Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "hunter" refers to individuals who pursue and capture or kill animals for food, sport, or trade. The concept of hunting is introduced early in the Scriptures and is often associated with skill, provision, and sometimes, negative connotations of violence or rebellion against God.
Biblical References:1.
Nimrod: The first notable hunter mentioned in the Bible is Nimrod.
Genesis 10:9 describes him as "a mighty hunter before the LORD." Nimrod is a descendant of Ham, the son of Noah, and is credited with establishing some of the first cities, including Babel. His reputation as a hunter is linked to his prowess and leadership, though some interpretations suggest a rebellious nature against God.
2.
Esau: Another prominent hunter in the Bible is Esau, the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah.
Genesis 25:27 states, "When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home." Esau's hunting skills are significant in the narrative of his life, particularly in the account where he sells his birthright to Jacob for a meal (
Genesis 25:29-34). His identity as a hunter is contrasted with Jacob's more domestic lifestyle.
3.
Provision and Survival: Hunting is also depicted as a means of survival and provision. In the ancient Near Eastern context, hunting was a necessary skill for obtaining food and resources. The Bible acknowledges this aspect of life, though it often emphasizes reliance on God for provision.
4.
Symbolism and Metaphor: In some instances, hunting is used metaphorically to describe the pursuit of individuals or nations. For example, in
Jeremiah 16:16, God declares, "But now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that, I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks." Here, hunting symbolizes God's judgment and the inescapable pursuit of those who have turned away from Him.
5.
Moral and Ethical Considerations: The Bible does not explicitly condemn hunting, but it does provide guidelines for the treatment of animals and the ethical considerations of taking life.
Proverbs 12:10 states, "A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty." This suggests a moral responsibility towards animals and a call to stewardship over God's creation.
Cultural and Historical Context:In the ancient world, hunting was a respected and necessary skill. It required strength, strategy, and knowledge of the natural world. Hunters were often seen as providers and protectors of their communities. However, the Bible also warns against the potential for violence and pride that can accompany such power.
Theological Implications:From a theological perspective, the role of the hunter in the Bible can be seen as a reflection of humanity's dominion over creation, as granted by God in
Genesis 1:28. This dominion comes with the responsibility to care for and manage the earth's resources wisely and compassionately. The narratives involving hunters in the Bible often serve as reminders of the need for humility, reliance on God, and ethical conduct in all aspects of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) One who hunts wild animals either for sport or for food; a huntsman.
2. (n.) A dog that scents game, or is trained to the chase; a hunting dog.
3. (n.) A horse used in the chase; especially, a thoroughbred, bred and trained for hunting.
4. (n.) One who hunts or seeks after anything, as if for game; as, a fortune hunter a place hunter.
5. (n.) A kind of spider. See Hunting spider, under Hunting.
6. (n.) A hunting watch, or one of which the crystal is protected by a metallic cover.
Strong's Hebrew
6719. tsayad -- ahunter... tsayad. 6719a . a
hunter. Transliteration: tsayad Phonetic Spelling: (tsah'-yawd)
Short Definition:
hunter.
hunter From the same as tsayid; a huntsman --
hunter...6719a. tsayyad -- ahunter
... tsayyad. 6719b . ahunter. Transliteration: tsayyad Short Definition: hunters.
Word Origin from tsud Definition ahunter NASB Word Usage hunters (1)....
6718. tsayid -- hunting, game
... tsah'-yid) Short Definition: catch. catch, food,hunter, that which he took
in hunting, venison, victuals From a form of tsuwd and...
6718a. tsayid -- hunting, game
... Word Origin from tsud Definition hunting, game NASB Word Usage game (8),hunter
(2),hunter* (1), hunting (2), prey (1). 6718, 6718a. tsayid. 6718b ....
7073. Qenaz -- an Edomite, also two Israelites
... Kenaz. Probably from an unused root meaning to hunt;hunter; Kenaz, the name of
an Edomite and of two Israelites -- Kenaz. 7072, 7073. Qenaz. 7074 ....
4364. makmar -- a net, snare
... net Or mikmor {mik-more'}; from kamar in the sense of blackening by heat; a (hunter's)
net (as dark from concealment) -- net. see HEBREW kamar. 4363, 4364....
376. ish -- man
... 16), everyone* (3), expert (1), farming* (1), father* (1), fellow (3), fellows
(2), friend* (1), friends* (1), high* (1), himself (1),hunter* (1), husband (65...
Library
Hunter
...Hunter.Hunter, William, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born
in Ireland May 26, 1811, and came to America when but a youth....
SealHunter
... SealHunter. [Illustration: SealHunter]. In this situation, we are told,
a man will sit quietly for ten or twelve hours together, at...
Psalm XCI.
... Whence shall he deliver thee? "From the snare of thehunter, and from a... Many have
fallen into thehunter's net through a harsh word. What is it that I say?...
Foreword
... owed their souls. In paying tribute to Dr. Denney, Professor AMHunter of
Christ's College, Aberdeen, said,. "To scholarship of the...
Of the Diversity of Languages, and of the Founding of Babylon.
... and true way to heaven is made by humility, which lifts up the heart to the Lord,
not against Him; as this giant is said to have been a "hunter against the Lord...
Letter H
... Received 1814, Withdrew 1823 * Hunt, William "Received 1806, Died 1810 * Hunt, William
"Received 1814, Expelled 1819 *Hunter, Andrew "Received 1836...
The Struggle for Life
... Thus from a man he has become ahunter, a different kind of a man, a further man.
He did not wish to become ahunter; he had to become ahunter....
Cast Your Eye Round the Room in which You Sit...
... This is generally true of males from the firsthunter to the last electrical
engineer; each has not merely to act, but to excel....
On Dissipation
... Hence we may likewise learn that a dissipated life is not barely that of a powdered
beau, of a petit-maitre, a gamester, a woman-hunter, a playhouse-hunter, a...
The Power of Ambition.
... Hastings, Dict. Bible II, 526-535. Prin. of Politics Ch. II. Now as the boys grew
Esau became a skilfulhunter, but Jacob was a quiet man, a dweller in tents....
Thesaurus
Nimrod (4 Occurrences)... Nimrod, like other great kings of Mesopotamian lands, was a mighty
hunter, possibly
the mightiest and the prototype of them all, since to his name had attached
...Fowler (3 Occurrences)
... of thehunter.... Proverbs 6:5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand
of thehunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler....
Esau (89 Occurrences)
... The young Esau was fond of the strenuous, daring life of the chase-he became
a skillfulhunter, "a man of the field" ('ish sadheh)....
Writing (194 Occurrences)
... writing. When thehunter first brought home his quarry, this had in it most
of the essential elements of modern handwriting. Those...
Hunter (3 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) One who hunts or seeks after anything, as if for game; as, a fortunehunter
a placehunter. 5. (n.) A kind of spider....Hunter (3 Occurrences)....
Hunter's (1 Occurrence)
...Hunter's (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 6:5 Deliver thyself as a gazelle from the hand
of thehunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. (See NAS)....
Hunting (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Mentioned first in Genesis 10:9 in connection
with Nimrod. Esau was "a cunninghunter" (Genesis 25:27)....
Mighty (514 Occurrences)
... Genesis 10:9 He was a mightyhunter before Yahweh. Therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod,
a mightyhunter before Yahweh." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)....
Zebaim (2 Occurrences)
... "Pochereth of Zebaim" should be read as in the Revised Version, "Pochereth-hazzebaim"
("snaring the antelopes"), probably the name of somehunter. Int....
Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)
... "Yahweh make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the King of Babylon roasted
in the fire" (Jeremiah 29:21). SFHunter. ZEDEKIAH (1)....
Resources
Who was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Nimrod in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Cushites? | GotQuestions.orgHunter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
