Is a greyhound mentioned in the Bible?

There is an obscure reference to a greyhound in Proverbs 30:31, but it is not translated consistently. Here are four very different translations of the same verse: herenfiets

A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom [there is] no rising up (KJV).

The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king {when his} army is with him (NASB).

A girt one of the loins, or a he-goat, And a king -- no rising up with him (Young's Literal Translation).

a [horse] girt in the loins; or the he-goat; and a king, against whom none can rise up (Darby).

Other than this questionable reference, the Bible does not mention greyhounds. On one hand, this is surprising, since the greyhound breed may date back as far as 4000 BC in Egypt. On the other hand, it is not surprising, since the origin of the word greyhound comes from Old English, which means a "fair dog". This may explain why this is used in the King James Version.

There are several general references to dogs in the Bible:

  • But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel (Ex. 11:7 NIV).

  • "You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs" (Exodus 22:31 NIV).

  • Many references to dogs eating people in the book of Kings ( 1 Kings 14:11, 16:4, 21:19, 21:23-24, 22:38; 2 Kings 9:10, 9:36)

  • As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly (Proverbs 26:11 NIV).

  • Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own (Proverbs 26:17 NIV).

Dogs were obviously not looked upon as highly in the Bible as they are today.