The Great Serpents

I recently discovered that on the fifth day of creation God created the great sea serpents. Don’t believe me, check the Hebrew of Genesis 1:21.  הַתַּנִּינִם (HaTaniNim) often translated as “The whales” which is the very same word used in Exodus 7:9.  This is when Aaron was directed to cast down his staff so that it would become a לְתַנִּין (LeTanin), a serpent.

So why are there so many translations of Genesis 1:21 which do not translate this word as serpents? If fact, I have yet to find a single translation which translates this as literally, “The great serpents”. The following is a sample of translations of Genesis 1:21:

KJ21  And God created great whales

ASV   And God created the great sea-monsters

AMP   God created the great sea monsters

AMPC God created the great sea monsters

BRG   And God created great whales

CSB   So God created the large sea-creatures

CEB God created the great sea animals

CJB God created the great sea creatures 

CEV   So God made the giant sea monsters

DARBY   And God created the great sea monsters

DRA And God created the great whales

ERV   So God created the large sea animals

EHV God created the large sea creatures

ESV So God created the great sea creatures

ESVUK So God created the great sea creatures

EXB So God created [1:1] the large sea ·animals [or monsters]

GNV   Then God created the great whales

GW   So God created the large sea creatures

GNT   So God created the great sea monsters

HCSB   So God created the large sea-creatures

ICB   So God created the large sea animals

ISV   So God created every kind of magnificent marine creature

JUB    And God created the great dragons

KJV   And God created great whales 

AKJV   And God created great whales

LEB   So God created the great sea creatures

TLB   So God created great sea animals

MSG   God created the huge whales

This is not every translation but enough to show the obscurity of the translation. The one exception I found was in the Jubilee Bible 2000 translation, “and God created the dragons”.  Of course this is just one translation example among others that I ponder in the Bible.

The translation of, “Great Sea Serpents” rings true to me. What do you think? What other truths would this understanding lead us into? Does this relate to the Serpent in the Garden?  If anyone knows of a translation which uses ‘Great Sea Serpents” please share below.

Blessings and Keep Ceeking Truth!