25 Characteristics of Leviathan

The word “Leviathan” appears five times in “the Ancient Writings” (NKJV). God devotes the entire chapter of Job 41 to describe the characteristics of “Leviathan” as He instructs Job about the nature of Job’s situation from a spiritual lens. See the following list for 25 characteristics of Leviathan. This list is not exhaustive, but is to provide a general overview of the characteristics of Leviathan (and/or of pride).  

List of Leviathan Characteristics:

1. Leviathan can be aroused or invited into one’s life through spoken words (or curses) (see Job 3:8).
2. Leviathan is much too elusive, stubborn, and intelligent to be persuaded, tricked, sold on different ideas, or bargained with (see Job 41:1).
3. Leviathan’s authority is broken by God, who crushes the head(s) of the serpent (see Psalm 74:14; Genesis 3:15).
4. Leviathan becomes the bread (defeated war spoils) of God’s people when they humbly submit to God’s leadership in obedience (see Psalm 74:13-14; Numbers 14:9).
5. Leviathan lives in “the sea” (see Psalm 104:25-26; Jonah 2; Psalm 18; 69). 
6. Leviathan is a fleeing serpent; fear is rooted in pride (see Isaiah 27:1).
7. Leviathan is a twisted serpent; he twists communication. Pride is rooted in deception, lies, and darkness. Pride keeps a person ashamed to come clean with others; shame comes from pride (see Isaiah 27:1; John 3:19-21; Proverbs 11:2).
8. Leviathan kills a person’s prayer life. Pride will keep someone from communicating vulnerably with God (see Job 41:3a). (1)
9. As a crocodile has the strongest bite (PSI) in all the animal kingdom, Leviathan uses one’s mouth to slander, accuse, backbite, maim, wound, and hurt others (see Job 41:2b, 11).
10. Leviathan (pride) is harsh, critical, mean, rude, and unkind (see Job 41:3b).
11. Leviathan breaks covenant. Pride causes divorce (see Job 41:4). (1)
12. Leviathan cannot be tamed. Pride will destroy you if it is allowed a place in your life (see Job 41:5; Proverbs 16:18).
13. Leviathan gains influence when a person accuses God of unfairly allowing calamity to happen to them (see Job 41:10b; 7:12ff; 33:8ff).
14. Leviathan has an entitlement mindset, desiring comfort over submission to God no matter the circumstances or cost (see Job 41:11).
15. Leviathan’s defense mechanism is pride. It is unwilling to reason or to change the way it thinks (or repent) (see Job 41:15-17). 
16. Leviathan shuts down the opportunity for honest communication, vulnerability, intimacy, or spiritual conversations in relationships with God and others (see Job 41:15-17).
17. Leviathan has haughty eyes; it looks down on others with contempt (see Job 41:18b; Proverbs 6:16-19).
18. Leviathan accuses others, pinpointing their flaws, past mistakes, sins, failures, and shortcomings (see Job 41:19,21; Ephesians 6:16; Revelation 12).
19. Leviathan will “blow smoke” as one comes up with all sorts of excuses or “smoke-screens” for why they won’t change their beliefs, position, actions, or lifestyle (see Job 41:20). 
20. Leviathan is strong-willed and stubborn (see Job 41:22a).
21. Leviathan (pride) brings about sorrow and despair (see Job 41:22b; Proverbs 16:18).
22. Leviathan (pride) is hard-hearted (see Job 41:24).
23. Leviathan won’t be affected by mere confessions, declarations, prayers, proclamations, quoted Scriptures, or religious rituals that proceed from soulish human effort (see Job 41:26-29; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 58:3-5; James 4:1-5).
24. Rather, Leviathan is subdued by the Spirit of God in a heart that is humble, repentant, and surrendered to God (see James 4:6-10; Psalm 91).
25. Leviathan entertains high and lofty speculations that contradict the intimate knowledge of God (see Job 41:34a; 2 Corinthians 10:1-6)

(1) “Exposing And Defeating Leviathan – How To Handle Pride.” Isaiah Saldivar. YouTube. Re-accessed August 10, 2023. 

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For more information on knowing God personally see “Knowing the God Who Fights for You” or other articles here.