the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Encyclopedias
Wolf
The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
or The wolf (Canis lupus) is still found in Palestine, where the animals prowl in pairs or droves about sheepfolds at night. As a type of boldness, ferocity, and bloodthirstiness, it is mentioned in Genesis 49:27; Isaiah 11:6, 65:25; Jeremiah 5:6; Ezekiel 22:27; Habakkuk 1:3; and Zephaniah 3:3.
According to the Talmud, the wolf (
, and 
[= Greek λύÏοÏ]) resembles in external appearance the dog, with which it can copulate (Ber. 9b; Gen. R. 31:6); and its period of gestation is three years (Bek. 8a). It is the enemy of flocks, and directs its attacks especially against the he-goats (B. Ḳ. 15b; Shab. 53b). The wound caused by the wolf's bite is oblong and ragged (Zeb. 74b). Although when pressed by hunger the wolf attacks even man (Ta'an. 19a), it can be tamed (Sanh. 15b). For a comparison of the otter with the wolf see Suk. 56b and Gen. R. 112:3; and for fables of which the wolf is the subject see Rashi on Sanh. 39a and 105a.
- Tristram, Nat. Hist. p. 152;
- Lewysohn, Z. T. p. 81.
These files are public domain.
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Wolf'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tje/w/wolf.html. 1901.
