Dragon. Dragons are imaginary beasts with a long history in the folklore of many cultures. Usually the dragon is a crafty creature that represents evil. The word dragon, as used in some translations of the Bible, is often confusing. Occasionally this word is used when the intended meaning was probably jackal (Lam. 4:3), (RSV), sea serpent or serpent (Ps. 91:13), (RSV), or even crocodile (Ezek. 29:3-4).
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Category Archives: D
Dromedary
Dromedary (see Camel).
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Dog
Dog. In ancient Israel, the dog was not “man’s best friend.” In fact, calling someone a dog was one of the most offensive ways of insulting that person. The Bible mentions dogs frequently; most of the references are derogatory. Even in New Testament times, Jews called Gentiles “dogs” (Matt. 15:26). The term “dog” also referred to a male prostitute (Deut. 23:18). Unbelievers who were shut out of the New Jerusalem were also termed “dogs” (Rev. 22:15)– probably a reference to their sexual immorality. Moslems later applied the insult to Christians.
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Dove
Dove. Doves and pigeons belong to the same family. They are often mentioned in the Bible as if they are the same animal. The rock dove found in Palestine is the wild ancestor of our common street pigeon. Turtledoves are migrants. They spend the months of April to October in the Holy Land, filling the air with soft cooing when they arrive each Spring (Song 2:11-12).
Doves come in several colors, from pure white to the chestnut-colored palm turtledove. Even the plain gray pigeon has a silver sheen. Solomon waxed poetic over doves’ eyes. David longed for “wings like a dove” (Ps. 55:6), so he could fly away from his enemies.
Pigeons were probably the first domesticated bird. When people realized doves could travel long distances and always find their way home, they used them to carry messages. Homing pigeons have keen eyes with which they spot landmarks to help them stay on the right route.
Hebrews ate pigeons and, from Abraham’s time, used them in sacrifice. Even a poor man could provide a pigeon or two for worship, as Joseph and Mary did at Jesus’ circumcision (Luke 2:21-24; Lev. 12:8).
Doves appear to express affection, stroking each other, and “billing and cooing.” They mate for life, sharing nesting and parenting duties. They are gentle birds that never resist attack or retaliate against their enemies. Even when her young are attacked, a dove will give only a pitiful call of distress.
Because of its innocence and gentle nature, the dove is a common religious symbol. The Holy Spirit took the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22). The dove also symbolizes peace, love, forgiveness, and the church.
Source: [Anon-Animals]
Dugong
Devil
donkey
Donkey. A donkey or ass is an animal of scorn or being made fun of in the Bible. While it is a “beast of burden” doing heavy work, it is a lowly animal in comparison to others such as horses which are noble beasts. The donkey is often an insult hurdled from one man to another, insinuating that the objective of scorn is a person without value, without common sense, without morally noble character.
One of the first animals tamed by man, the donkey was a necessity in Bible times. It is mentioned frequently in the Bible. Wild donkeys (referred to as the onager in (Job 39:5), NKJV) also roamed the land. “Like a wild donkey” (Hos. 8:9) described a headstrong, untamed nature. But the domesticated donkey was an obedient servant.
Donkeys stand about 1.3 meters (4 feet) high. They are usually gray, reddish-brown, or white. The long-suffering donkey often won the affection of the household and was decorated with beads and bright ribbons. But his true role was to serve as a work animal. He trampled seed, turned the millstone to grind grain, and pulled the plow.
Donkey caravans were the freight trains and transport trucks of ancient times. These animals could carry great weight in spite of their small size. Since they required only a fraction as much fodder as a horse, they were more economical to own. The donkey was also a safe and comfortable animal to ride. They were ridden by rich and poor alike. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he signaled his peaceful intentions by riding a young donkey rather than a prancing war-horse.
The offspring of a male donkey (jack) and female horse (mare) was a mule. The mule had the surefootedness and endurance of the donkey, coupled with the greater size and strength of the horse.
Crossbreeding like this was outlawed among the Jewish people (Lev. 19:19), but from David’s time mules were imported and increasingly used by the Israelites (2 Sam. 18:9; 1 Kin. 1:33; 18:5). (Ezra 2:66) records that the Israelites brought 245 mules with them when they returned from captivity in Babylon.
Source: Anon-Animals
Deceiver of the World
This title for Satan is one which reveals his character as a Deceiver or a Liar. To clarify things, God is an honest person, in which what He says is the way things are. God, because of the essence of his character, i.e. Truth, does not use deception, lying, nor false things to work His will. The mark of God is truth, open, honest, and forthright truth. God works through the presentation of reality, of truth, the way things really are. Seeing the truth of God, the person has a moral decision to make of trusting God or not believing God. This is called faith or unbelief. What makes trusting God “work” is the fact that God does not lie nor deceive. Therefore all that trust what He says will be assured that He will complete what He promises.
Satan from his character is one who has rejected truth as the modus aperendi of his life. He no longer uses truth to present what is true, but he twists, turns, reinterpretes, and does other false presentations so that people do what HE WANTS THEM TO DO, when it is not in their best interests. This is how Satan works. It is an integral part of his character. Whatever Satan says is wrong. Satan will use Scripture as he did in Christ’s temptation, but he will always be putting a twist or spin on things so that they work his will through a deception.
For example, Satan promised Adam and Eve that if they ate of the forbidden fruit, that they would be as gods, knowing the difference between good and evil. The entire statement is a lie. They would not be as gods, with the power of God Almighty. By experience, they would know what sin is, but this is not “being like God”. This is the problem with whatever Satan tells you, at first sight it looks good and desireable, but after you have fallen into his trap, you will suffer.