WOLF .
In AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘wolf’ is always tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of ze’çb (cf. Arab [Note: Arabic.] , zeeb ‘wolf’), Genesis 49:27 , Isaiah 11:6; Isaiah 65:25 , Jeremiah 5:6 , Ezekiel 22:27 , Habakkuk 1:8 , Zephaniah 3:8 . Cf. also proper name Zeeb, Judges 7:25 . For ‘iyyîm (tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘wolves’ in Isaiah 13:22 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) and tannîm see Jackal . The NT term is lykos ( Matthew 7:15; Matthew 10:16 , Luke 10:3 , John 10:12 , Acts 20:29 ).
The wolf of Palestine is a variety of Canis tupus , somewhat lighter in colour and larger than that of N. Europe. It is seldom seen to-day, and never goes in packs, though commonly in couples; it commits its ravages at night, hence the expression ‘wolf of the evening’ ( Jeremiah 5:6 , Zephaniah 3:3 ); it was one of the greatest terrors of the lonely shepherd ( John 10:12 ); persecutors are compared to wolves in Matthew 10:18 , Acts 20:29 .
E. W. G. Masterman.