In 1651, Thomas Hobbes was the first person to use the term leviathan in reference to political entities. However, the word had been in use since 1606 with the meaning “person of formidable wealth or influence.” This definition originated from an earlier depiction of a gigantic sea serpent found in various books of the Bible – the leviathan person, much like the creature, possessed immense power. The word, derived from Latin, can be traced back to the Hebrew word livyathan, which was used to describe large animals such as dragons, serpents, and sea monsters. While the etymology remains uncertain, the prevailing theory suggests that it stems from the Proto-Semitic root l-w-h, meaning “twist”, with the interpretation evolving based on the image of a serpent coiling itself. This connection would link it to the Hebrew term for “wreath”, liwyah, and the Arabic word for “bend”, lawa.
