In Isaiah, chapter twenty-seven, verse one, “In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing serpent, even Leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.” This imagery symbolizes evil and the sinful world in revolt against God. At the end of time, all who oppose God will be destroyed.
Three other verses in the Old Testament mention “Leviathan” apart from the theme verse. However, Leviathan is first mentioned in Job forty-one, verse one, “Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? Or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?” The description of the Leviathan is yet further to convince Job of his own weakness and of God’s almighty power. Whether this Leviathan be a whale or a crocodile is disputed. The Lord, having shown Job how unable he was to deal with the Leviathan, sets forth his own power in that mighty creature. If such language describes the terrible force of Leviathan, what words can express the power of God’s wrath?
The next scripture of this sea creature is from Psalms seventy-four, verse fourteen, “Thou brakest the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.” The word “Leviathan” is used here describing the sea monsters. The sea monsters were killed, and, being thrown on shore, were gathered for food.
The final verse that includes this whale or crocodile is Psalms one hundred and four, verse twenty-six, “There go the ships: there is that Leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.” Here evidently an animal of the sea, and probably a whale. Therefore, Leviathan can be described as an undisputed creature, an opposing force against God and His people, the believers in Christ.