Job’s Creatures – The Dragon

Job mentions dragons in Job 30:29. As is often the case, the dragon is a creature of the wilderness and is often mentioned with the owls.  Job complains that his physical condition sets him apart from the rest of humanity and that he feels he lives in the wilderness.  The Hebrew word for dragon (Strong’s 08565) appears 13 times in the Bible and is translated “dragon” by the KJV in all but one instance, where it is translated “sea monster” (Lam. 4:3). In modern versions, it is translated as “jackal.”  The jackal is a medium-sized canine that lives in the wilderness, but the jackal is not a dragon.  So, the dragon has been removed from the Bible by modern versions.

The Hebrew word has two other derivatives (Strong’s 08577 & 08568) that are translated variously as dragon, serpent, whale, or sea monster. There is clearly a land dragon that dwells in dens in the wilderness and a water dragon that lives in the sea. The term appears to be a general word for a wide range of creatures. The animal is unknown to us today, but it would have been familiar to those in Job’s time or the era of the prophets (See also: Jer. 51:34; Isa. 51:9). In any case, the dragon is not a mythical creature. There is no reason to dismiss the dragon as just myth.

Although often found in the wilderness and dwelling in dens, the dragon does not need to be seen as a monster with a gaping mouth, fierce teeth, wings for flying, or even fire-breathing. Though the latter appears to be a trait of Leviathan (Job 41:18-21), a type of water-dwelling dragon.

The dragon teaches us that God is with the person who is “in the wilderness” or “in the sea” of life. Although Job felt disconnected from God, God was still with him. God is with us during times of trouble. Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). Be like Job and trust God in difficult times. (LEH)