Questions tagged [plants-and-animals]
Words referring to specific plant or animals species are especially difficult to translate accurately; also can used on questions about Biblical teachings on the treatment of animals
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Who wrote that Achashteranim were eight-leggged animals?
The Bible (Esther 8:10, 8:14) references an animal called האחשתרנים (the Achashteranim). I have seen Jewish Medieval commentators, including R. Joseph Kara and R. Elazar Rokeach of Worms (unavailable ...
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דָג and דָגה in Jonah 1:17 – 2:1
Jonah 1:17 – 2:1
1:17 And the Lord appointedd a great fish (דָג)* to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God ...
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Does Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 suggest that the spirits of animals and humans go to different places in the spiritual realm upon death?
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 (ESV):
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the ...
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Is there a reason that stolen and slaughtered ox or sheep were to be repaid four or five times?
During the reading of Exodus 22:1, I have seen something a bit strange, and I'd like clarification on this topic:
Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head ...
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Based on Genesis 6:15-16, Could an adult male Giraffe (18-feet tall) actually stand in the 15-ft tall decks of the multi leveled 30-Cubit Ark?
Male Giraffes are kosher land animals (chew cud, split hooves) whose height reaches 18-ft height (above a Female Giraffe's 15-ft height). [https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/giraffe-fact-sheet/#]
If ...
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Did death enter the animal kingdom as a consequence of the curses that God declared in retribution for sin after the Fall (Genesis 3)?
As retribution for sin, God declared a series of curses in Genesis 3. Below are some relevant quotes from the chapter:
14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you ...
user38524
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Does Genesis 1:29-31 leave any room for the existence of animal-based diets in the period between the Creation and the Fall?
Genesis 1:29-31 (ESV):
29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. ...
user38524
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Why did God approve of animal-based diets if Adam and Eve were originally vegan?
Genesis tells us that Adam, Eve and all animals had originally plant-based diets, as God provided them with every plant and tree for food:
29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant ...
user38524
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Ecclesiastes 12:7 implications for animals?
Where Ecclesiastes 12:7 says that when a human being dies with God, his soul returns to God, and the physical body returns to dust--does this also happen with animals?
Then shall the dust return to ...
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What sacrificial animals would be detestable to the Egyptians?
In Exodus 8:26 (NIV)
But Moses said, "That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in ...
user35953
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Why do translators use the phrase "insects that walk on all fours", even though insects have six legs?
In Leviticus 11 when the Lord is giving the dietary laws to Moses, the NASB translation mentions four legged winged insects.
20 ‘All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to
you. ...
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"Get out of the trap like a bird or a deer escaping from a hunter."
Proverbs 6:1-5 speaks to a son that has become responsible for the debt of another person. It tells him (in verse 3) to hurry up to the debtor and beg him for release. But then in verse 5 it says (GNT)...
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Why do the deer and ram share a common root?
I am trying to understand the relationship between an אַיִל (ram, Ovis canadensis) and אַיָּל (stag, Cervidae). According to scientific classification these are different families. They seem to share ...
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When did people start to eat meat?
On the sixth day, God gave humans green plants as food:
And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding
seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in
its ...
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"Lilith" in Isaiah 34:14
In the New American Bible translation I see these for Isaiah 34:14
(12) Her nobles shall be no more, nor shall kings be proclaimed there;
all her princes are gone. (13) Her castles shall be overgrown ...
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What do porcupines symbolise in the Holy Bible?
(Isaiah 14:23, English Revised Version) I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Isaiah 34:...
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In Genesis 1:29 are there exceptions or limitations regarding "every herb bearing seed" that God gave man to eat? [closed]
Genesis 1:29 says:
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you ...
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Is the idea that there were no predators in Eden (Genesis 1:30) original?
The author portrays an utopian animal kingdom by stating that in the beginning all animals ate the green herb for meat.
But what about the predators? Either the author want us to believe that lions ...
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Proverbs 12:10, is it really talking about animal welfare?
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
Prov. 12:10, ESV
The standard interpretation seems to relate to animal welfare, but this website ...
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Why is the description of Leviathan much longer than the Behemoth's in Job?
Towards the end of God's speech in the book of Job, he presents to Job two seeming beasts: Behemoth and Leviathan. These two seem to be somewhat parallel to each other, the former perhaps being the ...
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Does the book of Job describe a Dragon?
Towards the end of Job are two passages which describe beasts that resemble dragons:
Job 40:15-20: “Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in ...
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Implications of Romans 8:21 regarding animal life
Romans 8:21 reads:
that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (NASB)
The word corruption (φθορὰ) as used by ...
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Why distinguish the genders of asses/donkeys in Gen 12:16?
BHS has Genesis 12:16 as:
וּלְאַבְרָ֥ם הֵיטִ֖יב בַּעֲבוּרָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי־ל֤וֹ צֹאן־וּבָקָר֙ וַחֲמֹרִ֔ים וַעֲבָדִים֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וַאֲתֹנֹ֖ת וּגְמַלִּֽים׃
KJV reads:
And he entreated Abram well for ...
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Is there any evidence that 'knei bosem' is cannabis or ganja?
Some sites claim that kaneh bosem from Exodus 30:23 is ganja.
I've seen this verse translated variously as:
fragrant calamus
aromatic cane (from cane balsm)
sweet calamus
fragrant reeds
However, ...
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What is the purpose of listing two different birds in the curse of Proverbs 30:17?
Proverbs 30:17 describes the fate of those who disobey their parents, concluding they will have an unnatural death and be eaten by birds of prey:
The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a ...
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What is the meaning of the Hebrew word that is translated in Genesis 7:21 as creeping? Does it also mean "swarming?"
What is the meaning for the original Hebrew word which KJV translates as "creeping?" in Genesis 7:21 The NASB translates it as "swarming."
Some say the NASB is more accurate, others favor the KJV. ...
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How did “Sirens” arise in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 13:21?
I am reading in the book of Isaiah at chapter 13 verse 21 in the King James Bible , and I notice in this bible, and in other English bible translations, that owls and jackals are commonly mentioned.
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Why do translations use "wild ox"?
Several translations frequently speak of the "wild ox." Where I come from, Ox is not the natural ("wild") state of such creatures. Oxen are normally relatively docile, castrated animals, which doesn't ...
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What was the actual thorn plant that was used in Christ's crown of thorns? John 19:2
John 19:2 (HCSB)
The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him.
Image from The Passion of the Christ.
What was the actual thorn plant ...
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Why does the original KJV use fishes instead of fish?
From what I've been taught, the word "fishes" is typically used in a sentence to describe various kinds of fish, whereas the plural form of "fish" is used to describe multiple fish of the same species....
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Herod The Fox: Luke 13-32
In the book of Luke chapter 13 v 32, Jesus refers to Herod as "that Fox":
32And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the ...
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In 1 Kings 17:4-6 is Elijah fed by ravens or Arabians?
A couple of commentaries mention that scholars dispute that Elijah was fed by ravens and instead think the word in 1 Kings 17:4-6 ought to be translated black arabs or perhaps "Orbites, i.e., ...
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Is "puppies" a justifiable translation of κυναρίοις?
Mark 7 contains an odd little story:
And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But ...
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*Two* miraculous catches of fish in John 21 and significance?
In John 21, Jesus tells the disciples to throw their nets on the "right side of the boat" (verse 6) which enables the second miraculous catch of fish in Jesus' ministry, the catching of 153 fish.
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What is the significance of 153 fish?
John 21:11
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
Is there any significance to the number 153? Or was it ...
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How did Biblical translators decide on cypress for the type of wood in Noah's ark?
Reading from Genesis 6:14 (NRSV):
Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover
it inside and out with pitch.
There is a note at "cypress" which says:
Meaning of ...
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What translation philosophies have caused such a wide variation in the translation of *tachash* skins?
In Exodus (e.g. 26:14), we learn one of the coverings for the tabernacle is to be made of "תחש" (tachash) skins. The translation of this term appears to be especially difficult or contentious as there ...
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In Psalm 22:21 is the Bible speaking of "unicorns"?
I was reading Psalm 22 (from this question) and I found this verse:
Psalms 22:21 (KJV)
Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
When I switched ...
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