The leopard

(otherwise called the pard) (Isa. 11:6; Jer. 5:6; Rev. 13:2) — a predatory animal of the cat family, thought to have been especially widespread in Bible lands, since it is often mentioned by Holy Scripture. The Hebrew name for leopard is nimrah; Beth-nimrah (Num. 32:36) means “dwelling of leopards,” and in the Song of Songs mention is made of the “mountains of leopards” (Song 4:8). The prophets often make reference to the traits and character of leopards, their manner of lying in wait for their prey (Jer. 5:6), the swiftness of their movements (Hab. 1:8), their bloodthirstiness and ferocity (Isa. 11:6); and in the Book of Daniel (7:6) the leopard is represented as an emblem of power.

What could be more beautiful than the following scriptural allusions to this predatory animal: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” (Jer. 13:23); or — “the leopard shall lie down with the kid” (Isa. 11:6 [as given]); or — “a leopard shall watch over their cities” (Jer. 5:6). For this reason the Antichrist, together with his followers and adherents, is compared in the Revelation of St. John to this bloodthirsty, well-known predatory beast (Rev. 13:2). The Syrian leopard is still called by the natives, in biblical fashion, by the word nimr. With the destruction of the forests on Lebanon, leopards seem to have withdrawn especially to the north of Syria.