Topical Encyclopedia
The term "monstrous" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of monstrosity can be explored through various biblical narratives and descriptions of creatures, behaviors, and events that evoke a sense of the unnatural or the grotesque. In Scripture, monstrosity often symbolizes chaos, evil, or divine judgment.
Biblical Creatures and Imagery1.
Leviathan and Behemoth: In the Book of Job, two formidable creatures are described—Leviathan and Behemoth. These creatures are often interpreted as symbols of chaos and power beyond human control.
Job 41:1-34 describes Leviathan as a fearsome sea creature, "His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together" (
Job 41:15). Behemoth, described in
Job 40:15-24, is a powerful land creature, "His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit" (
Job 40:17). These creatures, while not monstrous in a moral sense, represent the awe-inspiring and sometimes terrifying aspects of God's creation.
2.
The Beast in Revelation: The Book of Revelation contains vivid imagery of monstrous beings, particularly the Beast rising from the sea.
Revelation 13:1-2 describes, "And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads." This beast symbolizes oppressive political powers and spiritual deception, embodying the monstrous nature of evil in opposition to God.
Monstrous Behavior and Sin1.
The Nephilim: In
Genesis 6:1-4, the Nephilim are mentioned as "the mighty men who were of old, men of renown" (
Genesis 6:4). Their presence is associated with the corruption and violence that led to the flood, representing a monstrous deviation from God's intended order.
2.
Sodom and Gomorrah: The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are often cited as examples of monstrous sinfulness.
Genesis 19 describes the depravity of these cities, leading to their destruction by divine judgment. The behavior of the inhabitants is depicted as exceedingly wicked, illustrating the monstrous nature of sin when humanity turns away from God's righteousness.
Symbolism of MonstrosityMonstrosity in the Bible often serves as a symbol of the spiritual and moral chaos that ensues when humanity rebels against God. It is a representation of the disorder and destruction that sin brings into the world. The imagery of monstrous beings and actions underscores the need for divine intervention and redemption.
Divine Judgment and RestorationWhile the Bible presents images of monstrosity as symbols of evil and chaos, it also emphasizes God's ultimate authority over all creation. The monstrous is often used to highlight the contrast between the fallen world and the order and peace that God intends. In the end, God's sovereignty prevails, as depicted in
Revelation 19:20 , where the beast is captured and defeated, "But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf."
In summary, while the term "monstrous" is not explicitly used in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout Scripture to illustrate the consequences of sin, the power of evil, and the ultimate triumph of God's righteousness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Marvelous; strange.
2. (a.) Having the qualities of a monster; deviating greatly from the natural form or character; abnormal; as, a monstrous birth.
3. (a.) Extraordinary in a way to excite wonder, dislike, apprehension, etc.; -- said of size, appearance, color, sound, etc.; as, a monstrous height; a monstrous ox; a monstrous story.
4. (a.) Extraordinary on account of ugliness, viciousness, or wickedness; hateful; horrible; dreadful.
5. (a.) Abounding in monsters.
6. (adv.) Exceedingly; very; very much.
Strong's Hebrew
6381. pala -- to be surpassing or extraordinary... 3), made his wonderful (1), made marvelous (1), makes a difficult (1), makes a special
(1), marvelous (1), marvelously (1), miracles (5),
monstrous things (1
...Library
But Let thisMonstrous and Impious Fancy be Put Far from Us...
... Book II. 45 But let thismonstrous and impious fancy be put far from us?
But let thismonstrous and impious fancy be put [3718...
The Case ofMonstrous Births.
... Chapter 87."The Case ofMonstrous Births. We are not justified in affirming
even of monstrosities, which are born and live, however...
Disclosure of theMonstrous Tenets of the Manich??ans.
... On the Morals of the Manich??ans. Chapter 16. "Disclosure of theMonstrous Tenets
of the Manich??ans. 38. O the obscurity of the nature of things!...
Whether CertainMonstrous Races of Men are Derived from the Stock...
... Book XVI. Chapter 8."Whether CertainMonstrous Races of Men are Derived
from the Stock of Adam or Noah's Sons. It is also asked...
I Confess That, in Reflecting on SuchMonstrous Stories in My Own...
... Book V. 30 I confess that, in reflecting on suchmonstrous stories in my
own mind? I confess that, in reflecting on suchmonstrous...
"As Verily as Sin is Unclean, So Verily is it Unkind" --A Disease...
... CERTAIN POINTS IN THE FOREGOING FOURTEEN REVELATIONS CHAPTER LXIII "As verily as
sin is unclean, so verily is it unkind""a disease ormonstrous thing against...
After the Matter of the Diagram, He Brings Forward Certain...
... Chapter XXVII. After the matter of the diagram, he brings forward certain
monstrous statements? After the matter of the diagram...
That the Mind Commandeth the Mind, but it Willeth not Entirely.
... Not Entirely. 21. Whence is thismonstrous thing? And why is it? Let... answer
me. Whence is thismonstrous thing? and why is it? The...
The Human Race Then was Wasting
... impossible to evade the law, since it had been laid down by God because [213] of
the transgression, and the result was in truth at oncemonstrous and unseemly.3...
After this He Continues as Follows: "They Speak, in the Next Place...
... After this he continues as follows: "They speak, in the next place, of a deluge,
and of amonstrous [3875] ark, having within it all things, and of a dove and...
Thesaurus
Monstrous (1 Occurrence)... 1. (a.) Marvelous; strange. 2. (a.) Having the qualities of a monster; deviating
greatly from the natural form or character; abnormal; as, a
monstrous birth.
...Monster (10 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Any thing or person of unnatural or excessive ugliness, deformity, wickedness,
or cruelty. 4. (a.)Monstrous in size. 5. (vt) To makemonstrous. Int....
Rhodes (2 Occurrences)
... Shakespeare represented Caesar as bestriding the world like a colossus-this gigantic
figure is conceived as an image of a human being ofmonstrous size with...
Enormity (2 Occurrences)
... magnitude; atrociousness; as, the enormity of a disaster; the state or quality of
exceeding a measure or rule, or of being immoderate,monstrous, or outrageous...
Enormous (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Exceedingly wicked; outrageous; atrocious;monstrous; as, an enormous
crime. Multi-Version Concordance Enormous (5 Occurrences)....
Dragon (20 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A fabulous animal, generally represented as amonstrous winged serpent or
lizard, with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful...
Monsters (5 Occurrences)
After (10866 Occurrences)
... Sabbath in the civil year (about the middle of September) being counted as the
"first-first" Sabbath; (4) the term deuteroprotos, is amonstrous combination of...
Slapping (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Slap. 2. (a.) Very large;monstrous;
big. Multi-Version Concordance Slapping (1 Occurrence)....
Triune
... for at least four centuries, any other form was either unknown, or regarded, unless
in the case of dangerous illness, as an exceptional, almostmonstrous case...
Resources
What was the leviathan? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the behemoth? | GotQuestions.orgIs it wrong for a Christian to be a fan of superhero fiction? | GotQuestions.orgMonstrous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
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