Prey

PREY pra (baz, Tereph, shalal):

"Prey" is frequent in the Old Testament, chiefly as the translation of baz, "spoil," "plunder" (Numbers 14:3,11; Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 10:6, etc.); of Tereph, "prey of wild beasts," "torn thing" (Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24; Job 4:11, etc.); of malqoah, "a taking" (Numbers 31:11, etc.; Isaiah 49:24,25); of shalal, "spoil" or "booty" (Judges 5:30 twice; Judges 8:24,25; Isaiah 10:2, etc.). Maher-shalal-chash-baz (the Revised Version margin "The spoil speedeth, the prey hasteth") was the symbolical name given to a son of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:1,3). "Prey" does not occur in the New Testament, but is found in the Apoc: 1 Esdras 8:77, "for our sins .... were given up .... for a prey" (pronome); Judith 9:4; 16:5; 1 Macc 7:47; Ecclesiasticus 27:10 (thera); Judith 5:24 (katabroma).

In the Revised Version (British and American) shalal is generally translated "spoil" (Judges 5:30; 8:24,25; Isaiah 10:2, etc.), while, conversely, "prey" (noun and verb) is occasionally substituted for "spoil," "booty" (Numbers 31:32, ere).

See BOOTY; SPOIL.

W. L. Walker

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Bibliography Information

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'PREY'".  "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".  1915.