### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **dôb**, represented by `{{H1677}}`, is the term for **bear**. It appears **12 times** in **12 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root suggesting slowness, its scriptural usage instead emphasizes its power and ferocity, where it serves as a potent symbol of danger, judgment, and the fierce instinct of a protective mother.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H1677}}` appears both literally and as a powerful symbol. As a literal threat, it is mentioned by David, who recounts killing a **bear** that attacked his father's flock, citing this as evidence of God's power to deliver him from Goliath [[1 Samuel 17:34-37]]. It is also an instrument of divine judgment, as seen when two she-bears come out of the woods and attack the youths who mock the prophet Elisha [[2 Kings 2:24]]. Figuratively, the **bear** represents inescapable peril [[Amos 5:19]] and is used in a simile to describe a wicked ruler oppressing the poor [[Proverbs 28:15]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words enhance the understanding of the **bear's** role in scripture:
* `{{H738}}` **'ărîy** (a lion): The lion is frequently mentioned alongside the **bear** as a symbol of predatory danger. David fought both a lion and a **bear** [[1 Samuel 17:37]], and God is described as being like a lion and a **bear** lying in wait [[Lamentations 3:10]].
* `{{H7909}}` **shakkûwl** (bereaved; barren, bereaved (robbed) of children (whelps)): This term is used specifically to describe the intense ferocity of a mother **bear** that has been "robbed of her whelps," an image used to describe extremely dangerous warriors [[2 Samuel 17:8]] and as a metaphor for God's wrath [[Hosea 13:8]].
* `{{H1234}}` **bâqaʻ** (to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open): This verb describes the violent action of a **bear**. The she-bears in the account of Elisha "tare" the mocking youths [[2 Kings 2:24]], and God warns in Hosea that a wild beast will "tear" the people [[Hosea 13:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1677}}` is expressed through its use as a symbol of divine power and earthly peril.
* **Instrument of Divine Judgment:** The **bear** acts as an agent of God's wrath. This is seen most starkly when God summons two she-bears to execute judgment on the youths who mocked his prophet, Elisha [[2 Kings 2:24]].
* **Metaphor for God's Fierceness:** God himself is compared to a **bear** to describe the intensity of his judgment. He promises to meet a rebellious Israel "as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps" [[Hosea 13:8]] and is described as being "as a bear lying in wait" for the one who is suffering [[Lamentations 3:10]].
* **Symbol of Eschatological Peace:** In a significant reversal of its dangerous nature, the **bear** appears in Isaiah's vision of the peaceable kingdom. The image of the **bear** feeding peacefully with the cow symbolizes the radical transformation and harmony that will characterize God's restored creation [[Isaiah 11:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1677}}` **dôb** is more than a simple reference to an animal. It is a powerful biblical symbol representing formidable strength, lethal danger, and the untamable ferocity of a protective mother. Scripture employs the **bear** to illustrate the peril of wicked rulers, the inescapability of judgment, and, most strikingly, the awesome and terrifying power of God's wrath. Yet, its inclusion in Isaiah's prophecy of a peaceable kingdom also reveals a future where even the most fearsome aspects of creation are redeemed and brought into harmony.
TRV