best:<br /><br />

(1) ziz, only with sadhay, "field," in the expression, ziz sadhay, translated "wild beasts of the field" (<bibleref ref="Ps.50.11">Ps 50:11</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Ps.80.13">80:13</bibleref>); compare Targum to <bibleref ref="Ps.80.13">Ps 80:13</bibleref>, ziza’, "worm" (BDB); Arabic ziz, "worm."

(2) tsiyim (<bibleref ref="Isa.13.21">Isa 13:21</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Isa.34.14">34:14</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Jer.50.39">Jer 50:39</bibleref>).

(3) ’iyim (<bibleref ref="Isa.13.21">Isa 13:21</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Isa.34.14">34:14</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Jer.50.39">Jer 50:39</bibleref>).

(4) chay, "living thing," often translated "wild beast" in <span class="auto-link">[[English Versions]]</span> of the Bible (<bibleref ref="1Sam.17.46">1Sa 17:46</bibleref>, etc.).

(5) In Apocrypha (<span class="auto-link">[[Additions to Esther]]</span> 16:24, etc.) and the <span class="auto-link">[[New Testament]]</span> (<bibleref ref="Mark.1.13">Mr 1:13</bibleref>), therion.

(6) <bibleref ref="Acts.10.12">Ac 10:12</bibleref> the <span class="auto-link">[[King James Version]]</span>; <bibleref ref="Acts.11.6">Ac 11:6</bibleref>, tetrapodon, the <span class="auto-link">[[Revised Version]]</span> (British and American) "four-rooted beast."

(1), (2) and (3) are of doubtful etymology, but the context makes it clear in each case that wild beasts of some sort are meant. The Targum ziza’, "worm," is possible in <bibleref ref="Ps.80.13">Ps 80:13</bibleref>, though not probable in view of the parallel "boar": "The boar out of the wood doth ravage it, and the wild beasts of the field feed on it," i.e. on the vine (figurative) brought out of Egypt. In <bibleref ref="Ps.50.11">Ps 50:11</bibleref>, however, such an interpretation is out of the question. All the references from 50:8 to 50:13 are to large animals, bullocks, goats, cattle and birds. Vulgate (Jerome’s Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) and the Septuagint have in 80:13 "wild beast" and in 50:11 "beauty of the field" (translated)!

Tsiyim, doubtfully referred to tsiydh, "drought," occurs in prophecies of the desolation of Babylon in <bibleref ref="Isa.13.21">Isa 13:21</bibleref> ("wild beasts of the desert") and <bibleref ref="Jer.50.39">Jer 50:39</bibleref>, of Edom in <bibleref ref="Isa.34.14">Isa 34:14</bibleref>, of Assyria in <bibleref ref="Isa.23.13">Isa 23:13</bibleref> ("them that dwell in the wilderness"). It is associated in these passages with names of wild beasts and birds, some of them of very doubtful meaning, such as tannim, ’ochim, ’iyim, se`irim, benoth ya`anah. Wild beasts of some sort are clearly meant, though the kind can only be conjectured. The word occurs in <bibleref ref="Ps.74.14">Ps 74:14</bibleref> ("the people inhabiting the wilderness") where it is possible to understand "beasts" instead of people. It occurs also in <bibleref ref="Ps.72.9">Ps 72:9</bibleref> ("they that dwell in the wilderness"), where it seems necessary to understand "men." If the reading stands, it is not easy to reconcile this passage with the others.<br /><br />

’Iyim occurs in <bibleref ref="Isa.13.21">Isa 13:21</bibleref> and 34:14 and in <bibleref ref="Jer.50.39">Jer 50:39</bibleref>, three of the passages cited for tsiyim. the King James Version referring to ’i, "island," renders "wild beasts of the islands" (<bibleref ref="Isa.13.22">Isa 13:22</bibleref>). the Revised Version (British and American) has "wolves," margin "howling creatures"; compare Arabic `anwa’, "to howl," and ibn-’awa’ or wawi, "jackal."

See [[Jackal]].<br /><br />

Wild Beast