Easton's Bible Dictionary A transliterated Hebrew word (livyathan), meaning "twisted," "coiled." In Job 3:8, Revised Version, and marg. of Authorized Version, it denotes the dragon which, according to Eastern tradition, is an enemy of light; in 41:1 the crocodile is meant; in Psalm 104:26 it "denotes any large animal that moves by writhing or wriggling the body, the whale, the monsters of the deep." This word is also used figuratively for a cruel enemy, as some think "the Egyptian host, crushed by the divine power, and cast on the shores of the Red Sea" (Psalm 74:14). As used in Isaiah 27:1, "leviathan the piercing [R.V. `swift'] serpent, even leviathan that crooked [R.V. marg. `winding'] serpent," the word may probably denote the two empires, the Assyrian and the Babylonian. Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A large aquatic animal or vessel; a whale; a sea monster; an aquatic animal, described in the book of Job, ch. xli., and mentioned in other passages of Scripture. 2. (n.) The whale, or a great whale. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia LEVIATHAN le-vi'-a-than (liwyathan (Job 41:1-34), from lawah, "to fold"; compare Arabic name of the wry neck, Iynx torquilla, abu-luwa, from kindred lawa, "to bend"): (1) The word "leviathan" also occurs in Isaiah 27:1, where it is characterized as "the swift serpent.... the crooked serpent"; in Psalm 104:26, where a marine monster is indicated; also in Psalm 74:14 and Job 3:8. The description in Job 41 has been thought by some to refer to the whale, but while the whale suits better the expressions denoting great strength, the words apply best on the whole to the crocodile. Moreover, the whale is very seldom found in the Mediterranean, while the crocodile is abundant in the Nile, and has been known to occur in at least one river of Palestine, the Zarqa, North of Jaffa. For a discussion of the behemoth and leviathan as mythical creatures, see EB, under the word "Behemoth" and "Leviathan." The points in the description which may well apply to the crocodile are the great invulnerability, the strong and close scales, the limbs and the teeth. It must be admitted that there are many expressions which a modern scientist would not use with reference to the crocodile, but the Book of Job is neither modern nor scientific, but poetical and ancient. (2) See ASTRONOMY, sec. II, 2, 5. Alfred Ely Day

Multi-Version Concordance Leviathan (5 Occurrences) Job 3:8 Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan. (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV) Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Psalms 74:14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 104:26 There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 27:1 In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)