JOB 40:15-18

 Q: Isn't this an accurate depiction of a land-dwelling dinosaur? It can’t be a 

hippopotamus (as most Bible scholars believe) because of its huge tail.

In the first place, poetic language is used to describe this beast (limbs of brass, 

bones of iron, etc). And as almost all translations show, its tail isn’t said to be 

as big as a cedar tree, but only as stiff or straight as one. This picture does not 

fit most dinosaurs, which had very flexible tails. In addition, many 

commentators believe that “tail” is actually a euphemism for the male sexual 

organ, described as “thigh”  or “foot” elsewhere in the Bible. (see Hartley, 

The Book of Job).