Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "tail" is used both literally and metaphorically, appearing in various contexts throughout the Scriptures. The Hebrew word for tail is "zanav," and the Greek equivalent is "oura." The concept of the tail is often associated with animals, but it also carries symbolic meanings in prophetic and apocalyptic literature.
Literal UsageThe literal use of "tail" in the Bible typically refers to the physical appendage of an animal. For example, in the book of Exodus, the tail of a serpent is mentioned in the context of Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. God instructs Moses to throw his staff on the ground, and it becomes a serpent. Moses is then told, "Stretch out your hand and take it by the tail" (
Exodus 4:4). This passage highlights the miraculous power of God and Moses' obedience.
In the book of Leviticus, the tail of a sacrificial animal is also mentioned. The fat tail of a sheep is considered a valuable part of the offering: "From the fellowship offering, he is to bring a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD: the fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them" (
Leviticus 3:9). This indicates the importance of offering the best portions to God.
Metaphorical and Symbolic UsageThe tail is used metaphorically in several biblical passages to convey ideas of subordination, deception, or destruction. In
Deuteronomy 28:13, the blessings and curses associated with obedience and disobedience to God's commandments are described: "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God" . Here, being the "head" signifies leadership and blessing, while being the "tail" implies subjugation and curse.
In the prophetic literature, the tail is often used symbolically to represent false prophets or leaders who lead people astray.
Isaiah 9:15-16 states, "The elder and dignitary are the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up" . This passage underscores the danger of false teachings and the responsibility of leaders to guide their people in truth.
In the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation, the tail is used to describe the destructive power of demonic forces.
Revelation 9:10 describes the locusts with tails like scorpions: "They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months" . This vivid imagery emphasizes the torment and suffering inflicted by these forces during the end times.
ConclusionThe concept of the tail in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing both literal and metaphorical ideas. Whether illustrating the physical characteristics of animals, the consequences of obedience or disobedience, or the deceptive nature of false prophets, the tail is a significant element in biblical narratives and teachings.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The hindmost appendage of an animal
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TAILtal ('alyah; zanabh; oura): The broad tail of the Syrian sheep, wrongly rendered "rump" (which see) in the King James Version, is mentioned as one of the portions of sacrifice which was burned on the altar as a sweet savor to God (Exodus 29:22). The 2nd Hebrew word is used of the tails of serpents (Exodus 4:4), of foxes, which Samson tied together in his cruel sport, in order to destroy the grainfields of the Philistines by means of attached firebrands (Judges 15:4, etc.). The following seems to be an allusion to this incident: "Fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah" (Isaiah 7:4).
Figurative: "Tail" = inferiority, as opposed to "head" = superiority, leadership. "Yahweh will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of Yahweh" (Deuteronomy 28:13; compare also 28:44).
In the New Testament we find oura used of the apocalyptic animals, scorpions, horses, and the dragon (Revelation 9:10, 19;Revelation 12:4).
H. L. E. Luering
Greek
3769. oura -- atail... oura. 3770 . a
tail. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: oura Phonetic
Spelling: (oo-rah') Short Definition: a
tail Definition: a
tail.
...4525. saino -- to wag thetail, hence to greet, flatter, disturb
... to wag thetail, hence to greet, flatter, disturb. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
saino Phonetic Spelling: (sah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I move, disturb...
Strong's Hebrew
2180. zanab --tail, end, stump... 2179, 2180. zanab. 2181 .
tail, end, stump. Transliteration: zanab Phonetic
Spelling: (zaw-nawb') Short Definition:
tail. Word Origin
...451. alyah -- the fattail (of sheep)
... 450, 451. alyah. 452 . the fattail (of sheep). Transliteration: alyah
Phonetic Spelling: (al-yaw') Short Definition:tail. Word...
2179. zinneb -- to cut off or smite thetail
... 2178, 2179. zinneb. 2180 . to cut off or smite thetail. Transliteration:
zinneb Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-nab') Short Definition: rear....
1709. dag -- a fish
... or perhaps rather from da'ag (as timid); but still better from da'ag (in the sense
of squirming, ie Moving by the vibratory action of thetail); a fish (often...
Library
If the Scorpion, Swinging hisTail in the Air...
... Chapter VII. If the scorpion, swinging histail in the air? If the scorpion,
swinging histail in the air, still reproach us with...
The Dragon, the Devil; the Stars Struck from Heaven by theTail of...
... Chapter X."The Dragon, the Devil; The Stars Struck from Heaven by theTail of the
Dragon, Heretics; The Numbers of the Trinity, that Is, the Persons Numbered...
The Earth Brings Forth, as if by Suppuration...
... And yet to smite with thetail"whichtail will be whatever is prolonged from the
hindmost part of the body, and scourges"is the one movement which they all...
Be it So; Let it be Conceded that These Most Unfortunate Cattle...
... extension of the gut by which the excrements are given off after being drained of
all their nourishing juices; while the offa penita is a beast'stail cut off...
The Meaning
... And histail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them upon the
earth." This is the sign or image of the heathen Roman empire worshipping the...
How, by the Contrivance of the Devil, Brother Juniper was...
... by his fury, would examine no further, but without delay condemned Brother Juniper,
as a traitor and murderer, to be fastened to a horse'stail, and so dragged...
God's Sovereignty and the Human Will
... Or, is the will connected with the other faculties, as thetail of the serpent is
with his body, and that again with his head, so that where the head goes, the...
On the Study of Zoology.
... Why, I observe that this part which we call thetail of the lobster, is made
up of six distinct hard rings and a seventh terminal piece....
About the Dragon and the Young Man.
... And when the apostle had thus spoken, behold, a great dragon came forth from his
den, knocking his head, and brandishing histail down to the ground, and...
From the Twelfth Chapter.
... 4. "And histail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them upon
the earth."] Now, that he says that the dragon'stail drew the third part of...
Thesaurus
Tail (16 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The hindmost appendage of an animal. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
TAIL. tal ('alyah; zanabh; oura
...Fat-tail (1 Occurrence)
Fat-tail. Fats, Fat-tail. Fatted . Multi-Version Concordance
Fat-tail (1 Occurrence). Exodus 29:22 Also of the ram shalt...
Entrails (18 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fattail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is...
Innards (15 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fattail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is...
Covers (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fattail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is...
Inner (141 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fattail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is...
Lobe (19 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat, and the fattail, and the
fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys...
Tails (4 Occurrences)
... Judges 15:4 Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned
tail totail, and put a torch in the midst between every two tails....
Rump (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Among butchers, the piece of beef between the sirloin and the aitchbone
piece. 3. (n.) The hind ortail end; a fag-end; a remnant. Int....
Redundance (11 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 And thou hast taken from the ram the fat, and the fattail, and the
fat which is covering the inwards, and the redundance on the liver, and the...
Resources
What does it mean that you are the head and not the tail in Deuteronomy 28:13? | GotQuestions.orgAre mermaids mentioned in the Bible? Do mermaids exist? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the behemoth? | GotQuestions.orgTail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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