Bible Word Study
דֹּב
dôb · the bear (as slow)
דֹּב
the bear (as slow)
Definition
The Hebrew noun דֹּב (dôb) refers to the bear, a large, powerful mammal known for its strength and ferocity. In the Old Testament, it is used both literally, as in David's account of protecting his sheep from a bear (1 Samuel 17:34-37), and metaphorically, to symbolize destructive rage or a ruthless enemy, such as a wicked ruler (Proverbs 28:15) or the anger of a fool (Proverbs 17:12). In prophetic literature, it appears in visions of a transformed creation, where the bear's nature is pacified (Isaiah 11:7).
Biblical Usage
This word appears 12 times, primarily in narrative and wisdom literature. In historical books like 1-2 Samuel and 2 Kings, it describes literal bears as dangerous wild animals (e.g., 1 Samuel 17:34; 2 Kings 2:24). In Proverbs, it is used figuratively for fierce, uncontrollable anger or oppression (Proverbs 17:12; 28:15). The sole prophetic use in Isaiah 11:7 depicts a future peace where the bear grazes harmlessly alongside the cow.
Etymology
Derived from the root דָּבַב (dābab, H1680), meaning 'to move slowly' or 'to murmur,' likely referencing the bear's lumbering gait. The noun form דֹּב emphasizes the creature's perceived slowness or heaviness. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Ugaritic 'db' and Arabic 'dubb,' both meaning 'bear.'
Semantic Range
The bear serves as a potent biblical symbol. It illustrates God's provision and protection in narratives like David's, where overcoming a bear prefigures defeating Goliath through divine help (1 Samuel 17:37). In wisdom literature, it warns against the destructive power of unchecked human anger and tyranny. Prophetically, its transformed nature in Isaiah 11:7 points to the messianic peace of God's kingdom, where creation's inherent violence is redeemed. In ancient Israel, bears were a genuine threat to flocks and people, inhabiting forested regions like the hills of Judah. Their reputation for sudden, terrifying ferocity (as seen in 2 Samuel 17:8 and 2 Kings 2:24) made them a natural metaphor for devastating danger. This contrasts with modern, often sentimentalized views of bears, highlighting the concrete peril they represented. אֲרִי (ʾărî, H738) — lion; another symbol of strength and ferocity, but often associated with royalty and majesty, whereas the bear symbolizes more brutish, unpredictable danger. כְּפִיר (kĕp̄îr, H3715) — young lion; emphasizes vigor and predatory power.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]