Wolf

How Nave’s arranged it

• RavenousGenesis 49:27Jeremiah 5:6Ezekiel 22:27Zephaniah 3:3John 10:12
• FIGURATIVE
• Of the enemies of the righteousMatthew 7:15Matthew 10:16John 10:12Acts 20:29
• Of the reconciling power of the gospelIsaiah 11:6

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 49:27

   Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 49:272 voices

   “The devil has many wolves, whom he directs towards the sheep of Christ; and therefore Joseph, being intelligent, snatched the wolf Paul, the enemy who came to plunder the sheep, in order to save his own sheep, making him a teacher from a persecutor. Concerning whom Jacob says, as it is written: Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour prey, and in the evening he shall divide the spoil among the princes. The wolf was present when he scattered and devoured the sheep of the Church. But the one who was a wolf became a shepherd.

   “Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf,.... All the three Targums apply this prophecy to the priests offering the daily sacrifice, morning and evening, in the temple, which stood in the lot of Benjamin, and dividing what was left, and eating it. But it respects the tribe itself, compared to a wolf for its fortitude, courage, and valour, as well as for its rapaciousness, it being a warlike tribe; and the Jewish writers (q) say, that it is compared to a wolf, because of its strength.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 49:27→

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2. Isaiah 11:6

   The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 11:61 voice

   “The wolf also shall, etc. “Then shall the wolf,” etc. - The idea of the renewal of the golden age, as it is called, is much the same in the Oriental writers with that of the Greeks and Romans: - the wild beasts grow tame; serpents and poisonous herbs become harmless; all is peace and harmony, plenty and happiness: - Occidet et serpens, et fallax herba veneni Occidet. Vega. Eclog. 4:24. “The serpent’s brood shall die. The sacred ground Shall weeds and noxious plants refuse to bear.” - Nec magnos metuent armenta leones. Virg. Eclog.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 11:6→

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3. Jeremiah 5:6

   Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

   ›Commentary on Jeremiah 5:61 voice

   “Wherefore a lion - Nebuchadnezzar, according to the general opinion; who is called here a lion for his courage and violence, a bear for his rapaciousness, and a leopard for his activity. Dahler supposes the Scythians to be intended, both here and in Jer 4:7.

   Everything gathered on Jeremiah 5:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Ezekiel 22:27

   Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Zephaniah 3:3

   Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

   ›Commentary on Zephaniah 3:32 voices

   “Her princes within her are roaring lions,.... Or, "as roaring lions"; there being a defect of the note of similitude; which is supplied by the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions.

   “(Chapter 3, verses 1 onwards) Woe to the provoking and redeemed city: the dove did not hear the voice and did not receive discipline. It did not trust in the Lord and did not approach its God. Its princes are in its midst, like roaring lions. Its judges are wolves of the evening, they do not leave anything for the morning. Its prophets are insane, unfaithful men. Its priests have defiled the holy, they have acted unjustly against the law. The Lord is righteous; he will not do injustice.

   Everything gathered on Zephaniah 3:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Matthew 7:15

   Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 7:152 voices

   “What is here spoken of false prophets we may apply to all whose dress and speech promise one thing, and their actions exhibit another. But it is specially to be understood of heretics, who by observing temperance, chastity, and fasting, surround themselves as it were with a garment of sanctity, but inasmuch as their hearts within them are poisoned, they deceive the souls of the more simple brethren.

   “Beware of false prophets,.... Or false teachers; for not such who pretended to foretell things to come, but such who set up themselves to be teachers of others, are here meant; see 2Pe 2:

   Everything gathered on Matthew 7:15→

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7. Matthew 10:16

   Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 10:162 voices

   “He calls the Scribes and Pharisees who are the clergy of the Jews, wolves. Wise, that they might escape snares; simple, that they might not do evil to others. The craft of the serpent is set before them as an example, for he hides his head with all the rest of his body, that he may protect the part in which life is. So ought we to expose our whole body, that we may guard our head which is Christ; that is, that we study to keep the faith whole and uncorrupt.

   “Behold, I send you forth, as sheep among wolves,.... This, and the following verses, chiefly respect the troubles, afflictions, persecutions, and sufferings which should befall the apostles after the death and resurrection of Christ; when their commission was enlarged, and they afresh sent out by Christ to preach his Gospel; of which he gives a faithful account before hand, that they might be prepared for them, and not be surprised when they came upon them.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 10:16→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. John 10:12

   The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

   ›Commentary on John 10:121 voice

   “But he that is a hireling - Or, as my old MS. Bible reads it, the marchaunt, he who makes merchandise of men’s souls; bartering them, and his own too, for filthy lucre. Let not the reader apply this, or any of the preceding censures, to any particular class or order of men: every religious party may have a hireling priest, or minister; and where the provision is the greatest there the danger is most.

   Everything gathered on John 10:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Acts 20:29

   I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

   ›Commentary on Acts 20:292 voices

   If you touch "what is seized by a wild beast," you will be unclean. Which wild beast? Is it a lion or a wolf that ravishes persons or animals? I believe that beast is the one about whom the apostle Peter says, "your adversary, the devil, goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. Resist him, strong in the faith." And again, the apostle Paul says concerning these, "For after my departure, fierce wolves will come in, not sparing the flock."

   “For I know this - By what he had seen in other places; by his knowledge of human nature, and of the dangers to which they were exposed; and by the guidance of inspiration. After my departure - His presence had been the means of guarding the church, and preserving it from these dangers. Now that the founder and guide of the church was to be removed, they would be exposed to dissensions and dangers. Grievous wolves - Heavy βαρεῖς bareis, strong, mighty, dangerous wolves - so strong that the feeble flock would not be able to resist them.

   Everything gathered on Acts 20:29→

   Verse page →Original language →