As per biblical text, it was God who crafted dinosaurs along with all other creations.
There’s a lot of debate about the extinction of dinosaurs, even within Christian circles—and there probably always will be. Let’s take a look at dinosaurs from a Biblical perspective. Where did they come from? Are they mentioned in the story of creation? And what does that mean for us today?
What are Dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs describe a group of very large reptiles that roamed the Earth at one point and are now extinct (no longer around). According to skeletons that have been found, we understand that dinosaurs were real—they definitely did exist!
Some believe these beasts were annihilated by a meteor. Some believe that climate change brought about their end. According to the Bible, two of each species would’ve lived on Noah’s ark for a while and then gone on their way, coming to an end after the flood—perhaps hunted by people out of fear, perhaps affected by the climate change brought on by the flood, we can’t know for sure. It would obviously depend largely on how big Noah’s ark was.
Let’s take a closer look at what we do know from Scripture. After all, God’s Word is perfect—we can trust its accounts of interesting and really big beasts!
Where Did Dinosaurs Come From? Did God Create Them?
Gen 1:24 (ESV) And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.
From the account of creation in Genesis 1, we understand that the dinosaurs, along with all the other creatures of the Earth were created by God on the sixth day. This was before sin and death entered the world so these beasts would’ve all lived in perfect harmony with one another and people, enjoying a plant-based diet—not like Jurassic Park! Of course, all this changed after the fall of man.
John 1:3 (ESV) All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In case there is any doubt about the creation of the world—and dinosaurs—John, in his gospel, confirms that ALL things were created by Jesus (who is God). The Old and New Testaments agree (as they must) that if it exists or existed, then it was designed, created, and sustained by God. Simply put, God, in His perfect wisdom, designed dinosaurs to be part of our world.
He created dinosaurs just as He created Adam and Eve, fowl, butterflies, and sea cows.
Dinosaurs in The Bible
Job 40:18 (ESV) “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; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.
For many, this account of Behemoth (huge or monstrous creature), describes a plant-eating dinosaur—and you can see why. No other animal has a tail that can be compared to a cedar tree which averages 60-120 ft in height! Just like the other wonders of creation, the animal’s size and power are meant to point us to the power of God, the Creator.
Isaiah 27:1 (ESV) 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.
Job 41:15-21 (ESV) His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal. One is so near to another that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.
Leviathan is the other monstrous creature (likely water dinosaur) famously mentioned in three different books of the Bible—Job, Psalms, and Isaiah. We learn that it was a fierce water dragon with armor-like plates on its back and that he breathed out fire! He likely inspired the many ancient myths and legends that include dragons and capture our imaginations even today.
A Christian’s Response to Dinosaurs
The above scriptures make it clear that people and magnificent beasts roamed the earth at the same time. These magnificent beasts served to not only remind man of his frailty and dependence on God, but of the power and strength of the One who created them. The Biblical response to seeing a dinosaur was to worship God!
The next time you see a really cool dinosaur skeleton, be encouraged. These skeletons don’t dispute God or promote other theories of life on our planet (despite what some might say). On the contrary—they affirm Scripture! Smile, and lift up your eyes to the One who made all things well—and give Him all the glory!
And while many believe the creation story is a creation myth, similar to what many other civilizations had at this time, that wouldn’t change the fact that God created all things – including dinosaurs.
Revelation 4:11 (ESV) “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
