In biblical literature, the term "tail" is used both literally and metaphorically, appearing in various contexts throughout the Scriptures. The Hebrew word for tail is "zanav," and the Greek equivalent is "oura." The concept of the tail is often associated with animals, but it also carries symbolic meanings in prophetic and apocalyptic literature.

Literal Usage

The literal use of "tail" in the Bible typically refers to the physical appendage of an animal. For example, in the book of Exodus, the tail of a serpent is mentioned in the context of Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. God instructs Moses to throw his staff on the ground, and it becomes a serpent. Moses is then told, "Stretch out your hand and take it by the tail" (Exodus 4:4). This passage highlights the miraculous power of God and Moses' obedience.

In the book of Leviticus, the tail of a sacrificial animal is also mentioned. The fat tail of a sheep is considered a valuable part of the offering: "From the fellowship offering, he is to bring a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD: the fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them" (Leviticus 3:9). This indicates the importance of offering the best portions to God.

Metaphorical and Symbolic Usage

The tail is used metaphorically in several biblical passages to convey ideas of subordination, deception, or destruction. In Deuteronomy 28:13, the blessings and curses associated with obedience and disobedience to God's commandments are described: "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God" . Here, being the "head" signifies leadership and blessing, while being the "tail" implies subjugation and curse.

In the prophetic literature, the tail is often used symbolically to represent false prophets or leaders who lead people astray. Isaiah 9:15-16 states, "The elder and dignitary are the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up" . This passage underscores the danger of false teachings and the responsibility of leaders to guide their people in truth.

In the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation, the tail is used to describe the destructive power of demonic forces. Revelation 9:10 describes the locusts with tails like scorpions: "They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months" . This vivid imagery emphasizes the torment and suffering inflicted by these forces during the end times.

Conclusion

The concept of the tail in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing both literal and metaphorical ideas. Whether illustrating the physical characteristics of animals, the consequences of obedience or disobedience, or the deceptive nature of false prophets, the tail is a significant element in biblical narratives and teachings.(n.) The hindmost appendage of an animalTAIL

tal ('alyah; zanabh; oura): The broad tail of the Syrian sheep, wrongly rendered "rump" (which see) in the King James Version, is mentioned as one of the portions of sacrifice which was burned on the altar as a sweet savor to God (Exodus 29:22). The 2nd Hebrew word is used of the tails of serpents (Exodus 4:4), of foxes, which Samson tied together in his cruel sport, in order to destroy the grainfields of the Philistines by means of attached firebrands (Judges 15:4, etc.). The following seems to be an allusion to this incident: "Fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah" (Isaiah 7:4).

Figurative: "Tail" = inferiority, as opposed to "head" = superiority, leadership. "Yahweh will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of Yahweh" (Deuteronomy 28:13; compare also 28:44).

In the New Testament we find oura used of the apocalyptic animals, scorpions, horses, and the dragon (Revelation 9:10, 19; Revelation 12:4).

H. L. E. Luering

3769. oura -- a tail
... oura. 3770 . a tail. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: oura Phonetic
Spelling: (oo-rah') Short Definition: a tail Definition: a tail. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3769.htm - 6k

4525. saino -- to wag the tail, hence to greet, flatter, disturb
... to wag the tail, hence to greet, flatter, disturb. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
saino Phonetic Spelling: (sah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I move, disturb ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4525.htm - 6k

2180. zanab -- tail, end, stump
... 2179, 2180. zanab. 2181 . tail, end, stump. Transliteration: zanab Phonetic
Spelling: (zaw-nawb') Short Definition: tail. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2180.htm - 6k

451. alyah -- the fat tail (of sheep)
... 450, 451. alyah. 452 . the fat tail (of sheep). Transliteration: alyah
Phonetic Spelling: (al-yaw') Short Definition: tail. Word ...
/hebrew/451.htm - 6k

2179. zinneb -- to cut off or smite the tail
... 2178, 2179. zinneb. 2180 . to cut off or smite the tail. Transliteration:
zinneb Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-nab') Short Definition: rear. ...
/hebrew/2179.htm - 6k

1709. dag -- a fish
... or perhaps rather from da'ag (as timid); but still better from da'ag (in the sense
of squirming, ie Moving by the vibratory action of the tail); a fish (often ...
/hebrew/1709.htm - 6k

If the Scorpion, Swinging his Tail in the Air...
... Chapter VII. If the scorpion, swinging his tail in the air? If the scorpion,
swinging his tail in the air, still reproach us with ...
/.../scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter vii if the scorpion.htm

The Dragon, the Devil; the Stars Struck from Heaven by the Tail of ...
... Chapter X."The Dragon, the Devil; The Stars Struck from Heaven by the Tail of the
Dragon, Heretics; The Numbers of the Trinity, that Is, the Persons Numbered ...
/.../chapter x the dragon the devil.htm

The Earth Brings Forth, as if by Suppuration...
... And yet to smite with the tail"which tail will be whatever is prolonged from the
hindmost part of the body, and scourges"is the one movement which they all ...
/.../scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter i the earth brings.htm

Be it So; Let it be Conceded that These Most Unfortunate Cattle ...
... extension of the gut by which the excrements are given off after being drained of
all their nourishing juices; while the offa penita is a beast's tail cut off ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/24 be it so let.htm

The Meaning
... And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them upon the
earth." This is the sign or image of the heathen Roman empire worshipping the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the meaning 3.htm

How, by the Contrivance of the Devil, Brother Juniper was ...
... by his fury, would examine no further, but without delay condemned Brother Juniper,
as a traitor and murderer, to be fastened to a horse's tail, and so dragged ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter iii how by the.htm

God's Sovereignty and the Human Will
... Or, is the will connected with the other faculties, as the tail of the serpent is
with his body, and that again with his head, so that where the head goes, the ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter seven gods sovereignty and.htm

On the Study of Zoology.
... Why, I observe that this part which we call the tail of the lobster, is made
up of six distinct hard rings and a seventh terminal piece. ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/vi on the study of.htm

About the Dragon and the Young Man.
... And when the apostle had thus spoken, behold, a great dragon came forth from his
den, knocking his head, and brandishing his tail down to the ground, and ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/about the dragon and the.htm

From the Twelfth Chapter.
... 4. "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them upon
the earth."] Now, that he says that the dragon's tail drew the third part of ...
/.../commentary on the apocolypse of the blessed john/from the twelfth chapter.htm

Tail (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The hindmost appendage of an animal. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TAIL. tal ('alyah; zanabh; oura ...
/t/tail.htm - 13k

Fat-tail (1 Occurrence)
Fat-tail. Fats, Fat-tail. Fatted . Multi-Version Concordance
Fat-tail (1 Occurrence). Exodus 29:22 Also of the ram shalt ...
/f/fat-tail.htm - 6k

Entrails (18 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fat tail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is ...
/e/entrails.htm - 11k

Innards (15 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fat tail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is ...
/i/innards.htm - 10k

Covers (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fat tail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is ...
/c/covers.htm - 19k

Inner (141 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also you shall take some of the ram's fat, the fat tail, the fat that
covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is ...
/i/inner.htm - 37k

Lobe (19 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat, and the fat tail, and the
fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys ...
/l/lobe.htm - 12k

Tails (4 Occurrences)
... Judges 15:4 Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned
tail to tail, and put a torch in the midst between every two tails. ...
/t/tails.htm - 7k

Rump (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Among butchers, the piece of beef between the sirloin and the aitchbone
piece. 3. (n.) The hind or tail end; a fag-end; a remnant. Int. ...
/r/rump.htm - 9k

Redundance (11 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:22 And thou hast taken from the ram the fat, and the fat tail, and the
fat which is covering the inwards, and the redundance on the liver, and the ...
/r/redundance.htm - 10k

What does it mean that you are the head and not the tail in Deuteronomy 28:13? | GotQuestions.org

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