Leopard

(Heb. namer, so called because spotted, Cant. 4:8), was that great spotted feline which anciently infested the mountains of Syria, more appropriately called a panther (Felis pardus). Its fierceness (Isa. 11:6), its watching for its prey (Jer. 5:6), its swiftness (Hab. 1:8), and the spots of its skin (Jer. 13:23), are noticed. This word is used symbolically (Dan. 7:6; Rev. 13:2).

(Heb. namer) is invariably given by the Authorized Version as the translation of the Hebrew word, which occurs in the seven following passages: (Song of Solomon 4:8; Isaiah 11:6; Jeremiah 5:6; 13:23; Daniel 7:6; Hosea 13:7); Habb 1:8 Leopard occurs also in Ecclus. 28:23 and in (Revelation 13:2) From (Song of Solomon 4:8) we learn that the hilly ranges of Lebanon were in ancient times frequented by these animals. They are now not uncommonly seen in and about Lebanon and the southern maritime mountains of Syria. Under the name namer, which means “spotted,” it is not improbable that another animal, namely the cheetah (Gueparda jubata), may be included; which is tamed by the Mohammedans of Syria, who employ it in hunting the gazelle.

LEOP'ARD (Heb. spotted). In the Bible there Is frequent reference to this fierce animal, which still lurks among the forests of Gilead, the jungles of the Jordan, and more rarely among the thickets of Tabor and Carmel. Jer 13:23. The local names Nimrim, "leopard," and Beth-Nimrah, "house of the leopard" (perhaps) are to be remembered. Near the latter place Tristram saw the fresh footprints of these creatures, "clear and unmistakable, on the moist ooze." It is the habit of the leopard to wait patiently hour after hour that it may pounce upon cattle. Jer 5:6; Hos 13:7. Isa 11:6 alludes to its cruelty, and Dan 7:6 to its power. But it is thought there is reference under the same name in Hab 1:8 to the cheetah, a similar but smaller animal still found in Palestine, the rush of which upon its prey exceeds in swiftness the motion of any other carnivorous animal.

LEOP'ARD (Heb. spotted). In the Bible there Is frequent reference to this fierce animal, which still lurks among the forests of Gilead, the jungles of the Jordan, and more rarely among the thickets of Tabor and Carmel. Jer 13:23. The local names Nimrim, "leopard," and Beth-Nimrah, "house of the leopard" (perhaps) are to be remembered. Near the latter place Tristram saw the fresh footprints of these creatures, "clear and unmistakable, on the moist ooze." It is the habit of the leopard to wait patiently hour after hour that it may pounce upon cattle. Jer 5:6; Hos 13:7. Isa 11:6 alludes to its cruelty, and Dan 7:6 to its power. But it is thought there is reference under the same name in Hab 1:8 to the cheetah, a similar but smaller animal still found in Palestine, the rush of which upon its prey exceeds in swiftness the motion of any other carnivorous animal.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A large, savage, carnivorous mammal (Felis leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rings or roselike clusters of black spots along the back and sides. It is found in Southern Asia and Africa. By some the panther (Felis pardus) is regarded as a variety of leopard. Hunting leopard. See Cheetah. Leopard cat (Zoöl.) any one of several species or varieties of small, spotted cats found in Africa, Southern Asia, and the East Indies; esp., Felis Bengalensis. -- Leopard marmot. See Gopher, 2.