Bear

Bears in the Bible are fierce, and mostly when robbed or hungry. Hushai tells Absalom that David’s men are “chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps”. Proverbs 17:12 says the same animal is better met than a fool in his folly. A ruler who is wicked is “a roaring lion, and a ranging bear” to the poor in Proverbs 28:15. Lamentations 3:10 uses the picture for grief: God seemed to the writer “as a bear lying in wait”. Isaiah 11:7 adds a gentler scene, where the cow and the bear feed together. Read Isaiah 11:6-9 for that promise of peace.

6 verses

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 17:8

For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Proverbs

Proverbs 17:12

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 28:15

As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Isaiah

Isaiah 11:7

And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 59:11

We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

Lamentations

Lamentations 3:10

He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

A native of the mountain regions of Western Asia, frequently mentioned in Scripture. David defended his flocks against the attacks of a bear (1 Sam. 17:34-37). Bears came out of the wood and destroyed the children who mocked the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 2:24). Their habits are referred to in Isa. 59:11; Prov. 28:15; Lam. 3:10. The fury of the female bear when robbed of her young is spoken of (2 Sam. 17:8; Prov. 17:12; Hos. 13:8). In Daniel’s vision of the four great monarchies, the Medo-Persian empire is represented by a bear (7:5).

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(1 Samuel 17:34; 2 Samuel 17:8) The Syrian bear, Ursus syriacus, which is without doubt the animal mentioned in the Bible, is still found on the higher mountains of Palestine. During the summer months these bears keep to the snowy parts of Lebanon, but descend in winter to the villages and Gardens. It is probable also that at this period in former days they extended their visits to other parts of Palestine.