Dinosaurs are one of the most fascinating creatures to ever walk the Earth — and one of the most common reasons people assume the Bible and science must be in conflict. After all, if God created all living things, why are dinosaurs never mentioned in Scripture? Did they exist before humans? Did they live alongside Adam and Eve? And what happened to them?
The answer is far more interesting than most people expect.
Does the Word "Dinosaur" Appear in the Bible?
No — but that is not surprising at all. The word "dinosaur" was not invented until 1842, when British scientist Sir Richard Owen coined the term to describe the large fossilized reptile bones being discovered at the time. It comes from the Greek words meaning "terrible lizard."
The Bible was written thousands of years before the word dinosaur existed. So the real question is not whether the Bible uses that specific word — but whether it describes creatures that match what we know about dinosaurs. And the answer to that question is yes.
Behemoth — The Most Compelling Candidate
The most significant passage is found in Job 40:15–24, where God Himself is speaking and describes a creature called Behemoth:
"Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you... Its tail sways like a cedar tree... Its bones are like tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron."
Let that sink in. God is describing:
- A creature He made alongside mankind
- A tail as large and powerful as a cedar tree
- Bones like bronze and iron
- It lives among reeds and marshes
- It is the mightiest of all God's creatures
Some scholars have tried to identify Behemoth as a hippopotamus or elephant — but neither of these animals has a tail remotely comparable to a cedar tree. A hippopotamus has a tiny, thin tail. The description in Job far more closely matches a large sauropod dinosaur — like a Brachiosaurus or Apatosaurus — with its enormous, sweeping tail.
Leviathan — A Sea Monster in Scripture
Job 41 and Psalm 104:26 describe another extraordinary creature called Leviathan:
"Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook?... Smoke pours from its nostrils... Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth." — Job 41:1, 20–21
Leviathan is described as:
- A terrifying sea creature
- Virtually impossible for humans to fight
- Appearing to breathe fire
- Having armour-like scales
This description does not match any living animal known today. Many biblical scholars and creation researchers believe Leviathan may describe a large marine reptile — similar to a Mosasaur or Plesiosaur — possibly with a bioluminescent or chemical fire-producing ability, not unlike the very real bombardier beetle which shoots a chemical reaction from its body as a defence.
Other Possible References
The Bible contains several other references to mysterious creatures that may point to dinosaur-like animals:
| Biblical Term | Reference | Possible Identification |
|---|---|---|
| Behemoth | Job 40:15–24 | Large sauropod dinosaur |
| Leviathan | Job 41, Psalm 104 | Large marine reptile |
| Tannin (Dragon/Serpent) | Isaiah 27:1, Genesis 1:21 | Large reptilian creature |
| Fiery Flying Serpent | Isaiah 30:6 | Pterosaur-like flying reptile |
The Hebrew word "tannin" appears multiple times in the Old Testament and is variously translated as "dragon," "sea monster," or "serpent." It is entirely possible this word was used to describe large reptilian creatures — what we might today call dinosaurs.
When Did Dinosaurs Live? A Biblical Timeline
This is where the Bible and mainstream science differ most significantly. Secular science places dinosaurs as having gone extinct 66 million years ago, long before humans appeared. The Bible, however, presents a very different timeline:
The Creation Account in Genesis 1 states that God created land animals on Day 6 — the same day He created humans. If this is taken literally, dinosaurs and humans were created together and coexisted. This is exactly what Job 40:15 seems to confirm, where God says He made Behemoth "along with you" — meaning alongside Job, a human being.
Many Bible-believing scientists and theologians argue that:
- Dinosaurs were created on Day 6 alongside humans
- They were represented on Noah's Ark (likely as juveniles)
- They gradually died out after the Flood due to dramatic climate and environmental changes
- Human encounters with surviving dinosaurs may be the origin of dragon legends found in nearly every ancient culture worldwide
Why Do Dragon Legends Exist in Every Culture?
This is a fascinating piece of supporting evidence. Dragons appear in the ancient mythology and history of virtually every civilization on Earth — Chinese dragons, European dragons, Mesopotamian dragons, Native American legends of great serpents. It is remarkably unlikely that every culture independently invented the same type of creature.
A far simpler explanation is that ancient humans actually encountered large reptilian creatures — what we would today call dinosaurs — and recorded those encounters in the language of their time. The Bible's "Leviathan" and "Behemoth" may be part of that same universal memory of a world that once contained these magnificent animals.
What Happened to the Dinosaurs?
The Bible does not give an explicit answer, but biblical creation scholars generally point to Noah's Flood as the major extinction event. The catastrophic worldwide Flood described in Genesis would have:
- Buried billions of creatures rapidly in sediment — explaining the fossil record
- Dramatically altered the Earth's climate after the Flood
- Destroyed the ecosystems that large creatures like dinosaurs depended on
Surviving dinosaurs on the Ark would have faced a radically changed post-Flood world — different atmosphere, different food sources, different climate — and gradually died out over the following centuries. This would also explain why ancient civilizations recorded encounters with "dragons" and great beasts that eventually disappeared from human history.
Conclusion
The Bible does not use the word "dinosaur" — but it absolutely describes creatures that match what we know about these animals. Behemoth and Leviathan in the book of Job are the strongest candidates, described by God Himself in vivid, awe-inspiring detail. The biblical timeline places dinosaurs and humans together from the very beginning of creation — and the ancient world's universal dragon legends may be the historical memory of exactly that.
Dinosaurs are not a problem for the Bible. They may, in fact, be one of its most stunning confirmations.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?... Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this." — Job 38:4, 18
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible? Not by that name — the word "dinosaur" was only invented in 1842. But creatures like Behemoth (Job 40) and Leviathan (Job 41) are described in ways that closely match large dinosaurs and marine reptiles.
Q: What is Behemoth in the Bible? Behemoth is a massive creature described in Job 40:15–24 with a tail like a cedar tree and bones like bronze. Many scholars believe it describes a large sauropod dinosaur rather than a hippopotamus or elephant.
Q: Did dinosaurs and humans live at the same time? According to the biblical creation account, yes — God created land animals and humans on the same day (Genesis 1, Day 6). Job 40:15 even states God made Behemoth "along with" the human Job.
Q: What happened to the dinosaurs according to the Bible? The Bible does not say explicitly, but many biblical scholars believe the Great Flood of Noah dramatically altered Earth's climate and environment, leading to the gradual extinction of dinosaurs in the post-Flood world.
Q: Why do dragons appear in so many ancient cultures? Many creation researchers believe ancient humans actually encountered surviving dinosaurs and recorded those encounters as "dragons" — explaining why nearly every ancient civilization has dragon legends that describe similar reptilian creatures.
