BEASTS, SYMBOLIC

From time immemorial, mankind has observed the characteristics and habits of animals and has applied them in a figurative or symbolic sense to persons, peoples, governments, and organizations. The Bible makes good use of this effective means of illustration. Examples pertaining to the figurative use of the qualities residing in an animal, or suggested by its characteristics, are listed in the accompanying charts.

[Chart on page 268]

SYMBOLISM OF DESIRABLE THINGS

ANIMAL

CHARACTERISTIC OR QUALITY

SYMBOLISM

Ass

Ability to do hard work

Tribe of Issachar lending itself to labor (Ge 49:14, 15)

Bull

Strength, power (Job 39:9-11)

Power, attribute of “living creature” near Jehovah’s throne (Re 4:7)

Bull, young (calf)

Sacrificial animal

Fruit of lips, sacrifices of praise (Ho 14:2; Heb 13:15)

Jesus Christ as a sacrifice (Heb 9:11-14)

Dove (turtle-dove)

Lovableness, beauty, innocence

Shulammite girl (Ca 1:15; 5:2)

God’s servants innocent, not lawbreakers (Mt 10:16)

Homing quality

Jehovah’s people being gathered (Isa 60:8)

Eagle

Farsightedness

Wisdom, attribute of “living creature” near Jehovah’s throne (Re 4:7)

Discernment, spiritual forevision of God’s servants (Mt 24:28; Lu 17:37)

Eagle’s wings

Power of flight

Refreshing vigor, endurance (Ps 103:5; Isa 40:31)

Care, protection

Jehovah’s care for Israel (Ex 19:4) and for his “woman” (Re 12:14)

Fish

Some fish clean according to the Law (Le 11:9)

People fine, righteous, suitable for the Kingdom (Mt 13:47-50)

Gazelle (and related animals)

Beauty, lovableness

Shepherd lover of the Shulammite (Ca 2:9)

Speed

Speed of Gadite warriors (1Ch 12:8)

Goat

Sacrificial animal

Jesus Christ as a sacrifice (Heb 9:11-14)

Hen

Protectiveness of young

Jesus’ tender care (Mt 23:37; Lu 13:34)

Hind

Swiftness

Tribe of Naphtali swift in battle (Ge 49:21)

Surefootedness

Stability and guidance of one’s steps by Jehovah (2Sa 22:34; Ps 18:33)

Lovableness

One’s own wife (Pr 5:19)

Horned snake (serpent)

Dangerousness

Tribe of Dan, competent rear guard of Israel (Ge 49:17)

Horse (white)

War mount

Righteous warfare (Re 19:11, 16)

Lion

Majesty, courage, destructiveness to enemies

Justice, attribute of “living creature” near Jehovah’s throne (Re 4:7)

Jesus as royal majesty, King, executor of justice (Ge 49:9; Re 5:5)

Jehovah (Isa 31:4; Ho 11:10)

Jehovah’s people (Mic 5:8)

Serpent

Cautiousness (Ge 3:1)

God’s servants cautious (Mt 10:16)

Sheep

Sacrificial animal; meekness, docility, gregariousness

Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God” (Joh 1:29; Re 5:6; 14:1; 22:3)

Jehovah’s flock of people (Ps 79:13; Joh 10:7; Heb 13:20)

Persons who do good toward Christ’s spiritual brothers, and who enter into Kingdom blessings (Mt 25:32-34)

Wolf

Fighter

Tribe of Benjamin, fighter against God’s enemies (Ge 49:27)

[Chart on pages 270-271]

SYMBOLISM OF THAT WHICH IS BAD AND UNDESIRABLE

ANIMAL

CHARACTERISTIC OR QUALITY

SYMBOLISM

Animals in general

Lack of reasoning

Wicked men (2Pe 2:12; Jude 10)

Ass

Strong sexual desire

Faithless Judah in turning to Assyria and Egypt (Eze 23:20)

Bear

Ferocity

Wicked rulers (Pr 28:15)

Medo-Persian World Power (Da 7:5)

Bull

Ferocity

Wicked enemies of David (Ps 22:12)

Camel (female)

Aimless seeking of fulfillment of desire

Israel’s unfaithful seeking after pagan nations and their gods (Jer 2:23)

Dog

Viciousness, uncleanness, operating in packs, unsatisfied in sexual desire

Wicked enemies of David (Ps 22:16; 59:6, 14)

Sexual pervert (De 23:18; Php 3:2; Re 22:15)

Worthless individual (2Sa 16:9)

Wicked shepherds of Israel (Isa 56:10, 11)

Ancient Jewish view of uncircumcised Gentiles (Mt 15:26, 27)

Apostates (2Pe 2:22)

Dove

Easily distracted, unstable, simpleminded

Ten-tribe kingdom of Israel (Ho 7:11)

Dragon

Devouring, crushing, swallowing

Satan the Devil (Re 12:9)

King of Babylon (Jer 51:34, ftn)

Eagle

Rapacious, predatory

Kings of Babylon and Egypt (Eze 17:3, 7, 12, 15)

Fish

Some fish unclean according to the Law (Le 11:10-12)

Wicked persons, unsuitable for Kingdom (Mt 13:47-50)

Fox

Craftiness, slyness

Treacherous King Herod Antipas (Lu 13:32)

Goat

Stubbornness, independent disposition, tendency to butt

Persons not friendly toward Christ’s spiritual brothers, “cursed” ones going into destruction (Mt 25:32, 41, 46)

Grecian World Power (Da 8:5, 21)

Horse

Usefulness in battle (Job 39:19-25)

Warfare, war equipment (Ps 33:17; 147:10; Isa 31:1; Jer 4:13)

Strong sexual desire

Sex-mad Israelites of Jeremiah’s day (Jer 5:8)

Leopard

Speed

Rapidity of Chaldean conquest (Hab 1:8)

Grecian World Power (Da 7:6)

Lion

Fierce, rapacious, predatory

Wicked enemies of David (Ps 22:13)

Babylonian World Power (Da 7:4)

Kings of Assyria and Babylon (Jer 50:17)

Devil (1Pe 5:8)

Serpent

Cunning, deceptiveness (2Co 11:3)

Satan the Devil (Re 12:9)

Sheep (male)

Butting

Medo-Persian World Power (Da 8:3, 4, 20)

Sow

Uncleanness

Apostates (2Pe 2:22)

Wolf

Ferocity, rapacity, viciousness, craftiness

False prophets (Mt 7:15)

Wicked, false Christians; false teachers (Ac 20:29)

Wicked men of the world (Mt 10:16)

Worm

Low, weak, insignificant

God’s nation Israel (Jacob) weak in itself, strong by Jehovah’s power (Isa 41:13-15)

Zebra (female)

Craving sexual satisfaction from any quarter

Israel unfaithfully seeking after pagan nations and their gods (Jer 2:24)