Whale, the rendering in the A. V., (besides κῆτος,Matthew 12:40) of two very closely related Heb. terms: תָּן, tan (or rather תִּנַּים, tannim’, as a sing., Ezekiel 32:2; “dragon,” 29:3; elsewhere as a plural and rendered “dragons,” Job 30:29; Psalms 44; 19; Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; 35:7; 42; 20; Jeremiah 9:11; 10:22; 14:6; 49; 33; 51; 37), and תִּנַּין, tannnin’ (Genesis 1; 21; Job 7:12; “serpent,” Exodus 7:9-10,12; “sea- monster,” Lamentations 4:3; elsewhere also “dragon,” Deuteronomy 32:33; Nehemiah 2:13; Psalms 74:13; 91:13; 148:7; Isaiah 27:1; 51; 9; Jeremiah 51:34). The texts where these are used in general present pictures of ruined cities and of desolation in the wilderness, rendering it difficult to determine what kind of creatures in particular are meant, except as may be inferred from other passages (Job 30:29; Psalms 44:19-20; Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; 35; 7; Jeremiah 9; 11; 10; 22; 49; 33; 51; 34; 37). Where the term is associated with beasts or birds of the desert, it clearly indicates serpents of various species, both small and large (Isaiah 43; 20; Psalms 91:13; also Exodus 6:9-12), and in one passage a poisonous reptile is distinctly referred to (Deuteronomy 32:33). SEE SERPENT. In Jeremiah 14:6, where wild asses snuffing up the wind are compared to dragons, the image will appear in its full strength, if we understand by dragons great boas and python-serpents, such as are figured in the Presenting mosaics. They were common in ancient times, and are still far from rare in the tropics of both continents. Several of the species grow to an enormous size, and, during their periods of activity, are in the habit of raising a considerable portion of their length into a vertical position, like pillars, ten or twelve feet high, in order to survey the vicinity above the surrounding bushes, while with open jaws they drink in a quantity of the current air. The same character exists in smaller serpents; but it is not obvious, unless when, threatening to strike, they stand on end nearly three fourths of their length. Most, if not all, of these species are mute, or can utter only a hissing sound; and, although the malli-pambu, the great rock -snake of Southern Asia, is said to wail in the night, no naturalist has ever witnessed such a phenomenon, nor heard it asserted that any other boa, python, or serpent had a real voice; but they hiss, and, like crocodiles, may utter sounds somewhat akin to howling, a fact that will sufficiently explain the passage in Micah (Micah 1:8). When used in connection with rivers, the term probably signifies the crocodile (Psalms 74:13; Isaiah 27:1; 51; 9; Ezekiel 29:3; 32:2), and when allusion is had to larger bodies of water, probably some of the cetaceous mammalia (Genesis 1; 21; Psalms 148:7; Lamentations 4:3). SEE LEVIATHAN. The above interpretation is according to that of Bochart (Hieroz. 2, 429), who proposes always to read תִּנַּין in the sense of huge serpents; but others, following Rab. Tafichum Hieros., suggest a different etymology for the plur. forms תִּנַּים and תִּנַּין (the isolated case of a sing. form תִּנַּים, in, Ezekiel 29:3, being taken for a corrupt reading for תִּנַּין, as in some MSS.), from the root תָּנִן, in the tropical sense of stretched out in running, and applied to the jackal, a swift animal, which answers well to the description where these forms occur, being a creature living in deserts (Psalms 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; 35:7; 43; 20; Jeremiah 9:11; 10:22; 14:6; 49; 33; 51; 37), suckling its young (Lamentations 4:3), and uttering a wailing cry (Job 20:29; Micah 1:8). The other passages in which the forms, sing. תִּנַּין, plur. תִּנַּינַים, occur are thus left to be explained as before, namely, as signifying,
(1) a great fish or sea-monster, e.g. a whale, shark, etc. (Genesis 1:21; Job 7:12; Isaiah 27:1; Psalms 145:3,7.);
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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia
Keywords: Whale, great fish, dragon, sea monster, sea creature, Jonah, Jonah and whale, Jonah great fish, Jonah swallowed
Bible reference(s): Deuteronomy 32:33, Exodus 6:9, Exodus 7:9, Ezekiel 29:3, Ezekiel 32:2, Genesis 1:21, Isaiah 13:22, Isaiah 27:1, Isaiah 34:13, Isaiah 35:7, Jeremiah 10:22, Jeremiah 14:6, Jeremiah 51:34, Jeremiah 9:11, Job 20:29, Job 30:29, Job 7:12, Lamentations 4:3, Matthew 12:40, Micah 1:8, Nehemiah 2:13, Psalms 145:3, Psalms 148:7, Psalms 44:19, Psalms 74:13, Psalms 91:13
Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.
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