βαρύς, Αρπάγες ( Grievous and Ravenous)

[rhomphaeam]

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“εγω οιδα οτι εισελευσονται μετα την αφιξιν μου λυκοι βαρεις εις υμας μη φειδομενοι του ποιμνιου. (Acts 20:29 Novum Testamentum Graece). ‘I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (NASB).

Acts 20:29 is the most common verse that brethren cite when speaking about the meaning of the term wolf. In this instance, the term used by the Apostle Paul is grievous wolf.

The Greek says, βαρύς (barus) - of grievous, which means to press a severe burden on a person. It also means vicious and cruel. Without mercy.

"προσεχετε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες" (Matthew 7:15 Novum Testamentum Graece). “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15 NASB)

The Greek says, αρπαγες (harpage) - of ravenous, which means to destroy, rob and steal.

In Matthew 7:15 the Lord warned of false prophets as ravenous wolves. These wolves come into the flocks; they are not of the flock. In the same way, the grievous wolf comes into the flock - he is not of the flock.

In Acts 20:30 Paul also identified that there are men who arise from within the flock. Yet Paul does not call these men, wolves. Those whom Paul said would come into the flocks, were grievous wolves, and in saying “Also of your own selves, shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them v30” Paul identifies a different class of men. Of this diverse group of men we see the Greek conjunctive καὶ - where the object is λαλοῦντες διεστραμμένα τοῦ - ‘speaking perverse things.’ The principle characteristic of these men is speaking perverse things. Paul does not call the men who speak perverse things, wolves, but he does identify that they will draw disciples after themselves. The proper understanding of this secondary group of men Paul identifies prophetically, is that they ought to be called heretics, and not wolves.

Speaking perverse things comes from diastrepho (διαστρέφω) and means, to twist or distort. The effect is schisms within the church, and that is the root meaning of heresy [hairetikos αἱρετικός and αἱρετικὸν from αἵρεσιςc]. It is wilfuly causing schisms or divisions by twisting the apostolic teaching. We find it used in Titus 3:10, “A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse αιρετικον ανθρωπον μετα μιαν και δευτεραν νουθεσιαν παραιτου. Heresy is not sufficient to be called a wolf. You have to be a grievous βαρύς (barus) wolf in the character that Paul identified before you can be called a wolf. Or else you have to be ἁρπαγή (harpage), a destroyer of the flocks.

NBLC (The Marshes) Canonical

 

[rhomphaeam]

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“Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you in the days to come. Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father.” Genesis 49:1-2

This is Jacob’s prophecy concerning the future character of his sons.

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And in the evening he divides the spoil.” (v27).

This is the first time that [בִּנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃] the term wolf, is used in Scripture and could not have been very flattering to the ears of Benjamin.

When we look into the Semitic [language] usage of the term, (זְאֵב), we find that there are numerous semantic domains, with just one Hebrew translation.

Glossal

ִנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: with Werkgroep Informatica, Vrije Universiteit Morphology; Bible. O.T. Hebrew.
Werkgroep Informatica, Vrije Universiteit. (2006). (Ge 49:27)

ִנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃
Van der Merwe, C. (2004). The Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible (Ge 49:27). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

n m. From an unused root meaning to be yellow; [/zâʾeb /zeh·abe .TWOT 522; GK 2269; Seven occurrences; AV translates as “wolf” seven times.
TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament Goodrick-Kohlenberger Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon.

zeeb (255b); from an unused word; a wolf:—wolf(4), wolves.
Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew - Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.

בר: MHb. to associate, MHb.2 to charm.
Koehler, L., Baumgartner, W., Richardson, M. E. J., & Stamm, J. J. (1994–2000). The Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 287). Leiden: E.J. Brill.

This term wolf carries a great deal of meaning. This includes cowardice, deceit, sorcery, harm, as well as, to be like a brother.