The panther as an all-beast

The English word "pather" comes, through French, from the Latin word "panthere" ≈ "panther" which is from the ancient Greek word "πάνθηρ" ≈ "panther" and may be related to the Sanskrit word "पुण्डरीक" (pundanka) ≈ "tiger".

A folk etymology is that the ancient Greek word "πάνθηρ" ≈ "panther" comes from the ancient Greek word "πᾰν" ≈ "all", as in "pandemic" and the ancient Greek word "θήρ" ≈ "beast" or the ancient Greek word "θήρα" ≈ "hunt".

More: Folk etymology

The Carolina Panthers is an NFL (National Football League) team that is based in Charlotte, NC, and represents both North Carolina and South Carolina.

A Penn State "Nitanny Lion" is a mountain lion that once lived on Mount Nitanny which overlooks the main Penn State campus.

The Panthera family of cats includes the lion, leopard, jaguar, tiger, the black panther, and others.

In ancient Greece, the "panther" was a mythical beast - appearing as a big cat with multiple colors.

The "panther" was believed to be ridden (as a horse) by the god Dionysus, the Greek god of wine who in Roman culture was Bacchus. A lot of mystical writings have been attributed to Dionysus.

Acts 17:34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. [kjv]

τινες δε ανδρες κολληθεντες αυτω επιστευσαν εν οις και διονυσιος ο αρεοπαγιτης και γυνη ονοματι δαμαρις και ετεροι συν αυτοις [gnt]

… Dionisius Ariopagita … [v]

The Greek god Dionysus is not in the Bible but a Greek by that name is mentioned in Acts 17:34 as an assemblyman, somewhat similar to a Roman senator (who, after Caesar, had no real power and were there mostly for appearance). Tyndale uses the word "senatour" to describe his position.

Acts 17:34

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KJV: Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Greek: τινες δε ανδρες κολληθεντες αυτω επιστευσαν εν οις και διονυσιος ο αρεοπαγιτης και γυνη ονοματι δαμαρις και ετεροι συν αυτοις

Latin: quidam vero viri adherentes ei crediderunt in quibus et Dionisius Ariopagita et mulier nomine Damaris et alii cum eis

Wycliffe: But summen drowen to hym, and bileueden. Among whiche Dynyse Aropagite was, and a womman, bi name Damaris, and othere men with hem.

Tyndale: Howbeit certayne men clave vnto Paul and beleved amonge the which was Dionysius a senatour and a woman named Damaris and other with them.

Hosea 5:14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. [kjv]

διοτι εγω ειμι ως πανθηρ τω εφραιμ και ως λεων τω οικω ιουδα και εγω αρπωμαι και πορευσομαι και λημψομαι και ουκ εσται ο εξαιρουμενος [lxx]

13:7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: [kjv]

και εσομαι αυτοις ως πανθηρ και ως παρδαλις κατα την οδον ασσυριων [lxx]

The Greek word for "panther" appears twice in the LXX (Septuagint) where the Hebrew and most English translations have "lion".

The Hebrew word "שחל" (sa-hal) ≈ "lion" where the name may come from the roaring sound of a lion in the same manner that the word "shout" appears to be onomatopoeic.

Hosea 5:14

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KJV: For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

Hebrew: כי אנכי כשחל לאפרים וככפיר לבית יהודה אני אני אטרף ואלך אשא ואין מציל׃

Greek: διοτι εγω ειμι ως πανθηρ τω εφραιμ και ως λεων τω οικω ιουδα και εγω αρπωμαι και πορευσομαι και λημψομαι και ουκ εσται ο εξαιρουμενος

Latin: quoniam ego quasi leaena Ephraim et quasi catulus leonis domui Iuda ego ego capiam et vadam tollam et non est qui eruat

Wycliffe: For Y am as a lionesse to Effraym, and as a whelp of a lioun to the hous of Juda.

Luther: Denn ich bin dem Ephraim wie ein Löwe, und dem Hause Juda wie ein junger Löwe. Ich, ich zerreiße sie und gehe davon und führe sie weg, und niemand kann sie retten.

Russian: Ибо Я как лев для Ефрема и как скимен для дома Иудина; Я, Я растерзаю, и уйду; унесу, и никто не спасет.

Spanish: Porque yo seré como león a Efraín, y como cachorro de león a la casa de Judá; yo, yo arrebataré, y andaré; tomaré, y no habrá quien liberte.

Hosea 13:7

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KJV: Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

Hebrew: ואהי להם כמו שחל כנמר על דרך אשור׃

Greek: και εσομαι αυτοις ως πανθηρ και ως παρδαλις κατα την οδον ασσυριων

Latin: et ero eis quasi leaena sicut pardus in via Assyriorum

Wycliffe: And Y schal be as a lionesse to hem, as a parde in the weye of Assiriens.

Luther: So will ich auch werden gegen sie wie ein Löwe, und wie ein Parder auf dem Wege will ich auf sie lauern.

Slavonic: И буду им яко панфирь, и яко рысь на пути Ассириев:

Russian: И Я буду для них как лев, как скимен буду подстерегать при дороге.

Spanish: Por tanto, yo seré para ellos como león; como un leopardo en el camino los espiaré.

The ancient Greek word "λέων" ≈ "lion" and appears to be pre-Greek as many other languages had similar words for "lion".

*H7826 שַׁחַל (shakh'-al) : from an unused root probably meaning to roar; a lion (from his characteristic roar):--(fierce) lion.

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

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1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [kjv]

νηψατε γρηγορησατε ο αντιδικος υμων διαβολος ως λεων ωρυομενος περιπατει ζητων καταπιειν [gnt]

… leo … [v]

… lioun … [wy]

… Löwe … [lu]

… лев … [ocs]

1 Peter 5:8

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KJV: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Greek: νηψατε γρηγορησατε οτι ο αντιδικος υμων διαβολος ως λεων ωρυομενος περιπατει ζητων τινα καταπιη καταπιειν

Latin: sobrii estote vigilate quia adversarius vester diabolus tamquam leo rugiens circuit quaerens quem devoret

Wycliffe: Be ye sobre, and wake ye, for youre aduersarie, the deuel, as a rorynge lioun goith aboute, sechinge whom he schal deuoure.

Geneva: Be sober, and watch: for your aduersarie the deuil as a roaring lyon walketh about, seeking whom he may deuoure:

Luther: Seid nüchtern und wachet; denn euer Widersacher, der Teufel, gehet umher wie ein brüllender Löwe und suchet, welchen er verschlinge.

Slavonic: Трезвитеся, бодрствуйте, зане супостат ваш диавол, яко лев рыкая, ходит, иский кого поглотити:

Russian: Трезвитесь, бодрствуйте, потому что противник ваш диавол ходит, как рыкающий лев, ища, кого поглотить.

Spanish: Sed sobrios, y velad; porque vuestro adversario el diablo, cual león rugiente, anda alrededor buscando a quien devorar;

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

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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 ...

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

Words: λεοντι λεοντος λεοντων=4 λεων=3

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]

… pardo … leonis … [v]

… pard… lioun… [wy]

… catt of the mountayne … lyon… [ty]

Some beasts in Revelation include the "leopard" and the "lion".

Wycliffe calls the "leopard" a "pard" while Tyndale calls it a "catt of the @OMIT(t=[mountayne])".

More: Revelation 13:1-14 Hunt for a beast

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.

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).

*G3917 *1 πάρδαλις (par'-dal-is) : feminine of pardos (a panther); a leopard:--leopard.

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παρδαλει

Revelation 13:2 ... I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet ...

*G3917 *1 πάρδαλις (par'-dal-is) : feminine of pardos (a panther); a leopard:--leopard.

Words: παρδαλει