Do you think dinosaurs really existed?

[lars36]

As a Christian what do you think about dinosaurs existing? Does the bible say anything about dinosaurs?

[ayin jade]

Job 40 and 41 are pretty good descriptions of living dinosaurs I think. 

 

Yes I believe they existed. I do not support the pre adamic view. 

[Guest]

As a Christian what do you think about dinosaurs existing? Does the bible say anything about dinosaurs?

As a Christian, I think the same thing about dinosaurs existing, as I thought about them existing when I was an Atheist. There are fossils of very large bones. Am I to suppose that God created dino fossils as a prank to fool us into thinking dinos existed?

 

Those fossils seem to be evidence of their existence, and I am unaware of any evidence that they did not exist, so why would I be tempted to think they didn't exist?

 

As Jade siad, perhaps Job mentions dinos, but I would not go so far as to say that I know that is what Job described, but it doesn't matter. Sure, if the Bible mentioned them, then that is just another evidence of their existance, but their mention is not necessary. After all, Kangaroos aren't mentioned, Tomatoes aren't mentioned, Penguins aren't mentioned, why pick on Dinosaurs - what is the significance of them? I feel certain, that Dinosaurs are not the only extinc thingfrom creation, that the Bible fails to mention, it is hardly a catalog or inventory  of all species.

 

Not sure why you are curious, but I suggest that you do not imagine problems that do not exist. Eternal life and it's alternative, our conduct with our fellow man, and other important matters are not dependent upon faith in nor denial of Dinosaurs.

 

So, what do you happen to think about them? In what way does their existence or lack thereof, affect us today?

[Wildstar]

As a Christian what do you think about dinosaurs existing? Does the bible say anything about dinosaurs?

No issue with dinosaurs.  I think it has some vague descriptions in a few places but all in all I don't think it does.  The bible deals with salvation for the most part though, not how moomoo the cow is doing.  

[gigman7]

The Bible doesn't say anything about manatees either but they exist even though I've never seen one.

[Jzyehoshua]

Yes, the Bible does mention dinosaurs. I'm going to be quoting the interlinear from a Bible software I use called PowerBible CD, I got it from a Christian summer camp in 2003 and have been using it ever since.

 

Tanniyn:

 

The first mention of dinosaurs I know of is in Genesis 1:21. Although the KJV translated Hebrew word tanniyn as "whales" centuries ago, it actually refers to great sea monsters.

 

Ge 1:21 And God <'elohiym> created <bara'> great <gadowl> whales, <tanniyn> and every living <chay> creature <nephesh> that moveth, <ramas> which the waters <mayim> brought forth abundantly, <sharats> after their kind, <miyn> and every winged <kanaph> fowl <`owph> after his kind: <miyn> and God <'elohiym> saw <ra'ah> that it was good. <towb>

 

This word tanniyn is elsewhere translated by the KJV as dragons:

 

Ps 74:13 Thou didst divide <parar> the sea <yam> by thy strength <`oz>: thou brakest <shabar> the heads <ro'sh> of the dragons <tanniyn> in the waters <mayim>.

De 32:33 Their wine <yayin> is the poison <chemah> of dragons <tanniyn>, and the cruel <'akzar> venom <ro'sh> of asps <pethen>.

 

Ne 2:13 And I went out <yatsa'> by night <layil> by the gate <sha`ar> of the valley <gay'>, even before <paniym> the dragon <tanniyn> well <`ayin> <`Eyn Tanniym>, and to the dung <'ashpoth> port <sha`ar>, and viewed <sabar> <shabar> the walls <chowmah> of Jerusalem <Y@ruwshalaim>, which were broken down <parats>, and the gates <sha`ar> thereof were consumed <'akal> with fire <'esh>.

 

This same term is actually translated serpent several times in Exodus 7 as the creature Moses fled from.

 

Ex 7:9 When Pharaoh <Par`oh> shall speak <dabar> unto you, saying <'amar>, Shew <nathan> a miracle <mowpheth> for you: then thou shalt say <'amar> unto Aaron <'Aharown>, Take <laqach> thy rod <matteh>, and cast <shalak> it before <paniym> Pharaoh <Par`oh>, and it shall become a serpent <tanniyn>.
 

Ex 7:10 And Moses <Mosheh> and Aaron <'Aharown> went in <bow'> unto Pharaoh <Par`oh>, and they did <`asah> so as the LORD <Y@hovah> had commanded <tsavah>: and Aaron <'Aharown> cast down <shalak> his rod <matteh> before <paniym> Pharaoh <Par`oh>, and before <paniym> his servants <`ebed>, and it became a serpent <tanniyn>.
 

Ex 7:12 For they cast down <shalak> every man <'iysh> his rod <matteh>, and they became serpents <tanniyn>: but Aaron's <'Aharown> rod <matteh> swallowed up <bala`> their rods <matteh>.

 

I won't quote all the passages but actually the KJV translates tanniyn as "dragon" 21 of the 28 times it is used in the Old Testament.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/tanniyn.html

 

Livyathan

 

The leviathan as seen from Isaiah 27 is a specific type of tanniyn, a huge underwater serpent. It is translated from the Hebrew word livyathan which is used just 6 times in the Old Testament.

 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/livyathan.html

 

Isa 27:1 ¶ In that day <yowm> the LORD <Y@hovah> with his sore <qasheh> and great <gadowl> and strong <chazaq> sword <chereb> shall punish <paqad> leviathan <livyathan> the piercing <bariyach> serpent <nachash>, even leviathan <livyathan> that crooked <`aqallathown> serpent <nachash>; and he shall slay <harag> the dragon <tanniyn> that is in the sea <yam>.

 

It is best described in Job 41, where it is said to be impervious to all ancient weapons at the time, to breathe fire, to have air-tight scales, and to dwell in the depths of the sea. As seen from v. 31 it may have also left some kind of disturbance in the ocean like the squid.

 

Job 41:1 ¶ Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

 

Job 41:12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
 13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
 14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
 16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
 17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
 18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
 19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
 20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
 21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
 22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
 25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
 26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
 27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
 29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
 30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
 33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

 

If there was any doubt about the size and power of the leviathan, it is elsewhere said to play with ships.

 

Ps 104:26 There go <halak> the ships <'oniyah>: there is that leviathan <livyathan>, whom thou hast made <yatsar> to play <sachaq> therein.

 

B@hemowth:

 

The behemoth or Hebrew word b@hemowth was a huge, ancient creature during Job's time, and Job may be the earliest book of the Bible written, presumably around the time of Abraham given Job's great age. The word is only used once in the entire Bible, in Job ch. 40.

 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/behemowth.html

 

According to the passage, it was a huge herbivore that ate grass like an ox and lived in the fens, known for a massive belly, long tail, and thick bones. Its huge size can be seen from the fact that it had a tail like a cedar, one of the tallest trees on Earth. No land mammal alive today has such a tail, which has led to hypothesis that it was the brachiosaur, one of the dinosaurs. It was said to be capable of drinking so much it thought it could drink up rivers, and to get food from the mountains, possibly a reference to a long neck.

 

Job 40:15 ¶ Behold now behemoth, <b@hemowth> which I made <`asah> with thee; he eateth <'akal> grass <chatsiyr> as an ox. <baqar>
 16 Lo now, his strength <koach> is in his loins, <mothen> and his force <'own> is in the navel <shariyr> of his belly. <beten>
 17 He moveth <chaphets> his tail <zanab> like a cedar: <'erez> the sinews <giyd> of his stones <pachad> are wrapped together. <sarag>
 18 His bones <`etsem> are as strong <'aphiyq> pieces of brass; <n@chuwshah> his bones <gerem> are like bars <m@tiyl> of iron. <barzel>
 19 He is the chief <re'shiyth> of the ways <derek> of God: <'el> he that made <`asah> him can make <nagash> his sword <chereb> to approach <nagash> unto him.
 20 Surely the mountains <har> bring him forth <nasa'> food, <buwl> where all the beasts <chay> of the field <sadeh> play. <sachaq>
 21 He lieth <shakab> under the shady trees, <tse'el> in the covert <cether> of the reed, <qaneh> and fens. <bitstsah>
 22 The shady trees <tse'el> cover <cakak> him with their shadow; <tselel> the willows <`arab> of the brook <nachal> compass him about. <cabab>
 23 Behold, he drinketh up <`ashaq> a river, <nahar> and hasteth <chaphaz> not: he trusteth <batach> that he can draw up <giyach> Jordan <Yarden> into his mouth. <peh>
 24 He taketh <laqach> it with his eyes: <`ayin> his nose <'aph> pierceth through <naqab> snares. <mowqesh>

 

Saraph

 

Finally, there are fiery flying serpents mentioned, which at one point the KJV translates as cockatrice. The Hebrew word is saraph, elsewhere translated as seraphim, and it is used 7 times in the Bible.

 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/saraph-3.html

 

Here are the places where the Bible uses this term. They were said to have six wings in Isaiah 6:2.

Nu 21:6 And the LORD <Y@hovah> sent <shalach> fiery <saraph> serpents <nachash> among the people <`am>, and they bit <nashak> the people <`am>; and much <rab> people <`am> of Israel <Yisra'el> died <muwth>.
 

Nu 21:8 And the LORD <Y@hovah> said <'amar> unto Moses <Mosheh>, Make <`asah> thee a fiery serpent <saraph>, and set <suwm> it upon a pole <nec>: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten <nashak>, when he looketh <ra'ah> upon it, shall live <chayay>.
 

De 8:15 Who led <yalak> thee through that great <gadowl> and terrible <yare'> wilderness <midbar>, wherein were fiery <saraph> serpents <nachash>, and scorpions <`aqrab>, and drought <tsimma'own>, where there was no water <mayim>; who brought thee forth <yatsa'> water <mayim> out of the rock <tsuwr> of flint <challamiysh>;
 

Isa 6:2 Above <ma`al> it stood <`amad> the seraphims <saraph>: each one <'echad> had six <shesh> wings <kanaph>; with twain <sh@nayim> he covered <kacah> his face <paniym>, and with twain <sh@nayim> he covered <kacah> his feet <regel>, and with twain <sh@nayim> he did fly <`uwph>.
 

Isa 6:6 Then flew <`uwph> one <'echad> of the seraphims <saraph> unto me, having a live coal <ritspah> in his hand <yad>, which he had taken <laqach> with the tongs <melqach> from off the altar <mizbeach>:
 

Isa 14:29 Rejoice <samach> not thou, whole Palestina <P@lesheth>, because the rod <shebet> of him that smote <nakah> thee is broken <shabar>: for out of the serpent's <nachash> root <sheresh> shall come forth <yatsa'> a cockatrice <tsepha`>, and his fruit <p@riy> shall be a fiery <saraph> flying <`uwph> serpent <saraph>.
 

Isa 30:6 The burden <massa'> of the beasts <b@hemah> of the south <negeb>: into the land <'erets> of trouble <tsarah> and anguish <tsowq>, from whence come the young <labiy'> and old lion <layish>, the viper <'eph`eh> and fiery <saraph> flying <`uwph> serpent <saraph>, they will carry <nasa'> their riches <chayil> upon the shoulders <katheph> of young asses <`ayir>, and their treasures <'owtsar> upon the bunches <dabbesheth> of camels <gamal>, to a people <`am> that shall not profit <ya`al> them.

 

Nachash

 

The Hebrew word translated serpents in a number of these passages, nachash, may have also been used at times to refer to dinosaurs. Here are all usages of it throughout the Bible:

 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/nachash.html

 

Ge 3:1 ¶ Now the serpent <nachash> was <hayah> more subtil <`aruwm> than any beast <chay> of the field <sadeh> which the LORD <Y@hovah> God <'elohiym> had made <`asah>. And he said <'amar> unto the woman <'ishshah>, Yea <'aph>, hath God <'elohiym> said <'amar>, Ye shall not eat <'akal> of every tree <`ets> of the garden <gan>?
 

Ge 3:2 And the woman <'ishshah> said <'amar> unto the serpent <nachash>, We may eat <'akal> of the fruit <p@riy> of the trees <`ets> of the garden <gan>:
 

Ge 3:4 And the serpent <nachash> said <'amar> unto the woman <'ishshah>, Ye shall not surely <muwth> die <muwth>:
 

Ge 3:13 And the LORD <Y@hovah> God <'elohiym> said <'amar> unto the woman <'ishshah>, What is this that thou hast done <`asah>? And the woman <'ishshah> said <'amar>, The serpent <nachash> beguiled me <nasha'>, and I did eat <'akal>.
 

Ge 3:14 ¶ And the LORD <Y@hovah> God <'elohiym> said <'amar> unto the serpent <nachash>, Because thou <'attah> hast done <`asah> this, thou art cursed <'arar> above all cattle <b@hemah>, and above every beast <chay> of the field <sadeh>; upon thy belly <gachown> shalt thou go <yalak>, and dust <`aphar> shalt thou eat <'akal> all the days <yowm> of thy life <chay>:
 

Ge 49:17 Dan <Dan> shall be a serpent <nachash> by the way <derek>, an adder <sh@phiyphon> in the path <'orach>, that biteth <nashak> the horse <cuwc> heels <`aqeb>, so that his rider <rakab> shall fall <naphal> backward <'achowr>.
 

Ex 4:3 And he said <'amar>, Cast <shalak> it on the ground <'erets>. And he cast <shalak> it on the ground <'erets>, and it became a serpent <nachash>; and Moses <Mosheh> fled <nuwc> from before <paniym> it.
 

Ex 7:15 Get <yalak> thee unto Pharaoh <Par`oh> in the morning <boqer>; lo, he goeth out <yatsa'> unto the water <mayim>; and thou shalt stand <natsab> by the river's <y@`or> brink <saphah> against he come <qir'ah>; and the rod <matteh> which was turned <haphak> to a serpent <nachash> shalt thou take <laqach> in thine hand <yad>.
 Nu 21:6 And the LORD <Y@hovah> sent <shalach> fiery <saraph> serpents <nachash> among the people <`am>, and they bit <nashak> the people <`am>; and much <rab> people <`am> of Israel <Yisra'el> died <muwth>.
 

Nu 21:7 Therefore the people <`am> came <bow'> to Moses <Mosheh>, and said <'amar>, We have sinned <chata'>, for we have spoken <dabar> against the LORD <Y@hovah>, and against thee; pray <palal> unto the LORD <Y@hovah>, that he take away <cuwr> the serpents <nachash> from us. And Moses <Mosheh> prayed <palal> for the people <`am>.
 

Nu 21:9 And Moses <Mosheh> made <`asah> a serpent <nachash> of brass <n@chosheth>, and put <suwm> it upon a pole <nec>, and it came to pass, that if a serpent <nachash> had bitten <nashak> any man <'iysh>, when he beheld <nabat> the serpent <nachash> of brass <n@chosheth>, he lived <chayay>.
 

De 8:15 Who led <yalak> thee through that great <gadowl> and terrible <yare'> wilderness <midbar>, wherein were fiery <saraph> serpents <nachash>, and scorpions <`aqrab>, and drought <tsimma'own>, where there was no water <mayim>; who brought thee forth <yatsa'> water <mayim> out of the rock <tsuwr> of flint <challamiysh>;
 

2Ki 18:4 He removed <cuwr> the high places <bamah>, and brake <shabar> the images <matstsebah>, and cut down <karath> the groves <'asherah>, and brake in pieces <kathath> the brasen <n@chosheth> serpent <nachash> that Moses <Mosheh> had made <`asah>: for unto those days <yowm> the children <ben> of Israel <Yisra'el> did burn incense <qatar> to it: and he called <qara'> it Nehushtan <N@chushtan>.
 

Job 26:13 By his spirit <ruwach> he hath garnished <shiphrah> the heavens <shamayim>; his hand <yad> hath formed <chuwl> the crooked <bariyach> serpent <nachash>.
 

Ps 58:4 Their poison <chemah> is like <d@muwth> the poison <chemah> of a serpent <nachash>: they are like the deaf <cheresh> adder <pethen> that stoppeth <'atam> her ear <'ozen>;
 

Ps 140:3 They have sharpened <shanan> their tongues <lashown> like a serpent <nachash>; adders <`akshuwb>' poison <chemah> is under their lips <saphah>. Selah <celah>.
 

Pr 23:32 At the last <'achariyth> it biteth <nashak> like a serpent <nachash>, and stingeth <parash> like an adder <tsepha`>.
 

Pr 30:19 The way <derek> of an eagle <nesher> in the air <shamayim>; the way <derek> of a serpent <nachash> upon a rock <tsuwr>; the way <derek> of a ship <'oniyah> in the midst <leb> of the sea <yam>; and the way <derek> of a man <geber> with a maid <`almah>.
 

Ec 10:8 He that diggeth <chaphar> a pit <guwmmats> shall fall <naphal> into it; and whoso breaketh <parats> an hedge <gader>, a serpent <nachash> shall bite <nashak> him.
 

Ec 10:11 Surely the serpent <nachash> will bite <nashak> without enchantment <lachash>; and a babbler <lashown> <ba`al> is no better <yithrown>.
 

Isa 14:29 Rejoice <samach> not thou, whole Palestina <P@lesheth>, because the rod <shebet> of him that smote <nakah> thee is broken <shabar>: for out of the serpent's <nachash> root <sheresh> shall come forth <yatsa'> a cockatrice <tsepha`>, and his fruit <p@riy> shall be a fiery <saraph> flying <`uwph> serpent <saraph>.
 

Isa 27:1 ¶ In that day <yowm> the LORD <Y@hovah> with his sore <qasheh> and great <gadowl> and strong <chazaq> sword <chereb> shall punish <paqad> leviathan <livyathan> the piercing <bariyach> serpent <nachash>, even leviathan <livyathan> that crooked <`aqallathown> serpent <nachash>; and he shall slay <harag> the dragon <tanniyn> that is in the sea <yam>.
 

Isa 65:25 The wolf <z@'eb> and the lamb <taleh> shall feed <ra`ah> together <'echad>, and the lion <'ariy> shall eat <'akal> straw <teben> like the bullock <baqar>: and dust <`aphar> shall be the serpent's <nachash> meat <lechem>. They shall not hurt <ra`a`> nor destroy <shachath> in all my holy <qodesh> mountain <har>, saith <'amar> the LORD <Y@hovah>.
 

Jer 8:17 For, behold, I will send <shalach> serpents <nachash>, cockatrices <tsepha`>, among you, which will not be charmed <lachash>, and they shall bite <nashak> you, saith <n@'um> the LORD <Y@hovah>.
 

Jer 46:22 The voice <qowl> thereof shall go <yalak> like a serpent <nachash>; for they shall march <yalak> with an army <chayil>, and come <bow'> against her with axes <qardom>, as hewers <chatab> of wood <`ets>.
 

Am 5:19 As if a man <'iysh> did flee <nuwc> from <paniym> a lion <'ariy>, and a bear <dob> met <paga`> him; or went <bow'> into the house <bayith>, and leaned <camak> his hand <yad> on the wall <qiyr>, and a serpent <nachash> bit <nashak> him.
 

Am 9:3 And though they hide <chaba'> themselves in the top <ro'sh> of Carmel <Karmel>, I will search <chaphas> and take them out <laqach> thence; and though they be hid <cathar> from my sight <`ayin> in the bottom <qarqa`> of the sea <yam>, thence will I command <tsavah> the serpent <nachash>, and he shall bite <nashak> them:
 

Mic 7:17 They shall lick <lachak> the dust <`aphar> like a serpent <nachash>, they shall move <ragaz> out of their holes <micgereth> like worms <zachal> of the earth <'erets>: they shall be afraid <pachad> of the LORD <Y@hovah> our God <'elohiym>, and shall fear <yare'> because of thee.

[other one]

if they were part of the Adamic creation, where did they go after the flood.

 

According to books outside the 66book canon, we hear of the fallen angels doing things with animals.....   minitars, centaurs and the such from Genetic Engineering between species.     It is believed by some who have studied these other writings that the dinosaurs were not created by God, but were God created things that were changed but never meant to be.......   that's why they didn't get an invitation to the ship ride with Noah and the crew.

 

 

Just another possibility....

[ayin jade]

if they were part of the Adamic creation, where did they go after the flood.

 

According to books outside the 66book canon, we hear of the fallen angels doing things with animals.....   minitars, centaurs and the such from Genetic Engineering between species.     It is believed by some who have studied these other writings that the dinosaurs were not created by God, but were God created things that were changed but never meant to be.......   that's why they didn't get an invitation to the ship ride with Noah and the crew.

 

 

Just another possibility....

 

The horse and camel used to exist in the new world (americas) until prehistoric man wiped them out. I suspected that dinos were wiped out after the flood by various things. If not man, then by a changed environment or disease etc. 

[Genesis]

As a Christian what do you think about dinosaurs existing? Does the bible say anything about dinosaurs?

Yes, Dinosaurs did exist. We have the fossil record to prove that.

Scripture refers in Job to, Behemoth. And there is mention of Leviathan and the dragon that is in the sea.Both these references are in Isaiah, as just one example of scripture that can be said to refer to what we call dinosaurs today.

[MorningGlory]

They did exist, the evidence is undeniable.  As to why God did away with them?  Only He knows for sure.