The Bible book of Job describes the fearless hippopotamus as dwelling in streams and says that “the willows [or poplars, according to other translations] by the stream shelter him. ” ​ — Job 40: 22, The Jerusalem Bible.
Buku Ayub dalam Alkitab menggambarkan kuda nil yang tak kenal takut tinggal di aliran air dan mengatakan bahwa ” pohon wilow [atau poplar, menurut terjemahan - terjemahan lain] di tepian air meneduhinya ”. ​ — Ayub 40: 22, The Jerusalem Bible.