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.
Piibli Iiobi raamatus kirjeldatakse kartmatut jõehobu, kes elutseb jões, kus „jõeremmelgad on ta ümber ”.