Job’s Creatures – The Beast

Several creatures mentioned in the book of Job are often dismissed as myth by many readers. However, the Bible does not deal in mythology. The word “myth” does not appear in our KJV Bible. Instead, the Bible references myths with the phrase “old wives fables” (1 Tim. 4:7) and warns us to reject them.

The creatures mentioned in Job’s record are brought up by both Job and God. I believe that God would not use, or need to use, a mythical creature to teach Job his lesson. Instead, God uses real creatures to teach Job valuable lessons.

Before discussing the four strange animals, it’s important to note a general term used in Job (and throughout the Bible) to categorize these animals: the word beast. There are two main Hebrew words translated as beast. One is chay (Strong’s 02416), meaning living creatures. Elihu mentions these beasts living in the wilderness and going into their dens (Job 37:8). The LORD refers to them as “wild beast” (Job 39:15) and beasts of the field that play on the mountains (Job 40:20). This term appears to be a broad designation that includes many types of beasts. The other common Hebrew word is behemah (Strong’s 0929), which typically refers to cattle or livestock but can also describe wild beasts. Therefore, both are generic terms that cover various kinds of animals rather than a specific species. When God created the beast (chay) and cattle (behemah) on day six, He included them with “everything that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen. 1:25). Consequently, there is a wide variety of animals that fall under the categories of beasts, cattle, and creeping things.

Job refers to beasts as creatures that God created to teach us lessons.  “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee…” (Job 12:7).  It is much like when Solomon says, “Go to the ant thou sluggard” (Prov. 6:6).  All the animals have lessons to teach us about life, and that will be the purpose of these articles about four strange creatures from the book of Job.  (LEH)