θηρίον
thērion
wild animal
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word θηρίον (thērion) carries a fundamental meaning of a wild animal. Its 47 occurrences in the Bible reveal a range of usage, often to describe untamed creatures, such as beasts, in contrast to domesticated animals. This dichotomy suggests that the term θηρίον highlights the untamed, often ferocious, and potentially threatening nature of these animals. The significance of θηρίον lies in its ability to evoke a sense of power, danger, and the unknown. In biblical contexts, wild animals are often associated with the untamed forces of nature, which can be both awe-inspiring and intimidating. The word θηρίον may also convey a sense of unpredictability, underscoring the idea that these creatures operate according to their own instincts and desires, rather than human control or domestication. In summary, θηρίον is a word that signifies a wild animal, emphasizing its untamed and potentially threatening nature. Its usage throughout the Bible highlights the complexities and awe-inspiring aspects of the natural world, suggesting a profound respect for the power and unpredictability of the creatures that inhabit it.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
47 total occurrences across the text
He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.
Acts 10:12in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.
Acts 11:6When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
Acts 28:4When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.”
Acts 28:5However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed.
Titus 1:12One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.”
Hebrews 12:20for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.
James 3:7For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
Revelation 11:7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
Revelation 6:8And behold, a pale horse, and the name of he who sat on it was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.
Revelation 13:1Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.
Revelation 13:2The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Revelation 13:3One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
Revelation 13:4They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
Revelation 13:4They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
Revelation 13:4They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
Revelation 13:11I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
Revelation 13:12He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
Revelation 13:12He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
Revelation 13:14He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.
Revelation 13:14He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.
Revelation 13:15It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Revelation 13:15It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Revelation 13:15It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Revelation 13:17and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Revelation 13:18Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
Revelation 14:9Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand,
Revelation 14:11The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Revelation 15:2I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
Revelation 16:2The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.
Revelation 16:10The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain,
Revelation 16:13I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs;
Revelation 17:3He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
Revelation 17:7The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Revelation 17:8The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
Revelation 17:8The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
Revelation 17:11The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction.
Revelation 17:12The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
Revelation 17:13These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
Revelation 17:16The ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute, will make her desolate, will strip her naked, will eat her flesh, and will burn her utterly with fire.
Revelation 17:17For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
Revelation 18:2He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
Revelation 19:19I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army.
Revelation 19:20The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Revelation 19:20The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Revelation 20:4I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.