The Dragon, Leviathan, and the Waters of Chaos

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan… he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” – Revelation 12:9

These vivid words from the Bible depict a primeval battle in heaven and the expulsion of a dragon into the earth. But what is “the earth” that this dragon is cast into? Many biblical scholars note that in Scripture “the earth” and “the sea” often symbolize the realm of chaos and evil opposing God’s heaven (What are marine spirits? | GotQuestions.org). In fact, across cultures and ages, we find strikingly similar images of great serpents, sea dragons, and water spirits emerging from the deep – the chaotic waters and underworld beneath creation. From the Leviathan of Job and Isaiah to West Africa’s Mami Wata mermaid spirits, from Sumeria’s Abzu to the Yoruba goddess Yemoja, humanity’s myths and sacred texts echo a global archetype: proud, seductive forces rising from the waters of chaos, in opposition to the divine order above.

In this blog post, we will dive deep (pun intended) into this rich tapestry of myth and theology. We’ll explore biblical texts (Job 41, Isaiah 27:1, Revelation 12–13 in the King James Bible) and ancient writings like the Book of Enoch, alongside Sumerian and Babylonian creation myths and West African spiritual traditions. Our journey will reveal how “the dragon cast into the earth” in Revelation connects to the ancient concept of the watery abyss as a locus of evil – a theme that reappears in surprising ways around the world. We’ll meet the Leviathan and its counterparts, the fish-tailed gods Enki/Ea and Dagon, and the water goddesses and spirits Yemoja, Oshun, and Mami Wata. Through these we’ll see a recurring spiritual profile: chaos, pride, seduction, and false worship from “the deep.” Along the way, we’ll consider the biblical motif of “the waters beneath vs. the heavens above,” how the feminine symbol of the womb and waters of birth can be twisted into an idol of the abyss, and even note symbols like the vesica piscis (fish-shaped womb symbol) etched into places of power like the Vatican. Finally, we’ll compare these figures side-by-side and reflect on what this means for spiritual discernment – how to recognize the “marine” archetype at work and reclaim true divine wisdom over deceptive chaotic waters.

Leviathan: The Biblical Sea Dragon of Chaos and Pride

One of the most emblematic “water monsters” in the Bible is Leviathan, a fearsome sea serpent mentioned in multiple books. In Job 41, an entire chapter is devoted to describing Leviathan’s terrifying features: impenetrable scales, fiery breath, and indomitable strength. God challenges Job, asking if anyone can catch or tame this creature. The chapter culminates by calling Leviathan “a king over all the children of pride” (Job 41:34) – ruling over all who are haughty (Job 41:34 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary). This striking phrase has led many theologians to see Leviathan as more than a mere animal; it symbolizes a spirit of prideful rebellion. Indeed, some commentators equate Leviathan allegorically with Satan or the forces of chaos that only God can subdue. In Isaiah 27:1, a prophecy declares that in the end times “the LORD with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing serpent, even Leviathan that crooked serpent; and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.” Here Leviathan is explicitly called a dragon in the sea, linking it with the ancient serpent of evil. We see that, in the biblical worldview, the sea often represents dangerous chaos or the nations in turmoil, and Leviathan personifies that chaotic, resisting force against God’s order.

“Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of Leviathan in pieces” (Psalm 74:13–14). Leviathan thus stands in for any chaos deity that God triumphs over (Leviathan - Wikipedia). Fittingly, later Christian theology identified Leviathan with one of the demonic forces – in medieval lore, Leviathan was sometimes listed as a demon of envy or chaos, and an embodiment of satanic power entrenching itself in the “waters” of the world.

A fascinating twist comes from the Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish text (not in the Bible, but influential in early Jewish and Christian thought). 1 Enoch 60:7–9 portrays God creating two great monsters and separating them: “On that day were two monsters parted, a female monster named Leviathan, to dwell in the abysses of the ocean over the fountains of the waters; but the male is named Behemoth, who occupied… the dry land.” (The Book of Enoch: Book of Noah--a Fragment: Chapter LX). According to this account, **Leviathan was female and assigned to the watery abyss (the ocean depths), while her male counterpart Behemoth roamed the wilderness on land. They were imprisoned or contained in their respective domains until the end times. This reveals an ancient understanding that the “abyss of the ocean” was akin to a prison for evil – a concept we see echoed later in Revelation, where a “bottomless pit” (abyss) imprisons demonic forces. It’s also notable that Leviathan is depicted as female here. This detail connects Leviathan to other “mother of monsters” figures like Tiamat, and it hints at a theme we’ll explore later: how the feminine aspect of the waters (normally life-giving and nurturing) becomes twisted into a source of destruction. Enoch’s Leviathan lies “over the fountains of the waters” in the abyss (The Book of Enoch: Book of Noah--a Fragment: Chapter LX), much like Tiamat is the turbulent saltwater ocean or how later folk tales imagine mermaid spirits ruling the deep. The stage is set for a broader survey – Leviathan is but one head of a hydra of similar legends worldwide. Before we meet those, let’s pause to understand the cosmic geography behind these ideas – the separation of heavenly realms above from chaotic waters beneath.

Waters Beneath vs. Heavens Above: The Cosmic Divide

Why do so many traditions place evil in the “waters below”? The answer lies in ancient cosmology and the theological contrast between heaven and the deep. In the Biblical creation account (Genesis 1), God brings order by dividing the primal waters into “above” and “below”: “And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament…” (Gen 1:7). The universe was imagined as a vertically layered cosmos: at the very bottom lies the abyss—the deep, dark waters beneath the earth—often associated with chaos, death, and demonic imprisonment (Luke 8:31, Revelation 9:1).

Above the abyss is the earth, the realm of humanity. Then come three heavens, as hinted in 2 Corinthians 12:2, where Paul writes of being “caught up to the third heaven.” This reveals a structured hierarchy: the first heaven is the visible sky, where birds soar and clouds drift; the second heaven is the celestial and spiritual realm, home to stars, planets, and angelic conflict as seen in Daniel 10. The third heaven, however, stands above them all—it is the divine throne room, far beyond the reach or authority of any earthly priest. It is there that God dwells, and where Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 8:1).

This vertical structure emphasizes a profound theological truth: as God reigns from the highest heights, the dragon, the serpent, and the rebellious spirits are cast down to the lowest depths. The sea, the deep, and the underworld are not just physical—they are symbolic of cosmic disorder, spiritual rebellion, and the place where fallen beings are bound. This is why the Bible and many ancient traditions place evil in the “waters below”—because they reflect a cosmology where everything opposed to divine order sinks downward, into darkness, chaos, and confinement.

This also sheds light on the symbolic contrast between heavenly authority and earthly power. The pope’s traditional three-tiered tiara—called the triregnum—was said to represent dominion over three realms: the underworld (hell), the earth, and the heavens. But here's the key distinction: this symbolic hierarchy stops short of the third heaven, where Christ actually resides.

According to Scripture, Christ’s throne is far above all rule and authority, not merely over the earth or the lower heavens (Ephesians 1:20–21). Paul makes this clear in 2 Corinthians 12:2, describing the third heaven as the realm beyond natural and even supernatural dominions—a place unreachable by human power or institutional titles. Christ’s Kingdom, as He told Pilate, is “not of this world” (John 18:36), and no earthly system, no matter how ornate or spiritually cloaked, can fully represent or contain His authority.

This cosmological and theological clarity reminds us that true dominion belongs to God alone, and that all forms of worldly power—whether religious, political, or symbolic—must ultimately bow to the One enthroned above the heavens. The third heaven is not merely a higher realm in space—it is sacred, eternal, and beyond the reach of corruption. It belongs to the true King of Kings alone, not to any man who claims the title out of pride or ambition.

The diagram above illustrates this ancient Hebrew conception of the world: a flat earth supported by pillars, Sheol (the underworld) beneath it, and the Tehom (the great deep) further below The “waters above” (in the heavens) were held back by the firmament, except when windows of heaven opened to pour rain. Conversely, the “waters below” could break through as wells, springs, or the sea – or catastrophically in events like Noah’s Flood (when “all the fountains of the great deep” burst forth). The “deep” (Hebrew tehôm) was synonymous with the abyss, a chaotic reservoir of surging waters that had to be tamed for life to flourish.

Ancient Hebrew conception of the cosmos, showing the ordered separation between the “Upper Waters” above the firmament (God’s heaven) and the “Tehom” or great deep below the earth. The underworld (Sheol) and the “fountains of the deep” reside in the abyss beneath creation. In biblical symbolism, the heavens above represent God’s domain of light and order, while the waters beneath and the sea often represent chaos, death, and the forces of the demonic.

It’s no wonder, then, that the Bible frequently uses “the sea” and “the deep” as metaphors for the forces of disorder and evil. In Revelation 12–13, after the dragon is cast down from heaven, the very next scene has the dragon standing on the seashore and summoning a monstrous Beast “rising up out of the sea” (Rev 13:1). Heaven has expelled the rebel, so the battle shifts to earth and sea – “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath” (Rev 12:12) (What are marine spirits? | GotQuestions.org). The earth and sea here are the new arena of Satan’s activity, in contrast to the purity of heaven. Similarly, in the Old Testament, we find verses like “The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan… Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?” and references to Leviathan being punished “in that day” when God redeems Zion – linking the defeat of the sea-dragon with the establishment of God’s Kingdom (Isaiah 27). Even the Ten Commandments hint at this cosmic dualism when God forbids making idols of anything “in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth” (Exodus 20:4). The waters under the earth were a known location of spiritual danger – the dwelling of marine deities or demons.

The concept of the abyss as a prison for fallen angels and demons also appears in the New Testament. The gospels recount demons begging Jesus not to send them “into the deep” (Luke 8:31) – the Greek word abyssos is used, indicating the abode of imprisoned spirits. In that same story, the demons instead enter a herd of swine which then rush into the lake and drown, as if drawn back to water (Luke 8:33). Later Christian interpretation, especially in charismatic circles, has run with this idea, speaking of “marine spirits” – demons that prefer water and originate from the Flood or the sea. While the Bible itself doesn’t use the term “marine spirit,” it consistently portrays the sea as the source of the Beast (Revelation 13), the harlot’s seat (Revelation 17:1), and the place of the dead (Revelation 20:13) – all imagery of forces opposed to God. By contrast, the ultimate hope is that in the new creation “there was no more sea” (Rev 21:1) – not necessarily meaning literal water is gone, but symbolically that chaos and evil are no more.

Mothers of the Deep: Womb Symbols Twisted into Chaos

One striking feature of many water deities and spirits is their feminine aspect. Water is life-giving – we are carried in the womb in amniotic fluid, and rivers and rains nourish the earth’s fertility. It’s natural that ancient peoples saw water as a motherly, creative force. However, in a fallen world, this life-giving water can become a source of idolatry and even destruction. Myths often contain a “shadow side” to the maternal water symbol: the very womb of creation becomes the lair of prideful chaos or seductive false worship. We saw a hint of it with Enoch’s female Leviathan. Now let’s look at other “mothers of the deep” – from Sumerian goddesses to African mermaids – and how their stories intertwine the themes of birth, sex, pride, and chaos.

In Mesopotamian lore, Tiamat is the great mother ocean. In the Enūma Eliš, she is initially a creative, life-bearing figure (mingling with Apsu, the freshwater, to beget younger gods). But as conflict arises between the gods, Tiamat transforms into a wrathful dragon of chaos, birthing monsters to revenge the death of her consort Apsu. Ultimately, she is sliced apart by Marduk in a cosmic battle, and her corpse becomes the structured cosmos. We can see a tragic arc: the womb of creation (Tiamat) becomes the monster of chaos that must be slain for order to emerge. Some scholars even think the biblical word tehôm (“the deep”) in Genesis is etymologically related to Tiamat, indicating the biblical writers were aware of her myth but deliberately demythologized it – God calms “the deep” without a fight, unlike Marduk with Tiamat.

An earlier Sumerian tradition speaks of Nammu, a primordial sea goddess who gave birth to the heavens and earth. Nammu was considered the mother of Enki (the water god) and of all creation. Not much narrative survives about Nammu, but in later texts Enki’s own mother is said to bring complaints of the gods to him when chaos threatens (Enki - Wikipedia). In one account related in Enki and the World Order, the underground ocean (Abzu) and its guardian Enki are central to keeping creation going, and when the balance is upset, Enki’s mother (possibly Nammu) urges him to act. So again we have maternal water tied to crisis and resolution in the cosmos.

These Mesopotamian myths show an ambivalence in water symbolism: water creates and sustains, but uncontrolled water (the flood, the stormy sea) is deadly and must be bounded. The feminine is revered (mother gods) but also feared (mother dragon). This pattern echoes elsewhere, especially in West African and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions, where water goddesses are both nurturing and dangerously seductive. Let’s meet some of them.

Yemoja and Oshun: Yoruba Orishas of Water and Fertility

In the Yoruba religion of West Africa, the supreme creator (Olodumare) delegated various aspects of nature and life to the Orishas, who are like deities or divine intermediaries. Two of the most important Orishas are Yemoja (often spelled Yemọja or Yemaya) and Oshun (Ọṣun) – both strongly associated with water and the feminine principle.

Yemoja, whose name comes from Yeyé omi ejá (“Mother whose children are fish”), is the Orisha of the oceans and the patron of motherhood (Discovering the Rich History and Symbolism of Yemoja, the Mother ...) (Yemọja - Wikipedia). She is revered as the mother of all Orishas and even the mother of humanity itself in some traditions. Yemoja’s domain is literally the amniotic waters of birth – according to a Yoruba myth, “when her waters broke, it caused a great flood creating rivers and streams and the first mortal humans were created from her womb.”  This is a powerful image of the womb of a goddess equated with the life-giving flood. Yemoja is typically depicted as a majestic matron, sometimes a mermaid, often associated with the moon and the idea of the feminine mysteries of the sea. She is loving, protective, and merciful – but like the ocean, if enraged, she can unleash destruction. Devotees seek her blessings for fertility and healing of women’s issues; she “governs everything pertaining to women”. Yemoja’s symbols include the cowrie shell (womb-like in shape, representing her wealth and reproductive blessings) and the colours blue and white (for water and foam).

Yemoja is known by many names across cultures, especially within the African diaspora, where her essence has traveled and evolved through syncretism and oral tradition. In Santería (Cuba), Candomblé (Brazil), and Vodou (Haiti), she is commonly referred to as Yemaya, a widely recognized spelling and veneration of the same divine oceanic mother. In Brazilian Candomblé and Umbanda, she takes the name Iemanjá, revered as the Queen of the Sea, and is especially honoured during ocean rituals on New Year’s Eve. In Cuban Santería, Yemoja is syncretized with Our Lady of Regla, a Catholic Marian figure associated with protection and dominion over the sea. This blending of spiritual identities may also shed light on the symbolic presence of the Vesica Piscis—the fish-shaped womb—outside the Vatican, as well as the enigmatic title given to Mary, Stella Maris (“Star of the Sea”), a name that appears without biblical origin yet reflects deep maritime and maternal associations. In Haitian Vodou, she appears in a parallel form as La Sirène, a mermaid-like spirit of beauty, wealth, and deep waters, closely resembling both Mami Wata and Yemaya. Mami Wata herself, while a distinct spirit in many traditions, shares numerous overlapping traits with Yemoja—particularly her associations with beauty, seduction, wealth, and the spiritual pull of the sea. In some regions, Yemoja is even considered an aspect or emanation of Mami Wata. Another similar figure, Mama Watta, appears across West and Central Africa and is sometimes used interchangeably with Yemoja, or regarded as a “cousin spirit” within the broader marine pantheon.

As many are beginning to realize, traditions like Vodou, Santería, and other Afro-Caribbean and Latin American spiritual systems often involve the veneration of spirits—Orishas, Loa, and marine entities—under the outward appearance of Catholicism. While to the untrained eye these practices may resemble folk religion or cultural devotion, in truth they often blur the line between ancestral worship, spirit conjuring, and what many would clearly recognize as witchcraft.

In these traditions, powerful spirits such as Yemoja, Oshun, Elegua, and La Sirène are syncretized with Catholic saints, creating a spiritual disguise that allows for deeper esoteric practices to flourish beneath a "Christian" surface. This isn’t mere cultural blending—it’s a spiritual strategy, intentionally designed to cloak spirit worship in acceptable religious imagery, especially during times of colonization when open practice was forbidden.

In places like the Canary Islands, which sit at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Latin America, I’ve personally known of witch covens that invoke these same marine and ancestral spirits under the names of saints. The rituals may include candles, incense, chants, sacirfices and icons—but behind the veils and statues are spiritual entities not aligned with the God of the Bible. These groups often use Catholic imagery as a front, but their prayers, offerings, and pacts are directed to beings who demand devotion, gifts, or even spiritual covenants in return.

It’s a striking reminder that not all that appears holy is of God, and that spiritual discernment is essential. Just because a ritual uses the name of a saint or displays a cross does not mean it honours the true Christ. As Scripture warns, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his servants often do the same. The blending of marine spirit worship with Catholic iconography is one of the most subtle and widespread forms of spiritual deception in the modern world.

On a more personal note, my former mother-in-law would regularly visit witch doctors to perform rituals for protection or seek guidance through divination—then attend church on Sunday as if the two paths were compatible.

These verses offer a glimpse into how God views witchcraft in Scripture.

Exodus 22:18

“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”→ One of the most direct condemnations—witchcraft was considered a capital offense under the law of Moses.

Leviticus 20:6

“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.”

Deuteronomy 18:10–12

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD…”

1 Samuel 15:23

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry...”→ Equating rebellion with witchcraft; both are seen as direct defiance of God’s authority.

1 Samuel 28:7–8

King Saul consults the witch of Endor to call up the spirit of Samuel, showing how far he had fallen.→ “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her...”

Galatians 5:19–21

Witchcraft is listed among the works of the flesh:“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication... idolatry, witchcraft, hatred... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Acts 8:9–11

“But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria...”

Acts 16:16–18

Paul casts a spirit of divination out of a girl:“A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us… which did bring her masters much gain by soothsaying… But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”

Revelation 21:8

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable... and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone...”

Revelation 22:15“

For without [outside the New Jerusalem] are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters...”

As Scripture makes clear, those who direct their prayers to idols—whether to the Queen of Heaven, saints, or any being other than Christ, the one true Mediator—place themselves outside the bounds of God’s truth and risk condemnation.

Sorry I went off on a tangent again.

Oshun is Yemoja’s younger counterpart, an Orisha of fresh waters (rivers), associated with love, beauty, sexuality, and fertility (Oshun - Wikipedia). If Yemoja is the great mother, Oshun is the vivacious lover. She is often described as the most beautiful and coquettish of the Orishas, governing romance, attraction, diplomacy, and art. Rivers, especially the Oshun River in Nigeria, are her sacred domain. In myth, Oshun was the only female Orisha sent to assist in the creation of the world, and her involvement was crucial – when the male Orishas ignored her, their efforts failed until they acknowledged Oshun. This underscores the idea that without the feminine waters, there is no life or success. Oshun is associated with sweetness (she loves honey), prosperity, and healing; but like a river that can be gentle or fierce, if disrespected she can become vengeful, withholding fertility or sending fever. In some diaspora interpretations, Oshun is syncretized with goddesses like Venus/Aphrodite or Astarte  nature goddesses. – tellingly, the Yoruba even identify her with the planet Venus, the morning star of love. She is typically portrayed as a beautiful woman adorned in gold and yellow, sometimes with mirrors and fans.

Both Yemoja and Oshun are generally benevolent in Yoruba faith – they are honoured and loved, not viewed as “evil.” However, from a strict biblical perspective, worshipping them would be considered idolatry (worship of “gods of the waters under the earth”). Interestingly, during the Atlantic slave trade (caused, in part, by papal decrees such as Dum Diversas and Romanus Pontifex, that granted European powers the so-called divine right to enslave non-Christians) Yoruba people taken to the New World continued to venerate these Orishas, often syncretizing them with Catholic saints to avoid persecution. Yemoja was linked to the Virgin Mary (for instance, as Our Lady of Regla in Cuba or Our Lady of Navigators in Brazil), and Oshun was linked to saints like Our Lady of Charity (the patroness of Cuba). On the surface, the gentle mother Mary and the ocean mother Yemoja might seem compatible – but theologically, one could argue this syncretism allowed an ancient marine goddess archetype to slip into folk Christianity under a new name. The image of a holy mother with ocean-blue robes, or a Madonna emerging from the sea (as in some coastal processions), blurs the line between “heaven above” and “waters below.” It’s a reminder of how potent these water symbols are: they resonate so deeply that even when outright worship of Yemoja or Oshun was suppressed, their essence found a way to persist, at times even within church iconography.

One fascinating symbol that bridges the sacred feminine and the aquatic is the Vesica Piscis – Latin for “fish’s vessel,” essentially the shape of two overlapping circles creating an almond or fish-like oval in the center. This shape has been used in religious art to represent the womb (a mandorla around figures like Christ or Mary), and it explicitly evokes female genital imagery (the Sanskrit word yoni for womb is often linked to this form). It’s also the intersection of two circles – sometimes interpreted as the union of heaven and earth, or spirit and matter, giving birth to manifestation. In St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the grand colonnade designed by Bernini is an oval shape that many interpret as a vesica piscis symbol when viewed from above. Bernini himself described the colonnade as the “maternal arms of Mother Church” embracing the faithful (Another view from satellite (Courtesy Google Earth), with shadows of...). In the center of that oval stands an ancient Egyptian obelisk (a phallic pillar). Some observers see in this layout a deliberate male-female union symbol – the obelisk (male) penetrating the vesica oval (female), a cosmic marriage of sorts. While the Church’s intent was allegedly to convey welcome and unity, it is intriguing (and a bit ironic) that the heart of the Catholic world features what esotericists identify as a womb of creation symbol. That may help explain why it is referred to as the Mother Church, rather than the Church of the Almighty—a title that shifts focus from God's supreme authority to a more earthly, maternal image.

Some fundamentalist critics go further, arguing that the Church unknowingly incorporates “goddess” or “marine” symbolism into its architecture and rituals. While such claims warrant discernment and shouldn't be accepted blindly, they do highlight how deeply these archetypal images resonate across cultures and religious systems. Even if the Church denies these associations, the symbols speak volumes.

Likewise, the question of the pope’s authority raises deeper theological concerns—especially when Scripture teaches that Christ’s priesthood is unchangeable and non-transferable. As it is written in Hebrews 7:24:

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”

Also the idea that Christ must be continually brought down onto altars contradicts the core of New Testament theology. Romans 10:6 clearly warns against such thinking:

“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)”

Regarding the role of Peter, Galatians 2:7–8 makes his specific commission clear:

“The gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me [Paul], as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles).”

Peter was sent to the Jews, not to Rome to establish a universal papal priesthood. And most critically, God does not appoint covenant-breakers as His representatives.

As seen in Isaiah 56:6:

“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD... every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;”

And in Ezekiel 20:13:

“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments... and they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them...”

These scriptures make it clear: God honours those who keep His covenant, the Saturday Sabbath, not those who defy it by changing holy times, substituting His laws, or elevating man-made authority above His own.

We thus see a pattern: the feminine water archetype – the life-giving mother, the beautiful lover, the nourishing ocean – is universally powerful. But in a spiritual war framework, this good gift can be corrupted. What happens when people turn from the Creator to worship the created “mother” instead? The Bible contains warnings about the “Queen of Heaven” (a pagan goddess) being worshipped by Israel to God’s displeasure (Jeremiah 7:18, 44:17-19). Many scholars think this “Queen of Heaven” was a fertility goddess like Ishtar or Ashtoreth (Astarte) – notably a deity of love, fertility, perhaps identified with the planet Venus, much like Oshun or other love goddesses (Oshun - Wikipedia). And indeed Oshun’s equivalent in Canaan is listed as Astarte. In effect, the seductive appeal of worshipping the false feminine divine is a recurring temptation. It often promises fertility, sexual freedom, or maternal comfort – yet from the biblical prophet’s viewpoint, it’s a dangerous “whoring” with false gods (Hosea 2:5–8 compares Israel to an unfaithful wife going after Baal for grain, wine, oil – all products of fertility).

In spiritual warfare terminology used by some contemporary ministries, these seductive water spirits are sometimes personified as “marine spouses” or “spirit wives/husbands.” People describe night visions of a beautiful spirit claiming to be their lover or spouse, often linked to ancestral pacts or personal sin involving water rituals. Deliverance ministers speak of breaking “marine covenants” – renouncing any dedication to water spirits like Mami Wata or Yemaya – in order to free individuals from curses or unnatural lust, barrenness, etc. While experiences vary, the lore holds that these marine spirits lure humans with promises of love, wealth, or power, forming a kind of marriage bond in the spiritual realm that ultimately brings turmoil. It is essentially the old seduction of idolatry in a fresh, experiential package. The person “in covenant” might have success for a time (fame, money, sexual satisfaction), but eventually the spirit’s chaotic, prideful nature surfaces and wreaks havoc (broken relationships, mental distress, misfortune). The remedy given is to return to the covenant with the true God, renounce the false “spouse,” and cleanse with prayer, much like Israel had to put away Ashtoreth and return to Yahweh.

Having explored the African water goddesses and the notion of spiritual spouses, let’s not forget the male figures of the deep who also exemplify this archetype – the sages (sea priests) and kings of the abyss like Enki and Dagon, and how even they connect back to the same spiritual storyline.

Lords of the Abyss: Enki, Dagon, and Knowledge from the Deep

Moving from Africa back to the ancient Near East, we encounter male deities closely tied to the waters – not as adversarial chaos monsters, but as rulers of the deep and bearers of hidden knowledge. The Sumerian god Enki (known as Ea in Akkadian) and the Philistine god Dagon are two prominent examples. They illustrate another facet of the “marine spirit” archetype: not overt destructive chaos, but subtle deception through wisdom, civilization, and provision, yet still originating from the abyss and often leading to false worship.

Enki was the Sumerian god of water, wisdom, magic, and creation (Enki - Wikipedia). Among the pantheon of Mesopotamia’s Anunnaki, Enki’s role was unique – he was the master of the fresh waters of the abyss, called the Abzu (or Apsu). The Abzu was envisioned as a vast underground aquifer, the source of rivers and fertility. Enki’s primary shrine in the city of Eridu was called E-Abzu, literally “House of the Deep,” and also translated as “house of the subterranean waters”. In myth, Enki lived “in the depths of the Abzu” and took on all its powers.. One text recounts how Enki gained supremacy over the Abzu: the older primordial water-god (Abzu personified) became enraged at the younger gods’ noise and threatened to destroy them with his waters, but Enki cast a spell and put Abzu to sleep, effectively confining the chaotic waters and establishing himself as lord of them. Enki thus harnessed the abyss for "positive" use – he controlled the floods, released irrigation, and “ensured its fertility” (Enki Sumerian God: Master Of Water, Wisdom, And Creation). Because of this, he was regarded as the source of life and crafts, “the master shaper of the world” and “god of wisdom and all magic”.

Crucially, Enki was also the great trickster and teacher among the gods. He is the one who devised strategies (often by cunning) in many myths: He was the patron of sorcery and incantations (ritual cleansing water was even called “Ea’s water” in Akkadian rites. The Babylonians considered Enki/Ea the giver of arts, technologies, and civilization to humanity. In later lore recorded by the Babylonian priest Berossus, there is a story of a being named Oannes – described as a half-man, half-fish – who emerged from the Persian Gulf to teach humans writing, law, agriculture, and all basic knowledge (Oannes | Sea-God, Fish-God, Babylonian God | Britannica). Berossus explicitly says Oannes was the emissary of Ea, the god of the water deep and wisdom. This is remarkable: a “fish-man” teacher from the sea, bringing enlightenment to mankind. The image of Oannes (often depicted as a man wearing a fish cloak or with a fishtail) matches ancient Mesopotamian apotropaic figures known as kulullû, which were fish-cloaked priests or sea priests associated with Ea (Dagon - Wikipedia). We might see Oannes as a positive figure – a culture hero. However, from another angle, it resembles the pattern in the Bible where forbidden knowledge is given by fallen beings (as in the Book of Enoch, where Watcher angels reproduce with and teach humans charms, magic and weapon-making).In fact, Mesopotamian religion became deeply intertwined with magic and astrology (skills traditionally attributed to Ea’s teaching).

Enki’s character also has a morally ambiguous side: he was known for transgressing boundaries – for instance, in one myth he gets drunk and impregnates his own daughters (the story of Enki and Ninhursag), causing a chaotic situation that needed divine healing. This flaw of Enki – uncontrolled virility and lack of moral restraint – adds to the archetype: a lusty, prideful streak often accompanies the wisdom.

John 8:44

"ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own for he is a liar and the father of it"

It’s reminiscent of how Solomon in the Bible was given divine wisdom but later his many lovers and idols led him astray. In spiritual terms, Enki/Ea could represent knowledge that exalts itself without humility – something St. Paul might equate with the “wisdom of this world” which is foolishness to God. It is knowledge from the deep (literally from the Abzu) versus wisdom from above.

Dagon: The Fish-God of Fertility

Moving west to the Levant, we find Dagon, a god worshipped by the Philistines and earlier by other Semitic peoples (the Amorites and Phoenicians). Dagon’s original character is a bit debated – his name may derive from the Semitic word dagan meaning “grain,” suggesting he was a god of agriculture and fertility of the land. However, because the Hebrew word dag means “fish,” later interpreters (dating back to at least the 1st millennium AD) believed Dagon was a fish-god (Dagon - Wikipedia). Medieval Jewish commentators described Dagon’s image as having the upper body of a man and the lower body of a fish. They pointed to the story in 1 Samuel 5, where the idol of Dagon in Philistia falls before the Ark of the Covenant, and the statue’s head and hands break off, leaving only “the stump” (which the rabbis imagined was the fish tail). While modern scholars note that the fish interpretation arose from a likely linguistic mix-up (Dagon was probably more of a grain/storm deity originally) the iconography of a merman-like Dagon caught hold in the popular imagination. In any case, the Philistines – Israel’s coastal enemies – venerated Dagon as their chief god, crediting him with their victories (they put Saul’s armor in Dagon’s temple in 1 Samuel 31:10). Thus Dagon became emblematic of the pagan gods of the sea and earth that Israel’s God continually showed superiority over.

What’s intriguing is how Dagon’s fishy form connects back to Enki’s lore: those Mesopotamian fish-cloaked priests (kulullû) associated with Ea could have easily been syncretized with Dagon. Some 19th-century scholars even suggested that Oannes (Ea’s fish-man) was the same as Dagon, or at least that Dagon was depicted as a fish-man due to Oannes legends. Modern evidence actually casts doubt on Dagon being worshipped in coastal regions much at all– he might have been more inland. But the symbolic legacy is what matters for our theme: the image of a half-fish “marine” god worshipped for prosperity became a trope. Even today, among fringe theorists and internet memes, one finds claims that the Catholic Pope’s mitre hat resembles Dagon’s fish head and is a continuation of fish-god worship

(a claim historians largely refute as coincidence or a generic symbol of spiritual “authority,” but the comparison persists in conspiracy circles). This shows how the notion of a fish-tailed demonic figure has staying power.

In summary, Enki/Ea and Dagon represent the “respectable” face of the marine spirit archetype: providers of wisdom and food, patrons of civilization’s basics (water, grain, fishing). They are not horrifying like Leviathan or seductive like Mami Wata; they come as benefactors. Yet, they still lead people’s devotion away from the true God to the creation (water, crops, etc.). The Bible highlights this in stories: the Ark of God topples Dagon’s idol to demonstrate Yahweh’s supremacy (1 Samuel 5:3–5), and later Samson collapses Dagon’s temple (Judges 16:23).

We have now surveyed a wide range of creatures and deities tied to “the deep” – from Leviathan the sea-serpent of chaos and pride, to Tiamat the mother dragon, to Yemoja the nurturing ocean mother, Oshun the sensual river goddess, Mami Wata the mermaid spirit, Enki the crafty lord of the abyss, and Dagon the fish-idol of fertility. The parallels are striking. To crystallize our understanding, let’s compare these figures and their attributes side-by-side.

Spiritual Archetypes of the Waters of Chaos

To highlight the common themes, the following table compares several key “marine” figures from our discussion – Leviathan, Mami Wata, Yemoja, Oshun, Enki/Ea, Dagon, and for completeness, the Revelation Dragon/Satan. We will see how each embodies elements of the overarching archetype: pride/rebellion, chaos/destruction, seduction/lure, provision/wealth, and demand for worship. Each comes from a different culture yet resonates with the others in surprising ways.

Spirit/Deity	Cultural Origin	Form & Domain	Key Traits & Roles	Spiritual Symbolism
Leviathan	Biblical (Hebrew)	Gigantic sea serpent/dragon in the ocean depths	Chaos monster defeated by God (Leviathan - Wikipedia); untamable, terrifying; “king over the proud” (Job 41:34 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary); associated with punishment at end times (The Book of Enoch: Book of Noah--a Fragment: Chapter LX).	Prideful rebellion against God; embodiment of chaos that God’s power must subdue. Later seen as demonic (envy/pride) (Leviathan - Wikipedia).
Dragon (Satan)	Biblical (Revelation)	Red dragon, the ancient serpent (Devil)	Deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9 with him.); leads angelic rebellion, cast down to earth (Revelation 12:9); empowers the Beast from the sea; seeks worship via the Beast.	Ultimate source of pride (wanted to usurp God); behind all false gods/idols. Devourer (tries to devour the child in Rev 12) and persecutor.
Tiamat	Mesopotamian (Babylonian)	Dragon/serpent of primordial saltwater ocean	Mother of monsters; initially mother creator, later turns chaotic and wars against younger gods; defeated by Marduk who creates order from her body.	Chaos of the feminine deep – the womb turned deadly. Represents disorder that must be slain to form cosmos (echoed by Leviathan imagery).
Enki / Ea	Mesopotamian (Sumerian/Akkadian)	Anthropomorphic god; lord of Abzu (freshwater abyss)	Wise, crafty trickster god (Enki - Wikipedia); controls waters (flood versus irrigation) (Enki - Wikipedia); giver of arts, magic, civilization knowledge ([Oannes	Sea-God, Fish-God, Babylonian God
Dagon	Northwest Semitic (Philistine, etc.)	Likely grain/weather god originally; later iconography as half-man, half-fish (Dagon - Wikipedia).	Provider of crop fertility and/or fishing bounty; worshipped in temples (e.g. Gaza, Ashdod) by Philistines; falls powerless before Ark of God. In later myth, seen as a marine deity with fish form.	Fertility of the sea and land idol – symbolizes people trusting natural abundance (grain, fish) as a god. His fish form (in later legend) ties him to the sea’s false promise of sustenance apart from Yahweh.
Yemoja (Yemaya)	Yoruba (Nigeria) & African diaspora	Beautiful matronly woman or mermaid; goddess of oceans and flowing waters.	Motherhood, fertility, protection – “Mother of All Orishas” (Yemọja - Wikipedia); her “broken waters” birthed humanity (Yemọja - Wikipedia); gentle but can unleash floods when angered (Yemọja - Wikipedia); worshipped with offerings at shores, syncretized with Virgin Mary (Yemọja - Wikipedia).	Maternal water spirit – the life-giving womb of the deep. Symbolizes the creative, nurturing aspect of water. Temptation: elevate the creation (mother ocean) as divine, blending it with Mary veneration (for some). The comfort of the “mother” replacing the Father God.
Oshun	Yoruba (Nigeria) & African diaspora	Young, alluring woman; goddess of rivers (esp. Oshun River).	Love, sexuality, beauty, wealth – presides over romance, pregnancy, artistic inspiration (Oshun - Wikipedia); also grants prosperity. Venerated in dances at river festivals. Syncretized with goddesses of love (Venus/Astarte) (Oshun - Wikipedia). Can be jealous if not respected (withhold fertility).	Seduction and fertility – the sweetness of water and love. Represents how pleasure and prosperity can become objects of worship. Oshun’s charms embody the lure of idolatry (the “harlot” imagery spiritually). Yet also the need for the feminine in creation (she was needed in the Yoruba creation myth) – twisted if worshipped.
Mami Wata	West & Central African coastal folklore (esp. Igbo, etc.)	Mermaid or snake-charmer woman; sometimes with a fish tail, or a beautiful woman accompanied by a snake and riches.	Seduction, wealth, healing – and danger. She symbolizes good fortune, beauty, and healing waters but also destructive temptation ([The African spiritual tradition of Mami Wata (Mother Water)	National Museums Scotland](https://www.nms.ac.uk/discover-catalogue/the-african-spiritual-tradition-of-mami-wata#:~:text=With%20a%20female%20human%20upper,memories%20from%20the%20African%20continent)). Often depicted half-fish, with long hair and mirror; a large snake coiled around her (symbol of divination and power) ([The African spiritual tradition of Mami Wata (Mother Water)

This comparison makes it evident that we are dealing with a consistent archetype or at least a cluster of related archetypes. Across continents and millennia, humans have personified the untamed power of water – especially the mysterious depths – in spiritual terms. Sometimes it’s feared as a dragon to be slain, sometimes adored as a mother to be pleaded with, sometimes invoked as a source of secret power or prosperity. But in each case, from a biblical-theological viewpoint, these “marine” figures can be seen as part of the same spiritual enemy that manifests in different cultural garb. The Dragon in Revelation gives his power to the Beast from the Sea (Revelation 13:1-2), deceiving the world into worshipping the beast. Is it a coincidence that the beast comes from the sea? Many commentators think not – Revelation is tapping into that symbolic reservoir where the sea = source of satanic opposition. The world is effectively lured into Mami Wata’s embrace on a grand scale, seduced by what the Beast offers (which is described in luxurious, sensual terms in Revelation 17–18). The Beast’s ally, “Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots,” sits on many waters (Rev 17:1) – explicitly interpreted as peoples, but evoking the literal waters of false religion as well, with the help of the false prophet of course

Waging War Against the Waters of Chaos

What do we do with this insight that “the dragon has been cast into the earth (and sea)”? For readers who approach these topics devotionally, the takeaway is one of discernment and spiritual warfare. The waters of chaos can take many appealing forms – ideological, religious, or personal. One person might be enticed by the prideful pursuit of esoteric knowledge (a very Enki-like temptation: “you can be wise, your eyes opened, like God” – the serpent’s promise in Eden). Another might struggle with the ensnaring pull of sexual immorality or lust for wealth, which in some cultures is literally attributed to marine spirits like Mami Wata or spirits of Oshun. On a community level, people can fall into false worship – whether overt (idolizing a literal goddess, ancestor, or wealth) or subtle (trusting human culture and provision symbolized by “fish and grain” Dagon rather than thanking the Lord). The thread through all these is the same serpent coiling in the deep: pride, idolatry, and deception.

However, there is good news: all these chaotic waters are subject to the Creator. “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment… and said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?” asks God in Job 38:8-11. God has set boundaries to the deep – both literally and spiritually. Leviathan may rage, but Leviathan is a creature, not the Creator. In Isaiah’s prophecy, God himself will punish Leviathan and slay the dragon of the sea (The Book of Enoch: Book of Noah--a Fragment: Chapter LX). In Revelation, the ultimate outcome is that the devil (the Dragon) is bound in the abyss and eventually thrown into the lake of fire. The “marine kingdom,” in all its pride and glamour, is destined to fall. “Babylon” – that great harlot who sat on many waters – will be thrown down like a millstone into the sea, never to rise again (Rev 18:21).

For believers seeking to “reclaim divine wisdom,” the call is to seek the wisdom from above, not below. As the Apostle James wrote: “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:15) – one might pun that it is “briney” wisdom from the depths. But “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated… full of mercy and good fruits” (James 3:17). Notice how the true wisdom is pure and peaceable – the opposite of the chaotic, lustful, prideful vibes of the marine spirits. True wisdom tames the chaotic waters of our soul under God’s Word, rather than indulging them. It’s akin to Jesus Christ, who in the Gospels walked on the water and calmed the storm with a word. Christ demonstrated dominion over both the literal sea and the demonic forces (He cast a legion of demons into a herd of pigs and into the water). If Leviathan symbolically represents pride, Christ conquered pride by humbling Himself unto death. If Enki/Oannes represent secret knowledge, Christ is the Logos in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom, openly inviting all to drink of the living water of truth.

Could this be why they attempted to erase Mary Magdalene from her true place in the story—or slander her as a prostitute? Was it because she carried a revelation too dangerous for the power structures of her time—divine wisdom not handed down by men, but given by God Himself? Throughout history, whenever someone is filled with true spiritual insight, they become immune to deception. They see through the facades, the golden altars, and the manufactured authority.

And that is precisely what the rulers of religion and empire have always feared: that the people, filled with the Holy Spirit—Wisdom herself—would no longer bow to their thrones of pride, wealth, and corruption. If we are truly indwelt by the Spirit of Truth, then no earthly man, no priest, pope, or king can be worshipped as a god. Their robes and rituals mean nothing in the face of divine revelation. This is why they marginalize voices like Mary Magdalene. Because when the Spirit speaks, the lies of centuries begin to crumble.

Thus, in practical terms, discernment means recognizing when the “waters of chaos” are trying to influence us. Are we being flattered in our pride (like “children of Leviathan”)? Are we being allured by a sweet but sinful pleasure (the kiss of Oshun)? Are we compromising devotion to God for material gain (trading worship for Dagon’s wheat or Mami Wata’s riches)? These are telltale signs of a spiritual battle beneath the surface. The solution is to anchor in the “heavens above” – set our minds on things above (Col 3:2), worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (wisdom-see Proverbs 8) alone, and use the authority given in Christ to renounce any ties to the counterfeit. 

Many Christians who minister in deliverance will literally lead prayers like:

“I renounce every marine spirit, every spirit spouse, every covenant made knowingly or unknowingly with the waters. I plead the blood of Jesus against Leviathan’s pride in my life. I break the serpentine spirit’s hold and command any impure spirit of lust or witchcraft associated with water to leave in Jesus’ name.” 

Such prayers illustrate taking the mythic insights and applying them to prayer warfare. One need not be from Africa or the Pacific to experience “marine” oppression – it can manifest simply as recurring confusion (chaos), nightmares of drowning, sexual dreams, or an inexplicable stagnation (being “underwater” in life). While skeptics may see this as psychological, those who have experienced deliverance testify that naming and confronting these marine powers brings freedom.

Finally, reclaiming divine wisdom involves redeeming the symbol of water itself. Water is not evil – God created it and calls Himself the source of “living water.” In Christian tradition, baptismal water is a grace that buries the old chaotic self and raises the new creation (not a ritual on unconsenting babies). The Church Fathers even likened Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan to Leviathan being hooked and tamed in the waters, sanctifying them. As believers, we affirm the Lordship of Jesus over the seas: “The sea is His, for He made it” (Psalm 95:5). We look forward to the promise that in the eternal state there is “no more sea” – meaning no lurking chaos – for the glassy sea before God’s throne (Revelation 4:6) will be the only sea there is: perfectly calm, crystal clear, a sea utterly tamed and at peace in His presence.

I'll leave you with this brief account of a young woman’s abduction—taken from the water by Mami Wata—and this lingering question: If the hybrids spoken of in ancient texts are part human, part demonic—the seed of the serpent—what does that make of the Oceanic mother whose children are said to be fish? And what of figures like Oannes, the amphibious being who emerged from the sea but walked among men? Could these stories point to a deeper truth? Could such beings—the cambions, the ancient hybrids—still be walking among us today?

https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/mami-wata-by-niles-reddick/