Revelation 13:2 Beastly animals and a dragon

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην [gnt]

… bestiam … ursi … os … os leonis … draco … [v]

What is a "leopard"? (beast)
What is a "bear"? (feet)
What is a "lion"? (mouth)
What is a "dragon"? (source of "power" as in "lack of restraint")

Why are each of these important?

The English word "leopard" is from the Middle English word "leperd" ≈ "leopard" which is, through French, from the Latin word "leopardus" ≈ "leopard" from the ancient Greek word "λεόπαρδος" ≈ "leopard" from the earlier ancient Greek word "πάρδαλιω" ≈ "leopard" which appears to be from the Old Persian.

The Sanskrit word "पृदाकु" (pdaku) ≈ "snake, tiger, leopard" and could refer to many big or dangerous beasts.
The German word "Pardel" ≈ "leopard" is from the Latin word "pardalis" ≈ "leopard" which is from the Latin word "pardus" ≈ "pard" and could refer to other spotted animals.
The Middle English word "pard" ≈ "leopard".

Thus, in English (as in some other languages), , going back to Latin, a leopard is a "leo" (for lion) and a "pard" (for spotted animal).

More: The panther as an all-beast

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην [gnt]

… pard… lioun… [wy]

… catt of the mountayne … lyon… [ty]

Some "beasts" in Revelation include the "leopard", the "bear" and the "lion". Wycliffe calls the "leopard" a "pard" while Tyndale calls it a "catt of the mountayne".

More: The panther as an all-beast

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. [kjv]

ει αλλαξεται αιθιοψ το δερμα αυτου και παρδαλις τα ποικιλματα αυτης και υμεις δυνησεσθε ευ ποιησαι μεμαθηκοτες τα κακα [lxx]

If the Ethiopian shall change his skin, or the leopardess her spots, then shall you° be able to do good, having learnt evil. [bs3]

Is it nature (e.g., genetics) or nurture (e.g., environment)? Is it a combination of these?
Jeremiah uses that analogy to tell the people that they have learned to do some of the bad things that they do and they need not be bad in that way.

More: Jeremiah 13: Nature and nurture and leopard spots

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην [gnt]

The essential aspect of a "leopard" is that of "spots" which is associated with "opinion" as in "jots" (spots, empty opinion) and "tittles" (horns, invalid rules). The "leopard" has "spots". Will "horns" show up?

More: Revelation 13:1 Hunt for a monstrous beast

More: Matthew 5:18 The true reality of jots and tittles

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην [gnt]

… bestiam … ursi … os … os leonis … draco … [v]

The Latin word "bestiam" ≈ "beast" and is the source of the English word "beast".
The Latin word "ursi" ≈ "bear" as in the constellations "Ursa Major" the "Big Bear" and "Ursa Minor" the "Little Bear".
The Spanish word "el oso" ≈ "bear".


Spots, human opinion	Bear fruit with love	Horns, human rules
Love sinner, love sin.	Love sinner, hate sin	Hate sin, hate sinner

Where are you in the progression?
Where is your church in the progression?

Human rays as "raised" additions to the God's sun (Jesus) can be spots or horns. One should "praise" God and not "raise" additions.

More: Philippians 3:5-8 not by works

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

… bestiam … ursi … os … os leonis … draco … [v]

Зверь, которого я видел, был подобен барсу; ноги у него-как у медведя, а пасть у него-как пасть у льва; и дал ему дракон силу свою и престол свой и великую власть. [rus]

The Russian word "зверь" (zver) ≈ "beast" and is cognate with the English word "bear".

The Russian word "медведь" (med-ved) ≈ "bear" and means, literally, "honey eater".

More: Bears

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

… bestiam … ursi … os … os leonis … draco … [v]

Und das Tier, das ich sah, war gleich einem Pardel und seine Füße als Bärenfüße und sein Mund eines Löwen Mund. Und der Drache gab ihm seine Kraft und seinen Stuhl und große Macht. [lu]

The German word "Tier" ≈ "animal, beast" and is cognate to the English word "deer".

The German word "Bär" ≈ "bear" and is cognate to the English word "bear".

More: Bears

The bear is the mascot of the Elizabethtown Area Schools.
In June 2022, instead of fully cutting down a tree, someone had a bear mascot carved out part of the tree trunk. Northwest corner of East Willow street and North Locust street.

More: Elizabethtown bear mascot

Hershey, PA, is 13 miles from Elizabethtown, but there appears to be no direct connection of the EAHS bear with the Hershey Bears minor league hockey team

It appears that the name Hershey "bears" started when the name Hershey "bars" was denied due to it being considered a form of advertising.

The German word "Bär" ≈ "bear".

More: Elizabethtown bear mascot

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

… bestiam … ursi … os … os leonis … draco … [v]

The Greek word for "bear" is the source of the English word "arctic" since the constellation of the big "bear" was in the northern sky and thus associated with the direction of "north" and cold weather.

The Latin word "ursa" ≈ "bear".

Some think of Gladly, the cross-eyed bear, from the hymn "Gladly the cross I would bear for Jesus".

More: Mondegreens: misheard lyrics

The constellation of the "dragon" called "Draco" winds through and around the dippers. The Big Dipper and Little Dipper have other names.

Big Bear and Little Bear.
Big Wagon and Little Wagon (Germanic cultures).
Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (Latin).
Plough, Saucepan, Chariot, Drinking Gourd, etc.

The Latin word "ursa" ≈ "bear". The dippers appear in the north sky and can be used to find the direction "north" (in the northern hemisphere). The ancient Greek word "Ἄρκτος" ≈ "big dipper". This word became associated with "north". This Greek word is the source of the English word "arctic".

The modern Greek word "Μεγάλη Άρκτος" (Meh-GA-lee AR-ktos) ≈ "Big Bear".

More: Bears

Job 9:9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. [kjv]

Arcturus, which means "guardian" of the "bear", is a star in the constellation Boötes. Arcturus is the brightest star next to "Ursa Major" which is the "Great Bear".
The ancient Greek word "βοώτης" ≈ "herdsman" and is related to the English word "Presbyterian" as an "elder" as the older herdsman watched the cows while the younger ones watched the sheep.

More: Luke 2:8-21 Shepherds and Presbyterians

More: Bears

To "bear the cross" of Jesus brings to mind the song "Keep thou my way" by Fanny Crosby and the cross-eyed bear called "Gladly" (verse 3).

Keep Thou my all, O Lord, Hide my life in Thine;
O let Thy sacred light O'er my pathway shine;
Kept by Thy tender care, Gladly the cross I'll bear
Hear Thou and grant my pray'r, Hide my life in Thine.

More: Revelation 13:1 Hunt for a monstrous beast

More: Mondegreens: misheard lyrics

Revelation 13:2

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KJV: And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Greek: και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως αρκτου αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην

Latin: et bestiam quam vidi similis erat pardo et pedes eius sicut ursi et os eius sicut os leonis et dedit illi draco virtutem suam et potestatem magnam

Wycliffe: And the beeste, whom Y sai, was lijk a pard, and hise feet as the feet of a beere, and his mouth as the mouth of a lioun; and the dragoun yaf his vertu and greet power to hym.

Tyndale: And the beast which I sawe was lyke a catt of the mountayne and his fete were as the fete of a bear and his mouth as the mouthe of a lyon. And the dragon gave him his power and his seate and grett auctorite:

Luther: Und das Tier, das ich sah, war gleich einem Pardel und seine Füße als Bärenfüße und sein Mund eines Löwen Mund. Und der Drache gab ihm seine Kraft und seinen Stuhl und große Macht.

Slavonic: Зверь, егоже видех, бе подобен рыси, и нозе ему яко медведи, и уста его яко уста львова: и даде ему змий силу свою и престол свой и область великую.

Russian: Зверь, которого я видел, был подобен барсу; ноги у него-как у медведя, а пасть у него-как пасть у льва; и дал ему дракон силу свою и престол свой и великую власть.

Spanish: Y la bestia que vi, era semejante a un leopardo, y sus pies como de oso, y su boca como boca de león. Y el dragón le dio su poder y su trono, y grande autoridad.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην [gnt]

… bestiam … ursi … os … os leonis … draco … [v]

What is the difference between the "mouth" of a "lion" and the "mouth" of a "leopard"?

How would you notice at close distance facing an angry "lion" or "leopard"?

More: A peace of the mouth of the sword

Book: The lion, the witch and the wardrobe

In The lion, the witch and the wardrobe (1950), C. S. Lewis uses a talking "lion" named "Aslan"

The word "aslan" in Turkish means "lion".

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Leo, the constellation of the lion, is one of the twelve zodiac constellations.

The ancient Greek word "λέων" ≈ "lion".
The Latin word "leo" ≈ "lion".

More: Stars and astronomy

More: The panther as an all-beast

*G3023 *9 λεών (leh-ohn') : a primary word; a "lion":--lion.

Words: λεοντι λεοντος λεοντων=4 λεων=3

The ancient Greek word "λέων" ≈ "lion". The source appears to be not only pre-Greek but also not Indo-European.

Six of the nine references to "lions" in the GNT (Greek New Testament) are in Revelation.

*G3023 *9 λεών (leh-ohn') : a primary word; a "lion":--lion.

Usage

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λεοντων *4

Hebrews 11:33 ... promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Revelation 9:8 ... teeth were as the teeth of lions.
Revelation 9:17 ... of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their ...
Revelation 13:2 ... mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave ...

λεων *3

1 Peter 5:8 ... the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Revelation 5:5 ... Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, ...
Revelation 10:3 ... with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when ...

λεοντος

2 Timothy 4:17 ... I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

λεοντι

Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast ...

More: The panther as an all-beast

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [kjv]

και το θηριον ο ειδον ην ομοιον παρδαλει και οι ποδες αυτου ως αρκου και το στομα αυτου ως στομα λεοντος και εδωκεν αυτω ο δρακων την δυναμιν αυτου και τον θρονον αυτου και εξουσιαν μεγαλην [gnt]

… bestiam … ursi … os … os leonis … draco … [v]

What is a "dragon"? Might it be related to a "dinosaur" which is a name coined from the Greek in the 1800's and means, literally, "terrible" "lizard".

The ancient Greek word "σαῦρος" ≈ "lizard, serpent" and is the source of the English word "dinosaur" and is used symbolically to represent Satan as a "serpent". The source of the word "sauros" is that of "twisting".

More: Dragons and dinosaurs throughout history

More: Job 40:15-24 Behemoth as a dinosaur dragon

rabbit	rat	chicken	horse
tiger	pig	monkey	snake
ox	dog	sheep	dragon

Chinese New Year: February 10, 2024, Year of the dragon. Celebration until February 17, 2024.

It is interesting that the 12 Chinese years are represented by 11 common animals and one "mythical" animal, the dragon. Perhaps the dragon really was a common animal at one time.

Might the dragon have been a dinosaur that really existed? Dinosaur DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) has been found. Many people in times past have drawn images of dinosaurs.
Job describes a creature called "behemoth" that had a tail like a cedar tree. The NIV (New International Version) says it could be a hippopotamus or elephant.

More: Dragons and dinosaurs throughout history

The Chinese used ground up "dragon" bones as medicine. Americans examining the "dragon" bones realized that the "dragon" bones were actually fossilized dinosaur bones.
The origin of the dragon image is unknown because it is so ancient. However, it is not unreasonable to assume that some of the massive fossilized bones encountered in several parts of China, including dinosaur and mammoth bones, were thought by ancient people to be those of huge dragons. Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon http://www.itmonline.org/arts/dragonbone.htm (as of 2005-05-15)

More: Dragons and dinosaurs throughout history

One area of "dinosaurs" is that of "flying dragons" or "flying dinosaurs". The "pterodactyl", a name coined by French naturalist and zoologist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832), comes from two Greek words.

The ancient Greek word "πτερόν" ≈ "feather, wing" which is cognate with the English word "feather". The Greek word forms the "pter" part of the English word "helicopter".
The ancient Greek word "δάκτυλος" ≈ "finger, toe" and may be related to the Latin word "digitus" ≈ "finger, toe" which is the source of the English word "digit".

[wing of the temple]

More: Dragons and dinosaurs throughout history