ἄρκος
a bear
Definition
ἄρκος refers specifically to a bear, a large, powerful carnivorous mammal. In the New Testament, this word is used metaphorically to depict ferocity, destructive power, and terrifying strength. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Revelation 13:2, where it describes one of the characteristics of the beast rising from the sea, symbolizing a brutal, predatory political or imperial power. The imagery draws on Old Testament prophetic language where bears represent sudden, devastating judgment (e.g., 2 Kings 2:24, Proverbs 28:15).
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in the apocalyptic book of Revelation. In Revelation 13:2, the beast seen by John has feet 'like a bear's' (ὡς ἄρκου), borrowing this characteristic from the vision in Daniel 7:5. The usage is entirely symbolic, employing the bear as a standard image for crushing power and voracious aggression within a prophetic context.
Etymology
The word ἄρκος is the standard Greek noun for 'bear'. Its etymology is debated; it is possibly derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ŕ̥tḱos, related to the Latin 'ursus' and Sanskrit 'ṛkṣa'. The proposed derivation from ἀ- (a negative prefix) and a root meaning 'to destroy' is folk etymology and not supported by modern linguistics. The word simply denotes the animal itself.
Semantic Range
Theologically, the bear in Revelation 13:2 is a symbol of raw, destructive power within a composite image of evil empire. Its use connects the New Testament vision directly to the prophetic tradition of Daniel, where successive empires are depicted as terrifying beasts. Understanding this symbol enriches reading by highlighting the continuity of biblical prophecy and the nature of oppressive worldly systems as predatory and beastly, ultimately contrasted with the Lamb of God.
In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman world, the bear was universally recognized as one of the most dangerous wild animals, a symbol of fearsome strength and ferocity. Unlike modern, often sentimentalized views of bears, the ancient perspective was almost exclusively one of terror and threat, making it a potent metaphor for military might and brutal authority in biblical literature.
θηρίον (thērion, G2342) — a broader term for a wild beast or dangerous animal, used for the composite 'beast' itself in Revelation 13.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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