Dinosaurs

What does the Bible say about dinosaurs? Were they real creatures? If so, do dinosaurs disprove the Genesis account of creation? These are good questions that deserve an answer. In 1822, a man named Gideon Mantell discovered an unusual fossil of animal teeth. Unable to identify the large animal from which the teeth came, he referred to it as “iguanodon,” meaning iguana tooth. By 1842, so many fossils had been discovered that a British anatomist named Sir Richard Owen coined the term “dinosaur,” meaning terribly great lizard.

Evolutionists teach that dinosaurs lived on earth millions of years before humans, and that no man has ever seen a living dinosaur. However, there is convincing evidence to the contrary. For instance, “The Natural Bridges National Monument” is in a desolate area of southeastern Utah. There are three natural bridges there, including Kachina Bridge. At the bottom of that bridge are Indian petroglyphs which predate A.D. 1500. One of the petroglyphs depicts a plant-eating dinosaur. Now, the only way they could have accurately depicted dinosaurs is if they (or others) had seen them. It should also be noted that “The Dinosaur Museum” is not far from the natural bridges and contains hip-bone fragments of a plant-eating dinosaur.

Some have questioned why the Bible does not mention dinosaurs. First, there are many animals not mentioned in the Bible. Second, the term “dinosaur” was not coined until 1842. Third, I do believe that the Bible speaks of dinosaurs, though they are not called by that name. For instance, Job 40:15-18 says, “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.”

What is “Behemoth?” The ESV footnote says, “A large animal, exact identity unknown.” While some suggest that the animal described is an elephant or hippo, the context seems to prove otherwise. For instance, Behemoth “eats grass like an ox” (v. 15). That rules out an elephant. Behemoth also “makes his tail stiff like a cedar” (v. 17). That rules out a hippo. This writer believes that Behemoth is what we know as a dinosaur!

The Bible teaches that all land-living animals, including dinosaurs, were created on day 6 of creation. That is the same day that man was created. Hence, humans and dinosaurs coexisted on the earth.