בְּהֵמוֹת
𐤁𐤄𐤌𐤅𐤕
bᵉhêmôwth
H930 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A large, powerful, and untamed land animal; specifically, a unique mighty beast referenced in the book of Job, likely reflecting a hippopotamus or a similar massive animal native to the Nile region. Used in Hebrew as a singular noun, despite its grammatically plural form.
Semantic Range
mythic or exemplary beast; large land animal; hippopotamus (contextually); monstrous creature; symbol of untamed power
Root / Etymology
Root is uncertain, but likely from בְּהֵמָה (behemah, 'beast, animal'), with a plural ending -ות (-ôth) used here as a singular of majestic or intensive sense. Some suggest an Egyptian origin, possibly related to terms for the hippopotamus, but this remains unproven. The Hebrew construction appears to employ intensive plurality (pluralis excellentiae) rather than denoting literal plurality.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּהֵמוֹת (bᵉhêmôwth) is attested only in Job 40:15, where it describes a creature of immense strength and size, drawing on imagery evocative of the hippopotamus but presented as a singular, almost mythic animal. Unlike standard usage of בְּהֵמָה (beast, animal), בְּהֵמוֹת is not used as a generic plural for animals but rather as a specific and exceptional being. The literary context in Job contrasts בְּהֵמוֹת with לִוְיָתָן (Leviathan), another mythic creature, underscoring its extraordinary nature. Later Jewish tradition, as well as early translations such as the Septuagint and Vulgate, connect בְּהֵמוֹת with the hippopotamus, but also interpret it as emblematic of untamable strength. In post-biblical and modern Hebrew, behemoth may refer figuratively to any huge and powerful creature, echoing the term's original connotations of size and might. English translations that treat it as 'Behemoth' (a proper noun) reflect its singularity and mythic status in the Joban context rather than as a literal plural 'beasts.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
in form a plural or בְּהֵמָה, but really a singular of Egyptian derivation; a water-ox, i.e. the hippopotamus or Nile-horse; Behemoth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בהמ (b-h-m) — beast, animal, brute creature
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H929 | בְּהֵמָה | in the beast |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H930-01 |
בְ֭הֵמוֹת | vehemot | HNcmsa |
Behemoth | mighty beast | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H930-01 |
Job 40:15 | בְ֭הֵמוֹת | vehemot | HNcmsa |
Behemoth | mighty beast |