Understanding Job’s Behemoth and Leviathan
Introduction: A little over a year ago, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a recorded presentation of Dr. Mack Stirling’s presentation at the Temple on Mount Zion conference sponsored by the Mormon Interpreter Foundation. His remarks were titled, “Job: An LDS Reading”. Knowing that many Bible scholars think the Book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible, predating even the 5 books of Moses, and that the Book of Job’s authorship is shrouded in mystery, I was highly intrigued. His presentation did not disappoint. Stark and plain, it was also exceptionally profound. A few months afterwords I had Bro. Sterling fly to Utah and share his presentation at a multi-stake fireside. For a greater foundation of this article’s topic, I would highly recommend first watching this presentation yourself. Additionally, I have created my own outline of the Book of Job, which you can read here:
I was especially intrigued by an idea that he offered towards the end of the presentation (beginning at about the 26:26 mark). He observed that because of the sustained and powerful connections to the LDS endowment, “understanding the Book of Job helps one to understand the endowment, and vice-versa.” I then decided to consider one particular section of Job that has bothered theologians for millennia.
In the final chapters of the Book of Job, God introduces two beings, almost god-like themselves in description, who’s introduction is prefaced by this curious statement from God: “Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.” (KJV Job 40:14) From this point until the end of chapter 41, two beings are described, known simply as “Behemoth” and “Leviathan”. A correct understanding of what is really being said in this chapter and a half can not only help us finally unlock the meaning of this passage, but can also shed great understanding onto a crucial part of what might be the Book of Job’s parallel: the LDS endowment.
Previous Interpretations
In searching through various biblical commentaries, I can find no logical or inspiring interpretation of the passages describing Behemoth and Leviathan. These two figures have been linked to the hippopotamus, whales, elephants, dinosaurs, sea-dragons, mythological carry-overs from pre-Israelite religious communities, and everything in between. My interpretation comes from an LDS doctrinal perspective, so if those from other faiths who are reading this find the following interpretation agreeable, I would encourage giving LDS doctrine in general a second look as well, for certain aspects of the following interpretation are only taught — as far as I know — from LDS pulpits.
About the only thing the Bible commentators agree upon is that Behemoth and Leviathan are symbolic. . . or at least they are real but are symbols for another idea or thought. The agreement breaks down at that point. The creatures known as “Behemoth” and “Leviathan” are clearly symbolic for something — or someone — much more profound.
But what are they symbols for? What do they allude to? The following is my answer to those questions. I have tried to use my words carefully, for reasons that will be evident to some.
An LDS Interpretation for Behemoth
Beginning halfway through the 40th chapter of Job, let’s look at the description of Behemoth, verse by verse, immediately following God’s council that Job’s own right hand will play a role in his salvation. All of the following scriptural quotes are taken from the King James Version.
“Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.” (vs 15)
Firstly, the word “Behemoth” is a transliteration, or a direct one-to-one phonetic reading. “Beh-hay-mohth” is a proper pronunciation. It is the plural form of a word that means “beast”, but in the sense of a domesticated service animal, or beast of burden, not a ferocious wild animal. It is used this way in several locations in the Old Testament. The plural suffix “-ot” or “-oth” is generally meant to be understood as magnifying, not making plural. Therefore, one translation for the word “behemoth” from Hebrew is “a great beast of burden” or, “a great beast of service”. Who carries more burdens than anyone else? Recalling the parable of the Good Samaritan, where the Christ-like figure places the man who was stripped and wounded “on his own beast”, we can immediately begin to see the first clue to a Christological interpretation for Behemoth. Jesus is easily seen as one who carries our burdens, even allowing us to become yoked together with Him as an ox (See Matthew 11:28–29). In fact, every ox or beast that was sacrificed on temple alters in ancient Israel was meant to represent Him. Truly no one carried our burdens more than Christ.
“I made with thee” seems to suggest the preexistence, or more particularly when the intelligences became spirit children of our heavenly father (Abraham 3:22). Although Christ was the first spirit to be thus organized, He too was within this company of Spirit beings, and therefore could be considered as having been made “with” us. Like the grass-eating ox, He would have a corporeal body, dependent on the earth’s yield. In other words, Christ would be mortal, like us. I see here also insinuations of being born into mortality in that it references the normal human birth and growth cycle. Christ is our eldest brother, but our brother yet the same: We share a common creation story, both spiritually and physically, and can likewise share a common destiny. (See for example 3 Nephi 28:10, D&C 84:37–38)
“Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.” (vs 16)
Here are two ideas. The first (“his strength is in his loins”) is that Behemoth’s strength comes from his ability to sire, have children, bear fruit, or in other words. . . to become a father. One Book of Mormon prophet observed: “Behold, he created Adam, and by Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man” (Mormon 9:12). There are other Book of Mormon scriptures that reinforce the idea of Christ as a spiritual father: “And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ” (Mosiah 5:7). Biblical scripture as well interpret the fact that as we are born again in Christ, he becomes the father of our new spiritual selves (John 1:12–13). Through gospel covenants, we can take on strength and figuratively become the fruit or offspring of Christ.
The second half of verse 16 has always been of interest to me. It seems to parallel the promise given in the Latter-day Saint revelation known as the Word of Wisdom. Found in Section 89 of the LDS cannon known as the Doctrine and Covenants, it says near the end of the revelation that “all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings . . . shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones. . .” (D&C 89:18). This additional phrase of “marrow to their bones” is insightful. To me, the first phrase of words imply giving power and sustenance when one is in the womb, for when else do we receive anything through our navel? In the womb, we are utterly helpless to develop ourselves, and must rely completely on an external source (through the umbilical cord in our navel) to get nourishment, oxygen, etc. It is a simple but powerful metaphor. Regarding the additional phrase from the Word of Wisdom, I see many implications here in regards to grace and the Atonement offered by Christ, which offers to nourish and uplift us when we can of ourselves do nothing (See Alma 26:12, Moses 1:10, and Philippians 4:13). Similarly, the marrow in our bones produces the life-giving blood for our body. More about this is a moment.
“He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.” (vs 17)
A much better Hebrew translation for “moveth”, is “inclineth” or “raising up”. The word “tail” can also mean “on the back”. In other words, Behemoth would be raised up with his back on a cedar. The Palestinian cedar tree (Cedrus libani) is an evergreen coniferous tree growing up to 100 feet tall or more, with a trunk up to 8 feet thick. It grows fairly straight. It takes no stretch of the imagination to see the symbolism of Christ being laid on his back and raised up on the cedar wood cross when he was crucified. One also sees the importance and difficulty of trying to interpret passages based on phrases not easily translated.
Regarding the word “stones”, most translators seem to like the word “thighs” or “loins” far better. “Intertwined” could be used for “wrapped together”. “Sinew” is a translation of a Hebrew word representing the tendons, joints, and other ligament-type tissues found in the body. They are what bind and hold us together. They are the ligaments or ligature of the body. Behemoth has power to unify and bind us to our posterity (the implication of the included symbolism of “loins”). He can make us as one, with particular emphasis to doing this in a familial setting.
“His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.” (vs 18)
Now we return to the idea of marrow. Again, without some better Hebrew (and no disrespect to the King James translators), this verse is nearly impossible to decipher. The first usage here of “bones” is correct (Hebrew “otzm”), but there is also a secondary meaning of “copper tubes”. The second usage of the word “bones” is a different word entirely that actually means “ribs” (the Hebrew is “grm”).
What is inferred in the first phrase (in the original Hebrew) is that his bones are strong and like channels or tubes of copper: they are hollow. Almost every literally translated Bible, other than the King James Version, uses some form of “tubes” or “pipes” as the adjective before “brass” for the Hebrew word “אֲפִ יקֵ” (“otzm”). Why are bones hollow? Because that is where marrow exists, the tissue that creates our life-giving blood from deep within, which distributes oxygen and nutrition to all the members of the body. It is the antithesis of the umbilical cord in our navel. It represents eventually becoming something that is inherently independent, or at the very least powerfully inter-dependent. I see this as a reality only some will achieve, and only after substantial and complete progression.
The second usage suggests that Behemoth’s bones are unbreakable (and will never be broken?) John 19:36 says: “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.” This foreshadowing was taught to ancient Israel in the required sacrifices at the temple, where only sheep who had never had a bone broken were considered worthy (Exodus 12:46). Thus, in John 19 we read Christ did not have his legs broken in the end as he hung on the cross. The centurions would normally have done this to hasten the execution, but became aware that he was already dead. In verse 34 we read that instead, they pierced his side with a spear between his ribs, and out came a great quantity of blood and water. But these historical facts only verify the connection. Others have elaborated on what these symbolic aspects from Christ’s life symbolizes in greater detail, which I will not attempt to discuss here. Suffice it to say, the connection to Christ and the manner of His death and sacrifice is quite clear.
“He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.” (vs 19)
Though he is the chief of all of God’s creations, God the Father can still approach him with a sword — a sign of authority, obedience, and order. Additionally, various translators disagree with the KJV in rendering the Hebrew “rashith” as “chief”. It should really be “first”. Thus Christ, though the first of God’s creations, is still subservient to him. He is also the Firstborn. There is a voluntary chain of command.
“Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.” (vs 20)
Mountains are often used to represent temples. Temples in the time of Job were the place where sacrifices to Jehovah (food offerings) and covenants were made. Furthermore, these “mountains” seem to contain “all the beasts”. In other words, all of creation seems to be in these mountains. This could only be symbolic, as actual mountains only contain a fraction of the species found on the earth. The beasts in this verse also seem to have no animosity towards one another. They “play” together. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain” is a verse from Isaiah 11:9 that comes to mind, but clearly an allusion is being made here to temples and temple covenants, as well as the creation of all animal life. Sacrifices to Jehovah happen in Holy Temples, were the animal kingdom is at peace with and amongst itself.
“He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.” (vs 21)
Almost every other translation since the KJV has rendered “shade tree” as “lotus tree”. The lotus tree has symbolism in Egyptian, Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, and Japanese culture. It has a symbolism in Hebrew as well. The seeds of the lotus, even before they germinate, contain perfectly formed leaves, stems, branches, etc. in microscopic form — the miniature shape of the plants they will become. The lotus tree simply becomes a much larger, fully-formed version of its younger self. Hugh Nibley was quoted in the New Era magazine saying “It is the lotus that holds the secret of life springing up spontaneously, apparently out of nothing; during the long ages of desolation when only the empty waters existed, the seed of life slept in the lotus, ready to come forth on the First Day.” Verse 22 in Job continues this thought, and seems to infer that Behemoth’s true majesty will be hidden among the other plants. Eventually though he would grow to his true stature. See also Isaiah 53:3.
“Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.” (vs 23)
My apologies to the KJV translators, but again, the translation here is just terrible. After hundreds of years of further review, most agree to something along these lines: “If a river rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the Jordan rushes even over his mouth.” I take from this two simple ideas: Behemoth will have power over the waters, and he will be submerged in the Jordan. This Book of Mormon scripture from 2 Nephi 31:7 comes to mind: “But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.” This verse serves as an explanation as to why Christ was baptized (in the Jordan, of course) even though he needed no repentance. Christ shows us the way to make and keep covenants, beginning with the gateway known as baptism, becoming our exemplar in all things.
“He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.” (vs 24)
A better reading is, “Can he be taken while he keeps watch? Can he be caught by the nose in a snare?” Does this refer to Christ’s omniscience perhaps? Omnipotence? In scripture, mankind is often symbolically portrayed as being caught in the snares of the devil. But Christ resisted all these temptations. He was never caught in the adversary’s snares, even faintly by the nose.
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Based on these many clues, it is my conclusion that in response to Job’s admission that he does not know the right words to say (vs 4–5) and in fulfillment of his desire to know God and converse with Him about the powers of creation and redemption, that Job was taught symbolically about the simple but profound doctrines regarding the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ is Behemoth.
The Evidence for Leviathan
As you look at Chapter 41, I think then it becomes obvious who the next creature is. Regarding Leviathan, we learn that:
He must be drawn out (vs 1)
He will make supplications and speak soft words to us (vs 3)
We can actually make a covenant with him to have him serve us forever (vs 4)
In time, he shall be repaid for his work. (vs 11)
He cannot be bridled or controlled (at least by us). (vs 13)
He is made of a matter so fine or pure (spirit?) that even air cannot pass between him. (vs 15–17)
Various degrees and types of light emanate from him. (vs 18–21)
His neck is strong (to bear the head?) and sorrows will be turned to joy. (vs 22)
He inspires repentance. (vs 25)
Weapons are useless against him. (vs-25–30)
He boils (purifies) the deep and provides a veritable sea of ointment. In other words, he both cleanses and heals. (vs 31)
He makes a shining path. Even the deepest way appears to be “hoary” (white). (vs 32)
He is a singular creation, and there is no power, force, or being whom he fears (vs 33)
He beholds (bears witness of?) both the good and evil among men (vs 34)
In my opinion, Leviathan is clearly none other than the Holy Ghost.
So what is happening here? Job asks to understand God, and as the crowning element to God’s conversation and interview with Job he is taught about the heavenly presidency, known to Latter-day Saints as “the Godhead”. Could it be that God the Father is teaching him about these two personages so that he could better understand the Father himself, because they each share some of his characteristics and help us understand His ways, purpose, and motivation?
I think that is one plausible understanding, and I also think there could be an even greater message: God is teaching and introducing Job to the ways of godhood. He is preparing Job for when he may become a God himself, endowed with power to effect both the creation and redemption of other spirits, just as Heavenly Father does.
Conclusion
The “Celestial First Presidency” or Godhead, is a unit that functions together in oneness and with unflinching purpose to fill the various roles that the work of redemption and exaltation calls for. Christ is the first creation, and has power through the atonement to become the Father of all the rest of us as we are “born again” to him. He does the will of the Father in all things, and offered himself on the cross that we may eventually become like He and the Father. He has power to bind, is full of grace and truth, and was never “broken”. We can make sacrifices to him in Holy Places. He shows the way through troubled waters, being baptized and setting the example for all to follow.
Likewise, the Holy Ghost is a singular creation, different from any other that God has made. In time he will receive his reward, but until then, and because of his incorporeal nature, he is well suited to reveal light and truth to the rest of us, creating a shining path. Nothing can be hid from him, and he will witness the actions of all, good or bad. Through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, we can make a covenant to have him guide us, although always subject to the timing and wisdom of God. Like a great fish in the ocean, he is almost always unseen, but his presence can be drawn out to render guidance for our lives, purification, and healing.
Nowhere in the scriptural commentaries have I read a similar interpretation to these passages in Job, and I surmise this is probably for at least three reasons. First, a correct (LDS) understanding of Christ, his life, and Atonement, are necessary to see the Behemoth parallels. Second, a correct (LDS) understanding of the role of the Holy Ghost is necessary to see the parallels concerning Leviathan.
Third and last, is that we must have a faith that God wants to introduce us to His ways. He wants to be known. Too many commentators have interpreted the final chapters of Job as God simply humbling Job and putting him in his rightful, lowly place. I don’t see that. It is not God’s desire to remain forever mysterious. He wants us to be on intimately familiar terms. We arrive at such a place by learning the same things that Job did, and, I would stress, learning them through the exact same process by which Job came to know them, suggested in Job 38:33.
I am grateful for the knowledge I have that has come from a faith centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through Joseph Smith. To those wondering if any good can come from the restored gospel, I encourage all to “come and see” for yourselves.
