Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth that protrude well beyond the mouths of certain animals, most notably elephants, walruses, and wild boars. In the context of the Bible, tusks are not frequently mentioned, but they can be inferred in discussions of animals that were known to the ancient Near Eastern world.

Biblical References and Symbolism

While the Bible does not explicitly mention "tusks," it does refer to animals that possess them. For example, wild boars, which have prominent tusks, are mentioned in the Psalms. In Psalm 80:13 , it is written, "The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it." This verse uses the imagery of a wild boar to describe destruction, emphasizing the animal's ferocity and strength, characteristics often associated with its tusks.

Tusks, by extension, can symbolize power and aggression. In the ancient world, animals with tusks were often seen as formidable creatures, capable of causing significant harm. This symbolism can be applied to various biblical narratives where strength and ferocity are central themes.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, tusked animals like elephants were known, though not native to the region. Elephants were sometimes used in warfare, particularly by neighboring cultures such as the Persians and later the Greeks. The Maccabean Revolt, recorded in the books of the Maccabees (part of the Apocrypha), describes the use of elephants in battle, highlighting their intimidating presence and the strategic advantage they provided due to their size and strength.

Wild boars, on the other hand, were native to the region and would have been familiar to the Israelites. Their tusks were not only a natural defense mechanism but also a tool for foraging, which could lead to the destruction of crops, as alluded to in the Psalms.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, tusks can be seen as part of God's creation, demonstrating the diversity and complexity of the animal kingdom. They serve as a reminder of the power and majesty inherent in God's design. The presence of tusked animals in biblical texts can also serve as a metaphor for the destructive power of sin and the need for divine protection and guidance.

In the broader biblical narrative, the imagery of powerful animals, including those with tusks, often serves to illustrate the might of God in contrast to human frailty. Just as these animals wield their tusks with great effect, so too does God wield His power in the world, executing justice and offering protection to His people.

Conclusion

While tusks are not a central theme in the Bible, their presence in the text through references to animals like wild boars provides rich imagery for understanding themes of power, destruction, and divine sovereignty. These elements contribute to the broader tapestry of biblical symbolism, offering insights into the nature of God's creation and His interaction with the world.7161. qeren -- a horn
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a horn NASB Word Usage hill (1), horn
(24), horns (46), might (1), rays (1), strength (1), tusks (1). hill, horn. ...
/hebrew/7161.htm - 6k

Of the Figures and Limbs of Animals.
... able to touch the earth with his mouth, which would have been horrible and hideous,
and because He had so armed the mouth itself with extended tusks, that even ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap v of the figures and.htm

The Adventures of Saint James of Spain.
... The eyes of the brute sparkled like a furnace; his tusks were sharper than spikes
of steel; and the breath, as it issued from his nostrils, seemed like a ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter six the adventures of.htm

It Will be Better to Adopt in this ChapterThe Same Process that ...
... The truth is more subtle than that; it is that bodily outbreak is a man's instinctive
weapon, like the hoofs to the horse or the tusks to the elephant. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 16 it will be.htm

The Great Stone Face
... Arctic Circle, sent him their tribute in the shape of furs; hot Africa sifted for
him the golden sands of her rivers, and gathered up the ivory tusks of her ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the great stone face.htm

Thanksgiving to God for Deliverance from the Evils Expected Owing ...
... 11. Again, the irrational animals have their weapons in their own body; thus, the
ox has his horns; the wild boar his tusks; the lion his claws. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xi thanksgiving to god.htm

Chapter viii
... of fish and trilobites that are found imbedded as fossil remains in many such deposits,
as well as by the huge number of mammoths and ivory tusks found in ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter viii.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... paid no regular tribute, but were obliged to send annually two chaenikes of pure
gold, two hundred pieces of ebony, twenty elephants' tusks, and five young ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

The Ethics of Elfland
... If military moustaches did not suggest a sword or tusks a tail, then the
object would be vast because it would be immeasurable. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/iv the ethics of elfland.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... The Egyptian purchases comprised the most varied objects: ivory tusks, gold, ebony,
cassia, myrrh, cynocephali and green monkeys, greyhounds, leopard skins ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

Pagan Cemeteries.
... flutes, hares, knives, rabbits, poniards, rats, Fortuna, jelly-fish, human arms,
hammers, symbols of fecundity, helms, marbles, boar's tusks, loaves of bread ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter vi pagan cemeteries.htm

Tusks (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Tusks (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 27:15 The men of
Dedan were your traffickers; many islands were the market ...
/t/tusks.htm - 6k

Ivory (13 Occurrences)
... shenhabbim, the "tusks of elephants") was early used in decorations by the Egyptians,
and a great trade in it was carried on by the Assyrians (Ezek. ...
/i/ivory.htm - 17k

Tutor (2 Occurrences)

/t/tutor.htm - 8k

Turtles (3 Occurrences)

/t/turtles.htm - 7k

Elephant
... known. They have a proboscis or trunk, and two large ivory tusks proceeding
from the extremity of the upper jaw, and curving upwards. ...
/e/elephant.htm - 7k

Bar (27 Occurrences)
... called measures. 15. (n.) The space between the tusks and grinders in the
upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed. 16. (n ...
/b/bar.htm - 21k

Horn (108 Occurrences)
... Joshua 6:5 1 Chronicles 25:5), or for containing a liquid (1 Samuel 16:1, 13 1 Kings
1:39), but in Ezekiel 27:15 the horns of ivory are of course tusks and the ...
/h/horn.htm - 49k

Hittites (39 Occurrences)
... dishes, instruments of ivory and 200 slave girls, besides embroidered robes of linen
and of black and purple stuffs, gems, elephants' tusks, chariots and horses ...
/h/hittites.htm - 55k

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