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Leviathan

Folklore
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A biblical sea monster symbolizing primordial chaos, divine judgment, and the power of God over creation.

Detailed Definition
Leviathan appears in Job and Isaiah as a symbol of God’s might over chaos. In poetry, it embodies primordial terror, political tyranny, and the sublime, frequently invoked in apocalyptic or philosophical verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Leviathan, biblical sea monster, appears in apocalyptic poetry: "Leviathan coils in deep—chaos waiting for the end"; Poets use it to explore primordial fear: "Its breath makes storms, its scales are night—Leviathan rules where light fails"; In political verse, it symbolizes oppressive power: "Hobbes named the state Leviathan—swallowing freedom whole"; Its majesty inspires awe: "God made Leviathan to play—beauty fierce in ocean’s heart"
Additional Notes
Leviathan: A sea monster in Hebrew Bible and Jewish mythology, symbolizing chaos and God’s power over it. Later adopted in Christian eschatology and Hobbes’s political theory. In poetry, it embodies primordial chaos, overwhelming power, or systemic oppression. Useful in apocalyptic or ecological verse; contrast with Behemoth (land monster).
Other Meanings of “Leviathan”
Also Known As
Leviathan (biblical sea monster) Rahab Dragon
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