In biblical literature, the term "whelps" is often used to refer to young animals, particularly the offspring of lions or other wild beasts. The term is derived from the Old English word "hwelp," which means a young animal, especially a young dog or wolf. In the context of the Bible, "whelps" is typically used metaphorically to convey ideas of strength, ferocity, or the nature of certain tribes or individuals.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 49:9 : "Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion, he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?" In this passage, Jacob blesses his sons and compares Judah to a lion's whelp, symbolizing strength, leadership, and the future prominence of the tribe of Judah.

2. Deuteronomy 33:22 : "Concerning Dan he said: 'Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan.'" Here, Moses blesses the tribe of Dan, likening it to a lion's whelp, suggesting potential for power and aggression.

3. Ezekiel 19:2-3 : "and say: 'What was your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.'" This passage uses the imagery of a lioness and her whelps to describe the leaders of Israel, emphasizing their initial strength and eventual downfall due to their violent actions.

4. Nahum 2:11-12 : "Where is the lions’ den, the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, and the lion’s cubs, with nothing to fear? The lion mauled enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his lairs with prey and his dens with torn flesh." The prophet Nahum uses the imagery of lions and their whelps to depict the once-great power of Nineveh, which is now subject to judgment and destruction.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In the Bible, whelps often symbolize potential, strength, and the characteristics of the parent animal. When used in reference to tribes or individuals, the term can imply a future promise of power or a warning of impending judgment due to misuse of strength. The imagery of whelps is particularly potent in prophetic literature, where it serves to illustrate the rise and fall of nations and leaders.

The metaphor of whelps also underscores the importance of lineage and heritage in biblical narratives. Just as a whelp inherits the traits of its parent, so too do the tribes of Israel inherit the blessings and responsibilities of their forebears. This concept is central to understanding the continuity of God's promises and the unfolding of His plan throughout the biblical narrative.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the use of "whelps" in Scripture highlights the themes of divine sovereignty and judgment. The strength and potential of a whelp are ultimately subject to God's will, as seen in the rise and fall of nations and leaders depicted in the prophetic books. This serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly power and the enduring authority of God over all creation.

In summary, the term "whelps" in the Bible is rich with metaphorical meaning, illustrating themes of strength, potential, and divine judgment. It serves as a powerful symbol of the characteristics and destinies of individuals and nations within the biblical narrative.7909. shakkuwl -- childless
... barren, bereaved robbed of children whelps Or shakkul {shak-kool'}; from shakol;
bereaved -- barren, bereaved (robbed) of children (whelps). see HEBREW shakol. ...
/hebrew/7909.htm - 5k

1121. ben -- son
... 1), those (1), those who (2), those who are doomed (1), those who were doomed (1),
troops* (1), unfortunate* (1), valiant* (3), warriors (1), whelps (1), wicked ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

Psalm LVII.
... "He hath sent from heaven His mercy and His truth." [2144] For what purpose? "And
hath drawn out my soul from the midst of the lions' whelps." [2145] "Hath sent ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lvii.htm

"But Lest this Should Perchance Seem Incredible to any One...
... We arrived at the den of the animal, where she, the unfortunate mother, was nourishing
five whelps already grown up, which, as they had come forth with closed ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xv but lest this.htm

Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent
... plunged her, and casts herself into the very depths of humiliation, saying: "No,
Lord, not a dog, but even less, one of the least of the little whelps." But in ...
/.../xi sermon for the second.htm

Baptism not to be Presumptously Received it Requires Preceding ...
... is chiefly urgent in the case of those young novices who are only just beginning
to bedew [8464] their ears with divine discourses, and who, as whelps in yet ...
/.../tertullian/on repentance/chapter vi baptism not to be.htm

Divers Matters.
... they), they said, 'Let us arise up against him':"when they were come to Be Teri,
they said, 'Do they kill the lion between the two she-whelps?'" Where the ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 55 divers matters.htm

The Indwelling and Outgoing Works of God.
... The same distinction exists to some extent in nature. The lion watching his
prey differs widely from the lion resting among his whelps. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/iii the indwelling and outgoing.htm

Natural Love.
... The most bloodthirsty animals, even tigers and hyenas, are never more enraged
than when the hunter approaches their whelps too closely. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvii natural love.htm

Nahum's Doom of Nineveh
... The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, And strangled for his lionesses;
And filled his caves with prey, And his dens with ravin. 5. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/xi nahums doom of nineveh.htm

How the Ruler, While Living Well, Ought to Teach and Admonish ...
... seeing that also for the most part herbs which nourish some animals are fatal to
others; and the gentle hissing that quiets horses incites whelps; and the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leo/writings of leo the great/part iii how the ruler.htm

Epistle vi. To Narses, Patrician .
... you call an ape a lion. Herein we see that you do as we often do, when we
call mangy whelps pards or tigers. For I, my good man, have ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle vi to narses patrician.htm

Whelps (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Whelps (10 Occurrences). ... Job 4:11 The old lion perisheth
for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad. ...
/w/whelps.htm - 9k

Whelp (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) One of the young of a dog or a beast of
prey; a puppy; a cub; as, a lion's whelps. 2. (n.) A child ...
/w/whelp.htm - 10k

Lion (92 Occurrences)
... aryeh or a pronoun, eg "Judah is a lion's whelp," gur 'aryeh (Genesis 49:9); "young
ones" of the jackal (Lamentations 4:3). Also bene labhi', "whelps (sons) of ...
/l/lion.htm - 46k

Lion's (14 Occurrences)
... lion. (See NIV). Job 4:11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the
stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad. (KJV WBS). Job ...
/l/lion's.htm - 10k

Yell (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Yell (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 51:38 They shall roar together
like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. (KJV WBS). ...
/y/yell.htm - 6k

Nourish (16 Occurrences)
... Ribbah means "to bring up," "rear (whelps)," in a figurative use Ezekiel 19:2).
Trepho means "to feed" (transitively) (Acts 12:20, the Revised Version (British ...
/n/nourish.htm - 13k

Learneth (2 Occurrences)
... Learneth (2 Occurrences). Ezekiel 19:3 And she bringeth up one of her whelps, A
young lion it hath been, And it learneth to tear prey, man it hath devoured. ...
/l/learneth.htm - 6k

When (27848 Occurrences)

/w/when.htm - 7k

Fleet (7 Occurrences)
... light substance. 3. (n. & a.) To slip on the whelps or the barrel of a
capstan or windlass; -- said of a cable or hawser. 4. (vt ...
/f/fleet.htm - 9k

Tearing (11 Occurrences)
... Nahum 2:12 The lion is tearing parts 'for' his whelps, And is strangling for his
lionesses, And he doth fill 'with' prey his holes, And his habitations 'with ...
/t/tearing.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus