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Bible Dictionaries
Sheep
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
or Genesis 4:2. Abounded in the pastures of Palestine. Shepherds go before them and call them by name to follow (John 10:4; Psalms 77:20; Psalms 80:1). The ordinary sheep are the broad tailed sheep, and the Οvis aries , like our own except that the tail is longer and thicker, and the ears larger; called bedoween . Centuries B.C. Aristotle mentions Syrian sheep with tails a cubit wide. The fat tail is referred to in Leviticus 3:9; Leviticus 7:3. The Syrian cooks use the mass of fat instead of the rancid Arab butter.
The sheep symbolizes meekness, patience, gentleness, and submission (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32). (See LAMB.) Τsown means sheep"; ayil , the full-grown "ram," used for the male of other ruminants also; rachel , the adult "ewe"; kebes (masculine), kibsah (feminine), the half grown lamb; seh , "sheep" or paschal "lamb"; char , "young ram"; taleh , "sucking lamb"; 'atod (Genesis 31 "ram") means "he-goat"; imrin , "lambs for sacrifice."
The sheep never existed in a wild state, but was created expressly for man, and so was selected from the first for sacrifice. The image is frequent in Scripture: Jehovah the Shepherd, His people the flock (Psalms 23:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:1-2; Ezekiel 34). Sinners are the straying sheep whom the Good Shepherd came to save (Psalms 119:176; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 50:6; Luke 15:4-6; John 10:8; John 10:11). False teachers are thieves and wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). None can pluck His sheep from His hand and the Father's (John 10:27-29).
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Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Sheep'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fbd/s/sheep.html. 1949.
