Lexical Summary
behemah: Beast, Animal, Cattle
Original Word:בְּהֵמָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:bhemah
Pronunciation:beh-hay-MAH
Phonetic Spelling:(be-hay-maw')
KJV: beast, cattle
NASB:cattle, beast, animal, beasts, animals, herd, kinds of cattle
Word Origin:[from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute)]
1. (properly) a dumb beast
2. especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
beast, cattle
From an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) -- beast, cattle.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitiona beast, animal, cattle
NASB Translationanimal (33), animals (27), beast (44), beasts (31), cattle (49), cattle* (1), herd (1), kinds of cattle (1), mount (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
187 (Arabic
) —
Genesis 1:24 137t.; construct
Numbers 3:41 (twice in verse) + 10 t.; suffix
Leviticus 19:19 4t.;
Exodus 20:10 4t.;
Genesis 36:6;
Proverbs 12:10; plural absolute
Deuteronomy 32:24 6t. +
Psalm 73:22 (see below); construct
Psalm 8:8 5t.; —
beast, & collective
beasts (Genesis 8:1 + very often)
()Genesis 8:1;Exodus 8:13;Exodus 8:14;Exodus 9:9,10,22;Exodus 22:18;Leviticus 18:23 (twice in verse) (where is male, soLeviticus 20:16)Deuteronomy 27:21;Psalm 36:7 etc.; ( including all the larger animals)Exodus 9:25;Exodus 12:12;Psalm 135:8;Jeremiah 50:3 etc.; as inferior to manJob 18:3;Psalm 49:13;Psalm 49:21, so alsoEcclesiastes 3:18,19 (twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 3:21; opposed to also birds & reptilesGenesis 6:7;Genesis 7:23;Genesis 8:17 compareEzekiel 44:31 etc.; also to fishes1 Kings 5:13;Job 12:7 compareJob 12:8,Psalm 8:9;Zephaniah 1:3.
opposed to also to wild beasts ,Genesis 1:24,25,26;Genesis 2:20;Genesis 3:14;Genesis 7:14,21;Genesis 9:10;Psalm 50:10;Psalm 148:10;Isaiah 46:1 etc.; especially thereforecattle, as owned and used by man,Genesis 47:18 ()Exodus 20:10 =Deuteronomy 5:14;Leviticus 19:19;Leviticus 26:22;Numbers 3:41 (twice in verse);Numbers 3:45 (twice in verse);Deuteronomy 2:35;Deuteronomy 11:15;Jonah 4:11;Zechariah 2:8;Zechariah 8:10;Zechariah 14:15;Ezra 1:4,6;Nehemiah 9:37;Nehemiah 10:37 etc.; in one (late) passage of animal for riding (horse ? mule ?)Nehemiah 2:12 (twice in verse);Nehemiah 2:14.
wild beasts, especially carnivora,Micah 5:7;Deuteronomy 28:26;Isaiah 18:6 (twice in verse);Jeremiah 7:33;Jeremiah 15:3;Jeremiah 16:4;Jeremiah 19:7;Jeremiah 34:20;1 Samuel 17:44; alone,Proverbs 30:30;Deuteronomy 32:24;Habakkuk 2:17. — OnPsalm 73:22 compare below
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Range of MeaningThe term designates land-dwelling, four-legged creatures—both domesticated livestock and large wild quadrupeds. Context determines whether the focus is household herds, draft animals, or untamed beasts. It never refers to birds, fish, or creeping things, and is distinct from specialized words for reptiles or vermin.
Occurrences and Distribution
Appearing roughly 190 times, the word is heaviest in the Pentateuch, sprinkled through Historical and Wisdom Books, and prominent in Prophets. Moses employs it to regulate Israel’s worship and economy; Job uses it poetically to display God’s sovereignty; Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel turn it into a prophetic barometer of blessing or judgment.
Creation and Order
On the sixth day “God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, crawling things, and beasts of the earth’” (Genesis 1:24–25). Humanity’s dominion mandate immediately follows (Genesis 1:26–28), situating animals under mankind yet within God’s very good creation. Noah’s ark preserves “every living creature of all flesh” (Genesis 6:19–20), underscoring divine concern for animal life.
Covenant Blessings and Curses
The Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants tie human obedience to the well-being of animals: “He will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land—your grain, your new wine, and your oil—and the calves of your herds” (Deuteronomy 7:13). Conversely, disobedience brings wasting plagues: “The LORD will strike your herds and the calves of your flocks” (Deuteronomy 28:18; compareExodus 9:3).
Worship and Sacrifice
Livestock supply every major blood offering. “If one’s offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present a male without blemish” (Leviticus 1:3). Fellowship (Leviticus 3), sin (Leviticus 4), and guilt offerings (Leviticus 5) all rely on select beasts, prefiguring the perfect sacrifice of Christ, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), though the Gospel reference is implicit rather than identical in vocabulary. Priestly portions, pilgrim feasts, and tithe celebrations (Deuteronomy 12:17) weave animals into Israel’s liturgical rhythms.
Sabbath and Humanitarian Law
Animals share the Sabbath rest: “The seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; on it you shall not do any work… nor your cattle” (Exodus 20:10; 23:12). Muzzling an ox while it treads grain is forbidden (Deuteronomy 25:4), a command later applied to ministers of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:9). Sexual perversion with an animal warrants death (Leviticus 20:15–16), protecting both human sanctity and animal dignity.
Economic and Social Life
Herd size measures wealth: Abram “was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold” (Genesis 13:2). Job’s initial blessing lists “seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen” (Job 1:3), and his restoration doubles the count (Job 42:12). Famine narratives highlight dependence on flocks (Genesis 47:17). Wise stewardship is urged: “Know well the condition of your flocks” (Proverbs 27:23).
Warfare and Divine Judgment
Military campaigns seized or slaughtered beasts (Numbers 31:30;1 Samuel 15:3). Prophets portray comprehensive ruin when even animals suffer: “I will sweep away man and beast” (Zephaniah 1:3). Conversely, future restoration pictures abundant cattle: “The pastures of the wilderness overflow” (Joel 2:22).
Moral and Spiritual Illustrations
Animals model instruction: “Ask the beasts, and they will teach you” (Job 12:7). The stubborn mule warns against wayward hearts (Psalm 32:9). Isaiah compares mute idols to senseless cattle that nonetheless “know their owner” (Isaiah 1:3). Ecclesiastes observes a common mortality: “The fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same” (Ecclesiastes 3:19).
Eschatological and Prophetic Usages
Millennial peace extends to livestock: “The wolf and the lamb will feed together” (Isaiah 65:25). Ezekiel pictures eschatological bounty: “I will make a covenant of peace…and make them and the places around My hill a blessing; I will send down showers in their season… the trees of the field will bear their fruit, and the land will yield its produce” (Ezekiel 34:25–27), with thriving herds implied in the flourishing land.
Theological and Pastoral Reflections
1. Dominion and Stewardship: Humanity’s rule is neither exploitative nor egalitarian but delegated caretaking (Genesis 2:15;Proverbs 12:10).
2. Dependence and Provision: God feeds both man and beast (Psalm 36:6; 104:14). Gratitude for daily bread includes fodder for cattle.
3. Sacrificial Typology: Blameless animals anticipate the sinless Savior; their blood, though limited, foreshadows atonement fulfilled at Calvary (Hebrews 10:4–10).
4. Judgment and Redemption: When beasts share in plagues, judgment is holistic; when they share in plenty, redemption is comprehensive—creation itself longs for liberation (Romans 8:19–21).
Christological Significance
While the specific term refers to ordinary animals, its sacrificial role accumulates symbolic weight that converges on Jesus Christ. The orderly, blemish-free offering, the substitutionary exchange, and the covenant meal all reach their culmination at the cross, where the final sacrifice secures reconciliation “once for all” (Hebrews 7:27).
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֝הֵמ֗וֹת בְּבֶהֱמַ֖ת בְּבַהֲמ֣וֹת בְּהֵמ֖וֹת בְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּהֵמָ֔ה בְּהֵמָ֖ה בְּהֵמָ֗ה בְּהֵמָ֛ה בְּהֵמָ֞ה בְּהֵמָ֣ה בְּהֵמָ֥ה בְּהֵמָֽה׃ בְּהֵמָה֙ בְּהֵמוֹת֙ בְּהֶמְתְּךָ֙ בְּהֶמְתְּכֶ֔ם בְּהֶמְתֵּ֑נוּ בְּהֶמְתֶּ֗ךָ בְּהֶמְתָּ֑ם בְּהֶמְתָּ֔הּ בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּ בְּהֶמְתָּ֧ם בְּהֶמְתּ֑וֹ בְּהֶמְתּ֗וֹ בְהֵמ֣וֹת בְהֵמָ֖ה בְהֵמָ֗ה בְהֵמָ֛ה בְהֵמוֹת֙ בְהֶמְתְּךָ֛ בְהֶמְתְּךָ֥ בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ בְהַמְתְּךָ֖ בִּבְהֵמָ֔ה בִּבְהֵמָ֖ה בִּבְהֵמָ֣ה בֶּהֱמַ֣ת בֶּהֱמַ֥ת בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֛ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֣ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֤ה בַּהֲמ֣וֹת בַּהֲמ֥וֹת בבהמה בבהמות בבהמת בהמה בהמה׃ בהמות בהמת בהמתה בהמתו בהמתך בהמתכם בהמתם בהמתנו הַ֨בְּהֵמָ֔ה הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה הַבְּהֵמָ֛ה הַבְּהֵמָ֡ה הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה הַבְּהֵמָ֤ה הַבְּהֵמָ֥ה הַבְּהֵמָה֙ הבהמה וְהַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְהַבְּהֵמָ֜ה וְלִ֨בְהֶמְתְּךָ֔ וְלַבְּהֵמָ֑ה וְלַבְּהֵמָ֖ה וְלַבְּהֵמָֽה׃ וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם וּֽבְהֶמְתְּכֶֽם׃ וּֽלְבֶהֱמַ֖ת וּבְהֵמָ֑ה וּבְהֵמָ֔ה וּבְהֵמָ֖ה וּבְהֵמָ֗ה וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ וּבְהֵמָה֙ וּבְהֶמְתֵּ֔ינוּ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ וּבְהֶמְתָּ֖הּ וּבִבְהֵמָ֑ה וּבִבְהֶמְתֵּ֙נוּ֙ וּבִבְהֶמְתֶּֽךָ׃ וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה וּבַבְּהֵמָ֛ה וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃ וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְבֶהֱמַ֣ת וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת ובבהמה ובבהמה׃ ובבהמתך׃ ובבהמתנו ובהמה ובהמה׃ ובהמתה ובהמתינו ובהמתך ובהמתכם׃ ובהמתם והבהמה ולבהמה ולבהמה׃ ולבהמת ולבהמתך כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת כַּבְּהֵמָה֙ כַבְּהֵמָ֑ה כבהמה כבהמות לִבְהֵמָ֣ה לִבְהֶמְתֵּֽנוּ׃ לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ לַבְּהֵמָ֖ה לַבְּהֵמָ֗ה לבהמה לבהמתך לבהמתם לבהמתנו׃ מִבַּהֲמ֣וֹת מֵהַבְּהֵמָֽה׃ מבהמות מהבהמה׃ ba·hă·mō·wṯ bab·bə·hê·māh babbeheMah babbəhêmāh bahaMot bahămōwṯ bə·ḇa·hă·mō·wṯ bə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ ḇə·ham·tə·ḵā bə·hê·māh ḇə·hê·māh be·hĕ·maṯ bə·hê·mō·wṯ ḇə·hê·mō·wṯ bə·hem·tāh bə·hem·tām bə·hem·te·ḵā bə·hem·tə·ḵā ḇə·hem·te·ḵā ḇə·hem·tə·ḵā bə·hem·tə·ḵem bə·hem·tê·nū bə·hem·tōw bəḇahămōwṯ bəḇehĕmaṯ ḇəhamtəḵā beheMah bəhêmāh ḇəhêmāh beheMat behĕmaṯ behemOt bəhêmōwṯ ḇəhêmōwṯ behemTah bəhemtāh behemTam bəhemtām behemteCha behemteChem bəhemteḵā bəhemtəḵā ḇəhemteḵā ḇəhemtəḵā bəhemtəḵem behemTenu bəhemtênū behemTo bəhemtōw bevahaMot beveheMat biḇ·hê·māh biḇhêmāh bivheMah chabbeheMah hab·bə·hê·māh habbeheMah habbəhêmāh kab·bə·hê·māh ḵab·bə·hê·māh kab·bə·hê·mō·wṯ kabbeheMah kabbəhêmāh ḵabbəhêmāh kabbeheMot kabbəhêmōwṯ lab·bə·hê·māh labbeheMah labbəhêmāh liḇ·hê·māh liḇ·hem·tām liḇ·hem·te·ḵā liḇ·hem·tê·nū liḇhêmāh liḇhemtām liḇhemteḵā liḇhemtênū livheMah livhemTam livhemTecha livhemTenu mê·hab·bə·hê·māh mehabbeheMah mêhabbəhêmāh mib·ba·hă·mō·wṯ mibbahaMot mibbahămōwṯ ū·ḇab·bə·hê·māh ū·ḇə·hê·māh ū·ḇə·hem·tāh ū·ḇə·hem·tām ū·ḇə·hem·te·ḵā ū·ḇə·hem·tə·ḵem ū·ḇə·hem·tê·nū ū·ḇiḇ·hê·māh ū·ḇiḇ·hem·te·ḵā ū·ḇiḇ·hem·tê·nū ū·lə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ ūḇabbəhêmāh ūḇəhêmāh ūḇəhemtāh ūḇəhemtām ūḇəhemteḵā ūḇəhemtəḵem ūḇəhemtênū ūḇiḇhêmāh ūḇiḇhemteḵā ūḇiḇhemtênū ūləḇehĕmaṯ uleveheMat uvabbeheMah uveheMah uvehemTah uvehemTam uvehemTecha UvehemteChem uvehemTeinu uvivheMah uvivhemTecha uvivhemTenu vehabbeheMah vehamteCha veheMah veheMot vehemTecha velabbeheMah veLivhemtecha wə·hab·bə·hê·māh wə·lab·bə·hê·māh wə·liḇ·hem·tə·ḵā wəhabbəhêmāh wəlabbəhêmāh wəliḇhemtəḵā
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