θηρίον G2342
A beast or wild animal; in the NT overwhelmingly the apocalyptic Beast of Revelation, but also any dangerous or wild creature.
Derived from θήρ (wild animal), the diminutive θηρίον carries two sharply distinct registers in the New Testament. In Revelation (39 of 46 occurrences), it denotes the great apocalyptic Beast — a supernatural figure of satanic opposition rendered uniformly as 'bestia' in Spanish, 'bête' in French, and 'Tier' in German. Outside Revelation, it refers to ordinary wild animals: the creatures with Jesus in the wilderness (Mark 1:13), the venomous snake on Paul's hand at Malta (Acts 28:4-5), and even the Cretan insult in Titus 1:12. The overwhelming Revelation usage makes context essential for correct reading.
Senses
1. beast (apocalyptic) — The apocalyptic Beast of Revelation — a supernatural, malevolent figure symbolizing opposition to God and his people. Nearly all NT occurrences (39 of 46) belong here, concentrated in Revelation 11-20. Every major translation tradition renders it with a single consistent term: Spanish 'bestia,' French 'bête,' German 'Tier.' Rev 13:1 introduces the beast rising from the sea; Rev 11:7 the beast ascending from the abyss. Heb 12:20, quoting Exod 19:13, stands at the boundary — a literal animal in an OT citation framing divine unapproachability. 39×
AR["-آخَرَ","حَيَوَان","وَحشًا","وَحشُ","وَحشِ","وَحشِ؟"]·ben["পশু","পশুকে","পশুর","পশুর?"]·DE["Tier"]·EN["a-beast","beast"]·FR["bête"]·heb["בְּהֵמָה","הַחַיָּה","חַיָּה"]·HI["पशु","पशु-भी","पशु?","पशु।"]·ID["binatang","binatang,","binatang.","binatang:","binatang;","binatang?"]·IT["bestia"]·jav["kewan","kéwan-galak"]·KO["짐승","짐승-에게","짐승-을","짐승-의","짐승과","짐승을","짐승이"]·PT["animal","besta"]·RU["зверем,","зверь","зверю","зверю,","зверю;","зверю?","зверя","зверя,","зверя.","зверя:"]·ES["bestia"]·SW["mnyama"]·TR["canavar","canavara","canavarın","hayvan"]·urd["جانور","حیوان","حیوان-کا","حیوان-کو","حیوان-کی","حیوان-کے"]
2. wild animal, creature — A wild animal or dangerous creature in the natural, literal sense. Mark 1:13 places Jesus among the θηρία of the wilderness during his temptation. Acts 28:4-5 describes the venomous creature (likely a viper) that fastened on Paul's hand at Malta — translations use 'criatura/creature' alongside 'bestia/beast.' Titus 1:12 quotes the Cretan poet Epimenides calling Cretans 'evil beasts' (κακὰ θηρία), a figurative but non-apocalyptic usage. Acts 11:6 lists θηρία among the animals Peter saw in his vision. 7×
AR["الوُحوشِ","الْوُحُوشِ","وَحشَ","وُحوشٌ","وُحوشِ","وُحُوشَ"]·ben["জন্তু","জন্তুকে","পশুদের","বন্য-পশু;","বন্যপশু"]·DE["Tier","θηρία","θηρίον"]·EN["beasts","creature","of-beasts","wild-beasts"]·FR["bête"]·heb["הַחַיָּה","חַיּוֹת","רָעוֹת"]·HI["के","जंगली-जन्तु","जनवर,","जन्तुको","जानवरों","जानवरों-की"]·ID["binatang","binatang-binatang-buas","binatang-binatang-buas;","binatang-buas","binatang-buas,"]·IT["bestia","therion"]·jav["kewan,","kewan-galak,","kéwan","kéwan-kéwan-galak;","sato-kéwan","satè"]·KO["짐승들","짐승들-의","짐승들을","짐승을"]·PT["bestas,","criatura","de-feras","feras","feras;"]·RU["зверей","звери","зверя","зверями"]·ES["bestias","criatura","de-fieras","fieras"]·SW["mnyama","wanyama","wanyama-mwitu,","wanyama-wa-mwitu;","wanyama-wakali","ya-wanyama"]·TR["-içine","-o","canavarlar,","eli","hayvanları","hayvanların","vahşi-hayvanların;"]·urd["جانور","جانوروں","جانوروں-کے","درندوں-کے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
θηρίον, τό (in form diminutive of θήρ), wild animal, especially of such as are hunted, μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν, of a stag, Refs 8th c.BC+; in Trag. only in Satyric drama, Refs 5th c.BC+; of the spider's prey, Refs 4th c.BC+; frequently of elephants, Refs 2nd c.BC+: plural, beasts, opposed to men, birds, and fishes, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 generally, animal, Refs; of men, ἄνθρωπος πάντων θ.…