WG: Beast¶
Overview¶
The English word "beast" in the KJV translates several distinct Greek and Hebrew words, each with different connotations. This word group maps the key terms to prevent confusion, particularly the critical distinction between θηρίον (the evil beast of Revelation) and ζῷον (the holy living creatures).
Word Group Members¶
| Strong's | Word | Transliteration | POS | Occurrences | Role in Concept | Library Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G2342 | θηρίον | thērion | noun | 45 | Wild/dangerous beast; apocalyptic beast power | G2342 |
| G2226 | ζῷον | zōon | noun | 23 | Living creature/being; holy throne attendants | G2226-zoon |
| G2934 | κτῆνος | ktēnos | noun | 4 | Domestic animal, beast of burden | TODO(need G2934 study) |
| G2341 | θηριομαχέω | thēriomachéō | verb | 1 | To fight with wild beasts (cognate of thērion) | TODO(need G2341 study) |
| H929 | בְּהֵמָה | behemah | noun | 190 | Domestic/dumb animal, cattle (OT primary) | — |
| H2416 | חַי | chay | noun/adj | 501 | Living thing, alive (broad OT term) | H2416-chay.md |
| H2423 | חֵיוָא | chêyvâ' | noun | 20 | Aramaic "beast" — Daniel's four beasts | TODO(need H2423 study) |
Relationships¶
Shared Roots¶
- θηρίον (G2342), θηριομαχέω (G2341) — from θήρ (thēr, wild beast)
- ζῷον (G2226) — from ζάω (zaō, to live)
- חַי (H2416), חֵיוָא (H2423) — from חָיָה (chayah, to live)
Co-occurrence¶
None of the "beast" words co-occur in the same verses. They occupy distinct semantic niches and are used in different contexts, which is precisely what makes their KJV conflation confusing.
LXX Bridges¶
| Hebrew/Aramaic | Greek Equivalent | Context |
|---|---|---|
| חֵיוָא H2423 | θηρίον G2342 | Daniel's four beasts (Dan 7) → Revelation's beast |
| חַי H2416 | θηρίον G2342 | Wild animals in field/wilderness contexts |
| בְּהֵמָה H929 | θηρίον G2342 / κτῆνος G2934 | Domestic animals |
Roles in the Concept¶
- Wild/Predatory: θηρίον (G2342) — dangerous, untamed animal; in Revelation, the evil beast power
- Living/Holy: ζῷον (G2226) — living being; in Revelation, the four living creatures around God's throne
- Domestic/Tame: κτῆνος (G2934) — beast of burden, domesticated animal
- Combat: θηριομαχέω (G2341) — fighting wild beasts (metaphorical in 1 Cor 15:32)
- OT Generic: בְּהֵמָה (H929) — broad OT term for domestic animals, cattle
- OT Living: חַי (H2416) — "living thing," used broadly for any animal
- OT Apocalyptic: חֵיוָא (H2423) — Aramaic "beast," Daniel's four kingdoms as beasts
Key Distinctions¶
θηρίον vs ζῷον in Revelation¶
This is the most significant distinction obscured by the KJV: - ζῷον (zōon) — Rev 4:6-9: four holy living creatures around the throne, full of eyes, constantly worshipping God - θηρίον (thērion) — Rev 13:1-2: the beast from the sea, receiving power from the dragon, demanding false worship
These two are polar opposites in Revelation's symbolic world: ζῷον represents true worship of God; θηρίον represents false worship imposed by evil. The KJV renders both as "beast."
Daniel → Revelation Connection¶
The Aramaic חֵיוָא (H2423) in Daniel 7 (four beasts from the sea representing four kingdoms) provides the direct background for θηρίον in Revelation 13 (beast from the sea). The LXX translates חֵיוָא with θηρίον, establishing the terminological bridge.
Generated from: search_strongs.py, louw_nida.db, co-occurrence queries Last updated: 2026-03-31