Meaning of BEAST

Apart from its normal meaning in Spanish, this word is in the Bible an apocalyptic symbol of brute, sensual, lascivious force, opposed to God. In this sense it appears in Dn. 7 and in Rev. 13:11-18.

In its literal sense it applies to quadrupeds. According to Gen. 1:25-28, were created in the same stage as man, but he was given dominion over them, placing him in a different category (1 Cor. 15:44-46; Jas. 3:15).

They are considered endowed with a physical soul (or "life"), residing in the blood, which is why eating blood is prohibited (Lev. 7:27; 17:10; Acts 15:29).

The main wealth of the nomadic tribes was livestock, and flocks are mentioned very frequently in the beast (Deut. 32:14; 2 Sam. 17:29; 2 Chron. 7:5; Ps. 78:52; Is. 53:6; Jn. 10:1-8), making them the object of solicitous care (Num. 32:16; Is. 53:16; Jer. 33:13).

The camel was used for loading, the donkey was used for riding and field work, and the horse was used only for war (Gen. 12:16; 2 Sam. 19:26; 2 Kings 2:11; Jer. 12: 5).

The Mosaic law prohibited mistreating beasts (Ex. 23:4, 5, 12; Deut. 25:4), but the ox that gored a man to death was treated as a criminal (Ex. 21:28). Among the wild beasts the lion, the bear, the leopard, the fox and the hyena or jackal are most mentioned.

Some pagan peoples represented their gods in animal figures, a practice severely condemned by the law and the prophets (Ex. 32; 1 Kings 12:28; 13:2). The beast uses the figure of animals or fantastic beasts as a symbol of historical and spiritual powers (Num. 21:8; Ez. 1; Dan. 7; Rev. 4).