Difference between revisions of "Dragon"

<p> '''''drag´un''''' ( תּנּין , <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> , plural תּנּים , <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> , תּנּות , <i> '''''tannōth''''' </i> ; δράκων , <i> '''''drákōn''''' </i> ): </p> <p> <i> '''''Ṭannı̄n''''' </i> and the plural <i> '''''tannı̄nı̄m''''' </i> occur 14 times, and in English [[Versions]] of the [[Bible]] are variously rendered "dragon," "whale," "serpent" or "sea-monster"; but Lamentations 4:3 , the King James Version "sea-monster," the King James Version margin"sea calves," the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals." <i> '''''Ṭannı̄m''''' </i> occurs 12 times, and is rendered "dragons," the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals," except in Ezekiel 29:3 , where the King James Version has "dragon" (the American Standard Revised Version "monster"), and in Ezekiel 32:2 , where the King James Version has "whale" and the English Revised Version and the King James Version margin"dragon" (the American Standard Revised Version "monster"). <i> '''''Ṭannōth''''' </i> occurs once, in Malachi 1:3 , where it is rendered "dragons," the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals." <i> '''''Drakōn''''' </i> occurs 12 times in Rev 12; 13; 16; and 20, where it is uniformly rendered "dragon." (Compare Arabic <i> '''''tinnı̄n''''' </i> , the constellation, Draco.) <i> '''''Ṭannōth''''' </i> [[Septuagint]] δώματα , <i> '''''dṓmata''''' </i> , "dwellings") is a feminine plural form as if from <i> '''''tannāh''''' </i> , but it suits the context to give it the same meaning as <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> ̌ . </p> <p> In Exodus 7:9 , Exodus 7:10 , Exodus 7:12 , <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> is used of the serpents which were produced from Aaron's rod and the rods of the [[Egyptian]] magicians, whereas in Exodus 4:3 and Exodus 7:15 , for the serpent produced from Aaron's rod, we find <i> '''''nāḥāsh''''' </i> , the ordinary word for serpent. In two passages we find "whale," the Revised Version (British and American) "sea-monster"; [[Genesis]] 1:21 : "And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth"; Job 7:12 : "Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that thou settest a watch over me?" Other passages (the English Revised Version and the King James Version) are Deuteronomy 32:33 : "Their wine is the poison of dragons (the American Standard Revised Version "serpents"), and the cruel venom of asps"; Nehemiah 2:13 : "And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the dragon's (the American Standard Revised Version "jackal's") well" (the King James Version "dragon well"); [[Psalm]] 91:13 : "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the serpent (the King James Version "dragon") shalt thou trample under foot"; Psalm 148:7 : "Praise Yahweh from the earth, ye sea-monsters (the King James Version "dragons"), and all deeps"; Jeremiah 51:34 : "Nebuchadrezzar the king of [[Babylon]] hath devoured me,... like a monster" (the King James Version "dragon"). Here also two <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> passages; Ezekiel 29:3 : "Thus saith the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against thee, [[Pharaoh]] king of Egypt, the great monster (the King James Version "dragon") that lieth in the midst of his rivers, that hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself"; and Ezekiel 32:2 : "Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou wast likened unto a young lion of the nations: yet art thou as a monster (the English Revised Version "dragon," the King James Version "whale") in the seas; and thou didst break forth with thy rivers and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers." </p> <p> The foregoing passages offer no especial difficulties in the interpretation of the word <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> ̌ . All may fairly be understood to refer to a serpent or sea-monster or some imaginary creature, without invoking any ancient myths for their elucidation. The same may be said of the passages in Revelation. A dragon is taken as the personification of Satan, as of Pharaoh in the passages in Ezekiel. It is of course true that ancient myths may more or less distantly underlie some of these dragon and serpent references, and such myths may be demonstrated to throw additional light in certain cases, but at least the passages in question are intelligible without recourse to the myths. This however is not equally true of all the <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> passages. In Psalm 74:12 we read: "Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the sea-monsters (the King James Version "dragons") in the waters." Compare Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 51:9 f. </p> <p> The three passages just cited seem to denote each some particular act, and are referred by [[Canon]] Cheyne ( <i> [[Encyclopedia]] Biblica </i> , under the word "Dragon") to the old [[Babylonian]] myth of the conflict of Marduk and '''''Tı̄amat''''' in the [[Assyrian]] creation-legend (Thus Gunkel, etc.). Indeed he refers to that myth not only these passages, but also Jer 5:34; Ezekiel 29:3-6; Ezekiel 32:2-8 and Job 7:12 , which have been cited above. In translating the last two passages, Canon Cheyne uses the definite article, " <i> the </i> dragon," instead of " <i> a </i> " as in the Revised Version (British and American), which makes a great difference in the meaning. In Psalm 87:4 , it is clear that [[Rahab]] is a country, i.e. Egypt. Isaiah 30:7 is to the same point. In Isaiah 51:9 , Isaiah 51:10 , "that didst cut Rahab in pieces" and "that didst pierce the monster" (the King James Version "dragon"), are two coördinate expressions of one idea, which is apparently the defeat of the Egyptians, as appears in the reference to the passage of the Red Sea. In Isaiah 27:1 , "leviathan the swift serpent" and "leviathan the crooked serpent" and "the monster (the King James Version and the English Revised Version "dragon") that is in the sea" have been identified with Babylon, [[Persia]] and [[Egypt]] ( <i> Encyclopedia Biblica </i> , under the word "Dragon," 4). It is more probable that the first two expressions are coördinate, and amount to "leviathan the swift and crooked serpent," and that the verse may therefore refer to [[Babylonia]] and Egypt. Psalm 74:12-15 is more in line with the idea of the article in <i> EB </i> , but it is nevertheless susceptible of an explanation similar to that of the other two passages. </p> <p> <i> '''''Ṭannı̄m''''' </i> , "dragons" (the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals") occurs in Job 30:29; Psalm 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 34:13; Isaiah 35:7; Isaiah 43:20; Jeremiah 9:11; Jeremiah 10:22; Jeremiah 14:6; Jeremiah 49:33; Jeremiah 51:37; <i> '''''tannōth''''' </i> , "dragons" (the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals") is found in Malachi 1:3 . In all these passages, "jackal" suits the context better than "dragon," "sea-monster" or "serpent." An exception to the rendering of "dragon" or "serpent" or "sea-monster" for <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> is found in Lamentations 4:3 : "Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones." the King James Version has "seamonster," the King James Version margin"sea calves." A mammal is indicated, and the Revised Version (British and American) apparently assumes that <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> is an error for <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> ̌ . Two other exceptions are in Ezekiel 29:3 and Ezekiel 32:2 , where English Versions of the Bible renders <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> by "dragon," since in these two passages "jackal" obviously will not suit. See [[Jackal]] . </p> <p> On the constellational dragons or snakes, see [[Astronomy]] , II, 1-5. </p>

<p> '''''drag´un''''' ( תּנּין , <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> , plural תּנּים , <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> , תּנּות , <i> '''''tannōth''''' </i> ; δράκων , <i> '''''drákōn''''' </i> ): </p> <p> <i> '''''Ṭannı̄n''''' </i> and the plural <i> '''''tannı̄nı̄m''''' </i> occur 14 times, and in English [[Versions]] of the [[Bible]] are variously rendered "dragon," "whale," "serpent" or "sea-monster"; but Lamentations 4:3 , the King James Version "sea-monster," the King James Version margin"sea calves," the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals." <i> '''''Ṭannı̄m''''' </i> occurs 12 times, and is rendered "dragons," the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals," except in Ezekiel 29:3 , where the King James Version has "dragon" (the American Standard Revised Version "monster"), and in Ezekiel 32:2 , where the King James Version has "whale" and the English Revised Version and the King James Version margin"dragon" (the American Standard Revised Version "monster"). <i> '''''Ṭannōth''''' </i> occurs once, in Malachi 1:3 , where it is rendered "dragons," the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals." <i> '''''Drakōn''''' </i> occurs 12 times in Rev 12; 13; 16; and 20, where it is uniformly rendered "dragon." (Compare Arabic <i> '''''tinnı̄n''''' </i> , the constellation, Draco.) <i> '''''Ṭannōth''''' </i> [[Septuagint]] δώματα , <i> '''''dṓmata''''' </i> , "dwellings") is a feminine plural form as if from <i> '''''tannāh''''' </i> , but it suits the context to give it the same meaning as <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> ̌ . </p> <p> In Exodus 7:9 , Exodus 7:10 , Exodus 7:12 , <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> is used of the serpents which were produced from Aaron's rod and the rods of the [[Egyptian]] magicians, whereas in Exodus 4:3 and Exodus 7:15 , for the serpent produced from Aaron's rod, we find <i> '''''nāḥāsh''''' </i> , the ordinary word for serpent. In two passages we find "whale," the Revised Version (British and American) "sea-monster"; [[Genesis]] 1:21 : "And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth"; Job 7:12 : "Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that thou settest a watch over me?" Other passages (the English Revised Version and the King James Version) are Deuteronomy 32:33 : "Their wine is the poison of dragons (the American Standard Revised Version "serpents"), and the cruel venom of asps"; Nehemiah 2:13 : "And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the dragon's (the American Standard Revised Version "jackal's") well" (the King James Version "dragon well"); [[Psalm]] 91:13 : "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the serpent (the King James Version "dragon") shalt thou trample under foot"; Psalm 148:7 : "Praise Yahweh from the earth, ye sea-monsters (the King James Version "dragons"), and all deeps"; Jeremiah 51:34 : "Nebuchadrezzar the king of [[Babylon]] hath devoured me,... like a monster" (the King James Version "dragon"). Here also two <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> passages; Ezekiel 29:3 : "Thus saith the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against thee, [[Pharaoh]] king of Egypt, the great monster (the King James Version "dragon") that lieth in the midst of his rivers, that hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself"; and Ezekiel 32:2 : "Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou wast likened unto a young lion of the nations: yet art thou as a monster (the English Revised Version "dragon," the King James Version "whale") in the seas; and thou didst break forth with thy rivers and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers." </p> <p> The foregoing passages offer no especial difficulties in the interpretation of the word <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> ̌ . All may fairly be understood to refer to a serpent or sea-monster or some imaginary creature, without invoking any ancient myths for their elucidation. The same may be said of the passages in Revelation. A dragon is taken as the personification of Satan, as of Pharaoh in the passages in Ezekiel. It is of course true that ancient myths may more or less distantly underlie some of these dragon and serpent references, and such myths may be demonstrated to throw additional light in certain cases, but at least the passages in question are intelligible without recourse to the myths. This however is not equally true of all the <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> passages. In Psalm 74:12 we read: "Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the sea-monsters (the King James Version "dragons") in the waters." Compare Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 51:9 f. </p> <p> The three passages just cited seem to denote each some particular act, and are referred by [[Canon]] Cheyne ( <i> [[Encyclopedia]] Biblica </i> , under the word "Dragon") to the old [[Babylonian]] myth of the conflict of Marduk and '''''Tı̄amat''''' in the [[Assyrian]] creation-legend (Thus Gunkel, etc.). Indeed he refers to that myth not only these passages, but also Jer 5:34; Ezekiel 29:3-6; Ezekiel 32:2-8 and Job 7:12 , which have been cited above. In translating the last two passages, Canon Cheyne uses the definite article, " <i> the </i> dragon," instead of " <i> a </i> " as in the Revised Version (British and American), which makes a great difference in the meaning. In Psalm 87:4 , it is clear that [[Rahab]] is a country, i.e. Egypt. Isaiah 30:7 is to the same point. In Isaiah 51:9 , Isaiah 51:10 , "that didst cut Rahab in pieces" and "that didst pierce the monster" (the King James Version "dragon"), are two coördinate expressions of one idea, which is apparently the defeat of the Egyptians, as appears in the reference to the passage of the Red Sea. In Isaiah 27:1 , "leviathan the swift serpent" and "leviathan the crooked serpent" and "the monster (the King James Version and the English Revised Version "dragon") that is in the sea" have been identified with Babylon, [[Persia]] and [[Egypt]] ( <i> Encyclopedia Biblica </i> , under the word "Dragon," 4). It is more probable that the first two expressions are coördinate, and amount to "leviathan the swift and crooked serpent," and that the verse may therefore refer to [[Babylonia]] and Egypt. Psalm 74:12-15 is more in line with the idea of the article in <i> EB </i> , but it is nevertheless susceptible of an explanation similar to that of the other two passages. </p> <p> <i> '''''Ṭannı̄m''''' </i> , "dragons" (the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals") occurs in Job 30:29; Psalm 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 34:13; Isaiah 35:7; Isaiah 43:20; Jeremiah 9:11; Jeremiah 10:22; Jeremiah 14:6; Jeremiah 49:33; Jeremiah 51:37; <i> '''''tannōth''''' </i> , "dragons" (the Revised Version (British and American) "jackals") is found in Malachi 1:3 . In all these passages, "jackal" suits the context better than "dragon," "sea-monster" or "serpent." An exception to the rendering of "dragon" or "serpent" or "sea-monster" for <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> is found in Lamentations 4:3 : "Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones." the King James Version has "seamonster," the King James Version margin"sea calves." A mammal is indicated, and the Revised Version (British and American) apparently assumes that <i> '''''tannı̄n''''' </i> is an error for <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> ̌ . Two other exceptions are in Ezekiel 29:3 and Ezekiel 32:2 , where English Versions of the Bible renders <i> '''''tannı̄m''''' </i> by "dragon," since in these two passages "jackal" obviously will not suit. See [[Jackal]] . </p> <p> On the constellational dragons or snakes, see [[Astronomy]] , II, 1-5. </p>