How Do Dinosaurs Fit into the Biblical Story of Creation?
Dinosaurs—whose name means “terrible lizards” from the Greek—are some of the most fascinating creatures God ever made. Though extinct, they continue to capture the imagination of scientists, theologians, and Christians seeking to understand how these giant reptiles fit into the Bible’s story of creation. The Scriptures never use the word “dinosaur” (a term coined in the 19th century), but they do speak of mighty beasts like Leviathan and Behemoth, and they consistently frame such creatures within a theological—not scientific—framework. To answer how dinosaurs fit into creation, we must explore different perspectives while grounding our view in biblical theology.
1. Dinosaurs in the Days of Creation
According to young earth creationists, dinosaurs were created on Day 6 of creation alongside other land animals and humanity (Genesis 1:24–31). This perspective holds that dinosaurs lived in the pre-Flood world, sharing creation with humans, and likely perished during or soon after the flood of Noah. Fossil layers, in this view, reflect catastrophic burial during the flood.
In contrast, old earth creationists accept that dinosaurs lived millions of years before humans and became extinct long before Adam and Eve. This view requires placing animal death before the fall, which raises theological questions about whether death entered creation only through sin.
While Christians differ on the timeline, both perspectives affirm that dinosaurs were part of God’s good creation and that their existence reveals His creativity and power.
2. Dinosaurs and the Bible’s Language of Beasts
Though the Bible never names dinosaurs directly, it does describe enormous, untamable creatures:
Behemoth in Job 40:15–24, called “the first of the works of God,” with bones like bronze and a tail like a cedar. Some suggest this could be a hippopotamus, while others see a description closer to a sauropod dinosaur.
Leviathan in Job 41 and Psalm 74, a terrifying sea creature described with scales, fierce strength, and fire-breathing imagery. In the ancient Near Eastern context, Leviathan symbolized chaos, yet the Bible shows Yahweh crushing and controlling it.
Tanninim (sea monsters) in Genesis 1:21 and Isaiah 27:1, often translated as “dragons” or “serpents,” representing powers of chaos over which God is sovereign.
Whether literal or symbolic, these biblical images highlight God’s rule over all creatures, natural or cosmic.
3. Theological Lessons from Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs serve as theological signposts in the creation story:
God’s creativity: Their diversity and size showcase His wisdom. Psalm 104:24 says, “O Lord, how manifold are your works!” Dinosaurs, known only through fossils, still testify to the vastness of His design.
Mortality and brokenness: Dinosaurs’ extinction reminds us of creation’s groaning under the curse of sin (Romans 8:20–22). They are part of a fallen world marked by death.
God’s sovereignty over chaos: Leviathan and Behemoth imagery portrays not only giant beasts but also God’s supremacy over chaos, rebellion, and even death itself.
Christ’s fulfillment: Hebrews 2:14 reminds us that Jesus destroyed the one who holds the power of death. Just as Hebrews 9:13–14 contrasts the red heifer with Christ’s superior cleansing, so the passing away of mighty creatures like dinosaurs anticipates the greater hope of renewal in Christ.
4. Why Dinosaurs Aren’t About End Times
In recent years, some have tried to connect dinosaurs to end-times speculation, much like the modern red heifer theories. But the Bible does not place dinosaurs in an eschatological framework. They are not prophetic markers for Christ’s return, nor are they coded signs in apocalyptic literature.
Instead, the Bible situates dinosaurs and great beasts in the creation-to-consummation story: they are part of God’s world, subject to the fall, witnesses to His majesty, and reminders of the cosmic redemption promised in Christ (Colossians 1:16–20).
Conclusion
So how do dinosaurs fit into the biblical story of creation? They are not outliers or embarrassments to faith, nor do they determine the timing of Christ’s return. Instead, dinosaurs remind us that God’s creation is vast, His designs are wondrous, and His sovereignty extends from the smallest insect to the mightiest Behemoth. Their bones tell the truth that death touches all creatures, but Scripture proclaims a greater truth: through Jesus Christ, all creation will be renewed, and even the chaos of Leviathan will be crushed under His feet.
Bible Verses About Dinosaurs and God’s Power Over Creation
Genesis 1:21 — “So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds.”
Job 40:15–17 — “Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar.”
Job 41:1–2 — “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?”
Psalm 74:13–14 — “You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.”
Isaiah 27:1 — “In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.”
Psalm 104:24 — “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”
Romans 8:21–22 — “The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”
Colossians 1:16 — “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:20 — “Through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
Revelation 20:2 — “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”
