### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **zᵉʼêb**, represented by `{{H2061}}`, is the term for **wolf**. Derived from an unused root meaning to be yellow, it appears 7 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. It consistently depicts a predator known for its ferocity, ravenous nature, and threat to both livestock and people.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical literature, `{{H2061}}` is used both literally and metaphorically to convey themes of destruction and voracity. It is used to describe the fierce character of the tribe of **Benjamin**, who will **ravin** like a **wolf** [[Genesis 49:27]]. Prophets employ the image to characterize corrupt civil leaders, describing **princes** as **wolves ravening** the prey for **dishonest gain** [[Ezekiel 22:27]] and **judges** as **evening wolves** who **gnaw not the bones till the morrow** [[Zephaniah 3:3]]. The wolf is also presented as an instrument of divine judgment against sin [[Jeremiah 5:6]] and a standard for fierceness when describing an invading army [[Habakkuk 1:8]]. In contrast, prophetic passages envision a peaceful future where the wolf’s predatory nature is transformed, allowing it to **dwell** with the **lamb** ([[Isaiah 11:6]]; [[Isaiah 65:25]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help illustrate the wolf's role as a predator and a symbol:
* `{{H2963}}` **ṭâraph** (ravin): This root means to tear in pieces or ravin. It describes the characteristic action of the wolf, as seen in the prophecy about Benjamin who will **ravin** as a wolf [[Genesis 49:27]] and in the condemnation of princes who are like wolves **ravening** the prey [[Ezekiel 22:27]].
* `{{H8269}}` **sar** (prince): This term for a ruler or head person is used to describe the corrupt leaders who are compared to wolves. Both Ezekiel and Zephaniah depict **princes** who are like **wolves** within the city, preying on their own people ([[Ezekiel 22:27]]; [[Zephaniah 3:3]]).
* `{{H3532}}` **kebes** (lamb): As the direct counterpart to the wolf in prophetic imagery, the **lamb** represents the vulnerable and innocent. In the messianic kingdom, the wolf will **dwell** with the **lamb**, symbolizing a radical transformation of the natural order [[Isaiah 11:6]].
* `{{H7703}}` **shâdad** (spoil): This verb, meaning to ravage or lay waste, is used to describe the destructive impact of the wolf as an agent of judgment. In Jeremiah, a wolf of the evenings will **spoil** the people due to their **backslidings** [[Jeremiah 5:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2061}}` is centered on its representation of dangerous and destructive forces.
* **Corrupt Leadership:** The wolf serves as a potent symbol for corrupt leaders who prey on their own people. Ezekiel likens the **princes** of Jerusalem to **wolves** that **ravin** the prey to **shed blood** and get **dishonest gain** [[Ezekiel 22:27]].
* **Divine Judgment:** The ferocity of the wolf is harnessed in prophetic literature as an instrument of God’s judgment against **transgressions** and **backslidings**. The "evening **wolves**" are portrayed as a fierce and swift force unleashed upon a rebellious people ([[Jeremiah 5:6]]; [[Habakkuk 1:8]]).
* **Eschatological Peace:** The most striking theological use of the wolf is in visions of the future kingdom. The image of the **wolf** dwelling with the **lamb** [[Isaiah 11:6]] and feeding with it [[Isaiah 65:25]] illustrates a complete reversal of the fallen natural order. It points to a time of ultimate peace and reconciliation on God's **holy mountain**.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2061}}` **zᵉʼêb** is a biblically significant term that embodies predatory violence. It is used metaphorically to condemn the greed of corrupt leaders and to illustrate the fierceness of divine judgment. However, its imagery is ultimately transformed in prophecies of a messianic age, where the **wolf** living in peace with the **lamb** becomes a powerful symbol of God's redemptive power to bring harmony to a broken world. This illustrates how scripture uses a familiar predator to convey profound truths about sin, judgment, and ultimate restoration.
TRV