The God, Human, Animal Bond (the GHAB™)
Can you find the GHAB™ metaphors in this well-loved, prophetic vision from Isaiah 11:6?
Isaiah 11:6 (NRSV)
“The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.” (italicized emphasis added by author for this study)
Symbols of The GHAB™
“The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.” In this study, the Scripture itself functions as the primary symbol of the God–Human–Animal Bond (the GHAB™). As the living Word of God, this text invites readers to see with “spiritual eyes” the Spirit-empowered bond that God intends among God’s self, humanity, and the animal world.
To appreciate the depth of the GHAB™, we can now turn from the biblical text to the world behind and around it, beginning with the wolf’s presence in ancient artifacts and Jewish interpretation.
Historical Excavations of a Wolf’s Head and Jewish Writings
A gold wolf’s head from Tepe Gawra, ca 3200 B.C. (courtesy of the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania)
This wolf’s head reminds us of how long the wolf has symbolized threat and power, and yet, Isaiah proclaims that they “shall live” together. How can this be? Will the wolf not devour the lamb?
Detail of the mosaic pavement in the Beth Midrash with the inscription זאיבוטלה ירעו כאחד “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together” (Isa. 65:25). This inscription functioned as a visual reminder in the space where Jewish students gathered for prayer and study. This is the translation:
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
During the sixty-year ministry of Isaiah, he served God under both godly and ungodly rulers who often behaved more like predators than shepherds. Against this backdrop, Isaiah’s vision of a wolf living peaceably with a lamb takes on greater meaning. It becomes a prophetic critique of predatory rule and a promise of God’s reign. He offers us an imaginative glimpse of the Kingdom of God in which the predator–prey relationship is negated. The most predatory powers will be transformed. In this eschatological peace, there is harmony among all creatures, and this remains our hope.
The Wolf (λύκος) as Predator
The European wolf (Canis lupus) was native to ancient Palestine and posed a constant threat to the flocks that lived in the hill country. Although the Bible records no specific incidents involving wolves, it makes ample use of the imagery of wolves hunting flocks and devouring their prey.
The wolf and the lamb represent a natural predator-prey combination.
In our world, they stand as opposing animals. You couldn’t realistically have both of them as domestic companions at the same time, especially sharing the same space.
Across history and in general, predator behavior has been a ongoing reality. Consider, for example, a few biblical references to the wolf:
HOWEVER, the old saying that there are two sides to every coin applies here.
The Wolf as Peacemaker
Isaiah 11:6 helps us to pull back the earthly curtain and take a peek at the reality of God’s heavenly reign. Isaiah paints “a new Eden,” a restored creation in which former enemies dwell together in safety. Here we see two sides of the same coin: the wolf and the lamb, creation fallen and yet redeemed, living together in reconciled peace under God’s rule.
Coin from History: Iconium
Iconium, modern Konya, Turkey, provides a striking historical image of the wolf. A coin from the Roman Emperor, Gallienus (ruled AD 250-268), depicts Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, suckling from a female wolf. To give some perspective, the Apostle Paul visited Iconium (Acts 14) and even directed his message not only to the Galatians but also to the believers in and around this region.
Two Sides of the Same Coin: The Wolf in Rome and in Isaiah
| Aspect | Rome’s She-Wolf Coin (Political) | Isaiah’s Wolf (Isa.11:6) |
| Primary Image | She‑wolf nursing Romulus and Remus | Wolf dwelling with the lamb |
| Historical Setting | Roman imperial legend, 3rd century AD coinage (Gallienus) | Prophetic vision of the peaceable kingdom in Isaiah’s ministry |
| Function of the Wolf | Founder‑nurturer of an empire; legitimizes Rome’s origin story. | Former predator now at peace; embodies God’s reconciling work in creation |
| View of Power | Power is consolidated in empire; strength, conquest, and dominance are celebrated | Power is reordered under God’s reign; strength is expressed as peace, protection, and shalom |
| Relationship to Humans | The wolf nurtures the future rulers of an earthly empire. | The wolf lives safely alongside the most vulnerable (the lamb, the little child). |
| Relationship to Other Animals | Not depicted in a reconciled community of creatures. | Lives in harmony with other animals; the predator–prey dynamic is undone. |
| Theological Meaning | Animal imagery is placed in the service of political power and identity. | Animal imagery reveals God’s eschatological peace and the renewal of all creation. |
| Implications for the GHAB™ | Shows how animals can be drafted into human projects of power. | Shows how God, humans, and animals are drawn into a shared life of shalom. |
| Question | How have we allowed cultural myths of power to shape how we see animals? | How might we live now as if the wolf and the lamb already share space in God’s peaceable kingdom? |
References
Richards, Lawrence O. The Teacher’s Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987.
Myers, Richard. Images from The Temple Dictionary of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012.
Schley, D. G. “Wolf.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Revised ed. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley, 1089. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988.
Ilan, Zvi. “Meroth.” In The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, edited by Ephraim Stern, 1030. New York; London; Sydney; Tokyo; Singapore; Toronto; Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society & Carta; Simon & Schuster, 1993.
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