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# leviathan

noun (a leviathan, leviathans; Leviathan)

«leviathan» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (Bible) A huge sea monster described in the Bible, in books such as Job, Psalms and Isaiah. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#m1)
2. Anything very large and powerful, such as a huge ship, whale or company. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#m2)
3. (history) «Leviathan» is the title of a famous 1651 book by Thomas Hobbes about the power of government. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#m3)

### In the lessons

In Bible lessons, Leviathan is a mighty creature showing God's power; in stories and adventure books, a leviathan is a giant sea beast or a gigantic ship. In news, a big company can be called a «corporate leviathan». Phrases: a leviathan of the deep, a leviathan of a ship.

### Examples

- In the Bible, Leviathan is a great sea monster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#x1)
- The blue whale is the leviathan of the oceans. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#x2)
- The cruise ship was a leviathan, taller than any building in the port. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#x3)
- Sailors told tales of a leviathan that swallowed ships. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#x4)
- Christians read about Leviathan in the Book of Job. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#x5)
- The new supermarket is a leviathan that has put small shops out of business. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/#x6)

### Note

Countable. Pronounced luh-VY-uh-thun. Capital L when it means the Bible monster or Hobbes's book. A literary, dramatic word; in everyday talk say «giant» or «monster».

## In Jewish tradition

In the Bible it is a giant sea creature that God made, which humans cannot catch or tame.

**Interpretation.** Tradition says God will one day make a feast for the righteous from Leviathan in the world to come. Some also read it as a picture of the power of chaos that only God rules.

### Examples

- There go the ships; there is leviathan, whom Thou hast formed to sport therein. (Writings PSA.104.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/leviathan/#x1)
- Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan. (Writings JOB.3.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/leviathan/#x2)
- Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fish-hook? or press down his tongue with a cord? (Writings JOB.40.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/leviathan/#x3)

### Note

Countable. Pronounced luh-VY-uh-thun. Capital L when it means the Bible monster or Hobbes's book. A literary, dramatic word; in everyday talk say «giant» or «monster».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «leviathan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leviathan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«leviathan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/leviathan.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «leviathan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/leviathan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«leviathan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/leviathan.html) on Mova free.