The dragon myth is a symbolic narrative that explores universal realities of chaos, death, terror, and goodness.
The biblical authors employed the dragon myth to convey the victory of Yahweh, the establishment of goodness and order, and the downfall of tyrants and empires.
Deep dives
The Dragon as a Symbol of Chaos and Death
Dragons were prevalent in ancient Near Eastern literature and symbolized chaos and death. They represented the forces that threaten the good things in the world. This common symbolic language was used to explore universal concerns of human existence, such as the origins and nature of the cosmos. The biblical authors also employed this symbolism in their narratives and poetry to express these universal experiences and feelings.
Biblical Authors' Adaptation of the Dragon Myth
The biblical authors adopted and adapted the Dragon myth in their storytelling. They employed various strategies to tame the dragon symbolism. These strategies included demonstrating that whatever the storm gods like Baal or Marduk could do, Yahweh could do better, reframing the power and significance of the dragon to downsize its threat, and using the dragon as a symbol for violent humans and their kingdoms that spread death and disorder.
The Dragon Myth as a Symbolic Narrative
The dragon myth is not meant to be taken literally but as a symbolic narrative that explores the human experience and addresses universal realities. It provides concrete meaning and expression to the experiences of chaos, death, terror, and goodness, order, and beauty that all humans encounter. The biblical authors employed the language of myth and symbolism to convey these profound realities.
The Dragon Myth Throughout the Biblical Story
The dragon myth appears throughout the biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation. It is used to depict the victory of Yahweh over chaos and death, the ultimate purpose of God to establish and sustain a realm of goodness and order, and the downfall of human tyrants and empires that spread death and destruction. The biblical authors draw upon and adapt the dragon myth in their storytelling to convey these important themes.
When we read the word “myth,” often what comes to mind is a fictional story. However, a myth is a way of exploring universal concerns of human existence, using symbols for things we may or may not have words to describe. The dragon is one such myth—a symbol humans have used for millennia to talk about chaos and death. Some might say it was one of the first worldwide memes. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss ancient Near Eastern literature about dragons.
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Show Music
“Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
Additional sound design by the BibleProject team
Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.
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