Jackal
Summary
A wild canine animal similar to a fox, commonly found in Palestine and frequently mentioned in Scripture under various Hebrew terms; known for its nocturnal habits, plaintive howling, and association with desolate places.
☩Identification and Characteristics
The jackal (Canis aureus) is a wild animal of the canine family found throughout the Middle East, closely resembling a fox but with a somewhat different head shape similar to a shepherd's dog. It is yellowish-gray above with tawny-yellow shoulders and legs. Jackals are gregarious and nocturnal, hunting in packs and subsisting on smaller animals, poultry, carrion, and even grapes. Their distinctive howling, which begins at sunset and continues through the night, is described as a melancholy sound mixing yelps with dismal whinings resembling a human cry.
☩Hebrew Terminology
Several Hebrew words may refer to jackals: tannim (often translated 'dragons' in KJV) appears in contexts describing desolate places inhabited by howling creatures (Job 30:29; Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; Jeremiah 9:11; 49:33). The feminine form tannoth appears in Malachi 1:3. Some scholars also suggest that 'iyim ('wild beasts of the islands') and possibly the 300 foxes of Samson's exploit (Judges 15:4) may refer to jackals rather than foxes.
Related Verses1 mention
Malachi· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Jackal," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Jackal," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).