behemoth

Where does the word "behemoth" come from? It comes from Hebrew behemoth, and was adopted directly into English (medieval).

Behemoth’s story begins in Hebrew: behemoth meant “a huge beast.” The plural intensive of "behemah" (beast), describing a huge biblical creature. It reached English by medieval as behemoth. The great beast of the Book of Job 40; Wycliffe's Bible kept the Hebrew word. Today, behemoth means something enormous and powerful, especially a huge creature or organization.

1. Stage 1 · Hebrew · ancient behemoth "a huge beast", the plural intensive of "behemah" (beast), describing a huge biblical creature.
2. Stage 2 · English · medieval behemoth "an enormous, powerful creature or thing", the great beast of the Book of Job 40; Wycliffe's Bible kept the Hebrew word.