Dinosaurs are some of the most fascinating creatures that ever lived.
Their massive size, sharp teeth, and ancient history capture the imagination of both children and adults.
But when it comes to the Bible, many people wonder—where do dinosaurs fit in?
Did they exist at the same time as humans?
Why doesn’t the Bible mention them directly?
Or does it?
The Bible may not use the word “dinosaur” because that term wasn’t invented until the 1800s, but it does describe large, powerful creatures that sound very much like dinosaurs.
By looking at Scripture, history, and science, we can uncover what the Bible really says about these mysterious animals.
Did Dinosaurs Exist According to the Bible?
The Bible teaches that God created all things.
Genesis 1:1 begins with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
This includes every animal, large and small.
Genesis 1:24-25 states, “And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so.”
Since dinosaurs were land animals, they would have been part of this creation.
Because humans were created on the same day (Genesis 1:26-27), this suggests that dinosaurs and humans once lived at the same time.
This challenges the popular belief that dinosaurs lived millions of years before humans.
The Bible does not support evolution but instead teaches that God created everything in six days.
If this is true, then dinosaurs lived alongside mankind, even though they may not have been common in human-inhabited areas.
Are Dinosaurs Mentioned in the Bible?
While the Bible does not use the word “dinosaur,” it does describe creatures that sound a lot like them.
Two of the most mysterious creatures mentioned in Scripture are Behemoth and Leviathan.
These creatures are described with great detail, and their descriptions do not match any modern-day animals.
Behemoth – A Land Giant
Behemoth is described in Job 40:15-19.
“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly! Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron. It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with His sword.”
Some suggest that Behemoth could have been an elephant or a hippopotamus, but neither of those animals has a tail like a cedar tree.
A cedar tree is large, strong, and thick—much like the tail of a sauropod dinosaur, such as a Brachiosaurus.
If Behemoth was a real creature, it may have been a dinosaur that once roamed the earth.
Leviathan – The Fire-Breathing Sea Creature
Leviathan is another mysterious creature described in the Bible.
Job 41:1-2 introduces it with these words: “Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?”
Leviathan is described as a powerful, untamable sea creature.
But the most shocking detail comes in Job 41:18-21.
“Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth.”
This description sounds like a dragon—a creature found in legends around the world.
Could Leviathan have been a massive, dinosaur-like sea creature with some form of fire-breathing ability?
Some scientists believe that certain animals, such as the bombardier beetle, have natural chemical reactions that produce bursts of heat and gas.
It is possible that Leviathan had a similar ability.
What Happened to the Dinosaurs?
If dinosaurs were created by God and lived alongside humans, what happened to them?
The Bible gives a possible explanation—the global flood in Noah’s time.
Genesis 6:17 says, “I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.”
This flood would have destroyed most land animals, including many dinosaurs.
However, God commanded Noah to bring two of every kind of animal onto the ark (Genesis 6:19-20).
If dinosaurs were alive at that time, it is possible that young or smaller versions were taken onto the ark.
After the flood, the world changed dramatically.
The climate, food sources, and environments may not have been suitable for dinosaurs to thrive.
Like many other animals throughout history, they may have eventually gone extinct.
Are Dinosaurs Mentioned in Ancient Cultures?
One fascinating clue about dinosaurs in the Bible is the existence of dragon legends around the world.
Nearly every ancient culture has stories of large, reptilian creatures with great strength and power.
The Chinese, Europeans, and Native Americans all have dragon myths, many of which describe creatures similar to dinosaurs.
Even artwork and carvings from ancient civilizations depict creatures resembling dinosaurs.
If people thousands of years ago never saw dinosaurs, why would they create such similar stories?
Could it be that these legends are based on real creatures that existed at the same time as humans?
The Bible and Science – Can They Agree?
Many people believe that science and the Bible contradict each other when it comes to dinosaurs.
However, there is growing evidence that suggests they may not be as far apart as some think.
Fossil discoveries have revealed soft tissues, blood vessels, and proteins in dinosaur bones—something that should not be possible if these creatures were millions of years old.
This suggests that dinosaurs may have lived much more recently than previously believed.
Additionally, many fossils show signs of rapid burial, which fits with the idea of a global flood.
While mainstream science teaches that dinosaurs lived long before humans, the Bible presents a different timeline.
For believers, faith in God’s Word is more reliable than human theories, which often change.
Hebrews 11:3 reminds us, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
What Should Christians Believe About Dinosaurs?
As Christians, we should always turn to the Bible as our ultimate source of truth.
While science continues to make discoveries, God’s Word never changes.
Psalm 33:4 says, “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”
Dinosaurs were created by God.
They were part of His creation, just like all other animals.
Dinosaurs and humans likely coexisted.
The Bible suggests that all land animals were made on the same day as humans.
Some dinosaurs may be described in the Bible.
Behemoth and Leviathan seem to fit the descriptions of massive, dinosaur-like creatures.
The flood likely caused their extinction.
The great flood dramatically changed the earth, making it difficult for many animals, including dinosaurs, to survive.
Dragon legends may be based on real creatures.
Ancient cultures recorded stories of large reptilian creatures that may have been dinosaurs.
Final Thoughts
Dinosaurs remain one of the most fascinating mysteries of history.
Though the Bible does not use the word “dinosaur,” it does describe incredible creatures that sound very similar.
God created all life, including dinosaurs, and though they no longer roam the earth, their fossils remind us of His power and creativity.
For believers, the most important truth is that God is the Creator of all things.
Whether dinosaurs lived thousands or millions of years ago, one fact remains—God is in control of history.
One day, when we stand before Him, all of our questions will be answered.
Until then, we can trust that His Word is true and that everything He made has a purpose.