In several ancient biblical texts, Yahweh is portrayed in ways that challenge the traditional understanding of a purely benevolent God. Paul Wallis invites us to reconsider these descriptions, suggesting that what might appear to be symbolic language could actually be references to real, physical creatures—possibly even dragons. Rather than dismissing these vivid depictions as purely metaphorical, Paul argues that they may reflect real encounters with powerful, dragon-like beings.

In The Book of Job (Job 41), one of the most ancient texts of the Bible, we find the figure of Leviathan, a creature that is described in striking detail. Leviathan is said to:

“Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from its nostrils, as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth.” – (Job 41:18-21)

This vivid description clearly evokes the image of a dragon, complete with fire-breathing and armor-like scales. Paul highlights that the Bible isn’t alone in recounting such creatures. Ancient texts from other cultures also describe beings with similar traits. He raises the question: Could the writers of these ancient scriptures have been describing real encounters with dragon-like creatures?

Moreover, Yahweh himself compares his own strength to that of Leviathan, boasting of the creature’s might as if it were a living testament to divine power. Paul suggests that this consistent depiction of fire-breathing creatures might not be purely symbolic but instead a reflection of real beings that ancient peoples encountered or knew about.

Paul also points to The Book of Revelation (Revelation 13:1-2, 11), where another entity described as “The Beast” has features remarkably similar to a dragon:

“The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but it had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion.” – (Revelation 13:2)

“Then I saw a second beast, it had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.” – (Revelation 13:11)

These descriptions, Paul argues, suggest that what we might today label as “mythical creatures” were once considered real by ancient cultures. The Bible, particularly in Job and Revelation, might be documenting actual beings that walked the earth—creatures whose appearances and abilities we associate today with dragons.

In an even more surprising twist, Paul brings attention to the ways Yahweh himself is described. In 2 Samuel (2 Samuel 22:8-16), King David speaks of Yahweh in terms that parallel the fire-breathing Leviathan:.

“Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth; burning coals blazed out of it.” – (2 Samuel 22:9)

Here, Yahweh’s appearance and actions are not only terrifying but are explicitly connected with fire, smoke, and destruction—imagery often associated with dragons in various ancient cultures. Paul suggests that these passages challenge the common view of Yahweh as purely spiritual. Instead, they hint at the possibility that Yahweh was seen, at least in part, as a physical, dragon-like being.

The prophet Hosea offers another account of Yahweh’s ferocity, using imagery that links Yahweh with powerful predators:

“I will come upon them like a lion, like a leopard I will lurk by the path; like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack and rip them open.” – (Hosea 13:7-8)

These passages paint Yahweh not just as a divine judge, but as a fearsome entity, closely aligned with primal, predatory creatures. Paul argues that this may reflect ancient peoples’ actual experiences or knowledge of terrifying, dragon-like beings.

Paul encourages us to ask: If these vivid descriptions appear across different texts and are often consistent, could it be that the ancient writers weren’t merely using metaphorical language but were documenting real creatures? Could fire-breathing beings like Leviathan, and perhaps even Yahweh in certain contexts, be descriptions of physical creatures that existed in the ancient world?

Paul’s approach avoids dismissing these accounts as mere mythology. Instead, he suggests that the ancients could have been recording their interactions with powerful beings, whose characteristics align closely with the dragons found in stories worldwide. These could be creatures from our distant past, entities from other realms, or even extraterrestrial beings.

Paul pushes us to rethink the way we view these ancient texts. The detailed descriptions of fire, smoke, and destruction seem too consistent to be brushed aside as simple metaphor. Instead, they may point to a more complex and grounded understanding of Yahweh—one that includes aspects of physical, even dragon-like power.

By exploring these possibilities, Paul opens up new interpretations of the Bible, inviting us to consider the ancient accounts not just as theological or symbolic texts but as documents that may hint at forgotten histories or encounters with beings we no longer fully understand.

In conclusion, Paul’s insights encourage a more open-minded approach to biblical texts, suggesting that creatures like Leviathan—and even Yahweh in certain contexts—could have been far more real and tangible than modern readers might assume. Through his reflections, we are invited to explore the possibility that the gods and monsters of ancient scripture were not so far removed from the physical reality of our world.