the eyelids of the morning. According to Job 41:19-21, its very breath is a weapon: “Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.”
Historically and theologically, Leviathan is more than a biological mystery; it is a spiritual archetype. In the ancient world, it was often depicted as a multi-headed serpent or dragon, representing the forces that oppose the order of God. The Scripture identifies this creature as the enemy of the Holy One, a beast that only the Creator Himself can subdue. Psalm 74:14 declares: “Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.”
In the context of the Lord’s return, Leviathan takes on a prophetic significance. It represents the “serpent” that must be judged before the restoration of all things. The prophet Isaiah looks forward to the day when the Lord will finally settle the account with this ancient foe. Isaiah 27:1 states: “In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.” To understand Leviathan is to understand the magnitude of the victory the King will achieve when He returns to crush the head of the serpent forever.