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WOLF.—
In AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘wolf’ is always tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of ze’çb (cf. Arab [Note: Arabic.] , zeeb ‘wolf’), Gen_49:27, Isa_11:6; Isa_65:25, Jer_5:6, Eze_22:27, Hab_1:8, Zep_3:8. Cf. also proper name Zeeb, Jdg_7:25. For ‘iyyîm (tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘wolves’ in Isa_13:22 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) and tannîm see Jackal. The NT term is lykos (Mat_7:15; Mat_10:16, Luk_10:3, Joh_10:12, Act_20:29).
The wolf of Palestine is a variety of Canis tupus, somewhat lighter in colour and larger than that of N. Europe. It is seldom seen to-day, and never goes in packs, though commonly in couples; it commits its ravages at night, hence the expression ‘wolf of the evening’ (Jer_5:6, Zep_3:3); it was one of the greatest terrors of the lonely shepherd (Joh_10:12); persecutors are compared to wolves in Mat_10:18, Act_20:29.
E. W. G. Masterman.