WOLF

Heb. zeeb, frequently referred to in Scripture as an emblem of treachery and cruelty. Jacob’s prophecy, “Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf” (Gen. 49:27), represents the warlike character of that tribe (see Judg. 19-21). Isaiah represents the peace of Messiah’s kingdom by the words, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb” (Isa. 11:6). The habits of the wolf are described in Jer. 5:6; Hab. 1:8; Zeph. 3:3; Ezek. 22:27; Matt. 7:15; 10:16; Acts 20:29. Wolves are still sometimes found in Palestine, and are the dread of shepherds, as of old.

There can be little doubt that the wolf of Palestine is the common Canis lupus, and that this is the animal so frequently mentioned in the Bible. (The wolf is a fierce animal of the same species as the dog, which it resembles. The common color is gray with a tinting of fawn, and the hair is long and black. The Syrian wolf is of lighter color than the wolf of Europe it is the dread of the shepherds of Palestine.—ED.) Wolves were doubtless far more common in biblical times than they are now, though they are occasionally seen by modern travellers. The following are the scriptural allusions to the wolf: Its ferocity is mentioned in (Genesis 49:27; Ezekiel 22:27); Habb 1:8; Matt 7:15 Its nocturnal habits, in (Jeremiah 5:6; Zephaniah 3:3); Habb 1:8 Its attacking sheep and lambs, (Matthew 10:16; Luke 10:3; John 10:12) Isaiah (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25) foretells the peaceful reign of the Messiah under the metaphor of a wolf dwelling with a lamb: cruel persecutors are compared with wolves. (Matthew 10:16; Acts 20:29)

WOLF, a fierce, cruel, ravenous animal, in size and general appearance resembling a dog, and a most terrible enemy to sheep. Isa 65:25; Matt 7:15; Neh 10:16; John 10:12; Acts 20:29. The rapaciousness of the tribe of Benjamin was foretold by Jacob by a comparison with the wolf. Gen 49:27. See Judg 20-21 and comp. 1 Sam 9:1 and John 20:31 and Acts 9:1; Rom 11:1; Phil 3:5. The Bible-writers also illustrate the cruelty of Israel's oppressors by an allusion to the wolf. Eze 22:27, and the sallying forth of the evening wolf in search of prey, Hab 1:8, is emblematical of the destruction which awaits wicked men. Jer 5:5-6. The allusion Zeph 3:3 is to the circumstance that the wolf in its greediness often seizes on more than it can consume. The wolf still lurks in Palestine, the dread of shepherds. As there found, it is of a pale fawn-color, but, although thus lighter than the common European species (Canis lupus), seems to be only a variety of it.

WOLF, a fierce, cruel, ravenous animal, in size and general appearance resembling a dog, and a most terrible enemy to sheep. Isa 65:25; Matt 7:15; Neh 10:16; John 10:12; Acts 20:29. The rapaciousness of the tribe of Benjamin was foretold by Jacob by a comparison with the wolf. Gen 49:27. See Judg 20-21 and comp. 1 Sam 9:1 and John 20:31 and Acts 9:1; Rom 11:1; Phil 3:5. The Bible-writers also illustrate the cruelty of Israel's oppressors by an allusion to the wolf. Eze 22:27, and the sallying forth of the evening wolf in search of prey, Hab 1:8, is emblematical of the destruction which awaits wicked men. Jer 5:5-6. The allusion Zeph 3:3 is to the circumstance that the wolf in its greediness often seizes on more than it can consume. The wolf still lurks in Palestine, the dread of shepherds. As there found, it is of a pale fawn-color, but, although thus lighter than the common European species (Canis lupus), seems to be only a variety of it.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. Any one of several species of wild and savage carnivores belonging to the genus Canis and closely allied to the common dog. The best-known and most destructive species are the European wolf (Canis lupus), the American gray, or timber, wolf (C. occidentalis), and the prairie wolf, or coyote. Wolves often hunt in packs, and may thus attack large animals and even man.

2. One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvæ of several species of beetles and grain moths; as, the bee wolf.

3. Fig.: Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, want; starvation; as, they toiled hard to keep the wolf from the door.

4. A white worm, or maggot, which infests granaries.

5. An eating ulcer or sore. Cf. Lupus. [Obs.] If God should send a cancer upon thy face, or a wolf into thy side. Jer. Taylor.

6. The harsh, howling sound of some of the chords on an organ or piano tuned by unequal temperament.

7. In bowed instruments, a harshness due to defective vibration in certain notes of the scale.

8. A willying machine. Knight. Black wolf. (Zoöl.) (a) A black variety of the European wolf which is common in the Pyrenees. (b) A black variety of the American gray wolf. -- Golden wolf (Zoöl.), the Thibetan wolf (Canis laniger); -- called also chanco. -- Indian wolf (Zoöl.), an Asiatic wolf (Canis pallipes) which somewhat resembles a jackal. Called also landgak. -- Prairie wolf (Zoöl.), the coyote. -- Sea wolf. (Zoöl.) See in the Vocabulary. -- Strand wolf (Zoöl.) the striped hyena. -- Tasmanian wolf (Zoöl.), the zebra wolf. -- Tiger wolf (Zoöl.), the spotted hyena. -- To keep the wolf from the door, to keep away poverty; to prevent starvation. See Wolf, 3, above. Tennyson. -- Wolf dog. (Zoöl.) (a) The mastiff, or shepherd dog, of the Pyrenees, supposed by some authors to be one of the ancestors of the St. Bernard dog. (b) The Irish greyhound, supposed to have been used formerly by the Danes for chasing wolves. (c) A dog bred between a dog and a wolf, as the Eskimo dog. -- Wolf eel (Zoöl.), a wolf fish. -- Wolf fish (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large, voracious marine fishes of the genus Anarrhichas, especially the common species (A. lupus) of Europe and North America. These fishes have large teeth and powerful jaws. Called also catfish, sea cat, sea wolf, stone biter, and swinefish. -- Wolf net, a kind of net used in fishing, which takes great numbers of fish. -- Wolf's peach (Bot.), the tomato, or love apple (Lycopersicum esculentum). -- Wolf spider (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of running ground spiders belonging to the genus Lycosa, or family Lycosidæ. These spiders run about rapidly in search of their prey. Most of them are plain brown or blackish in color. See Illust. in App. -- Zebra wolf (Zoöl.), a savage carnivorous marsupial (Thylacinus cynocephalus) native of Tasmania; -- called also Tasmanian wolf.