The meaning of Prey in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
pra (baz, Tereph, shalal): "Prey" is frequent in the Old Testament, chiefly as the translation of baz, "spoil," "plunder" (Numbers 14:3, Numbers 14:11; 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, Isaiah 8:3). "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; Judges 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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