Bible Dictionary
Creature
A creature is any created being or, collectively, the whole creation. In prophetic visions, “living creatures” may refer to symbolic heavenly beings representing divine attributes and operations.
Definition
A creature is a created being, or collectively the whole creation. In the New Testament the term corresponds to words meaning “that which is created” or “creature.” In the Old Testament, related expressions may mean a living, breathing, moving, or swarming thing.
Biblical Usage
“Creature” may denote the whole creation or the entire human race. The living creatures in Ezekiel are presented as symbolic beings representing divine attributes and operations.
Historical Background
The supplied material distinguishes several Hebrew expressions for living creatures, moving creatures, and doleful creatures, the last possibly referring to owls because of their mournful sounds.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Denotes the whole creation in Rom. 8:39; Col. 1:15; Rev. 5:13; the whole human race in Mark 16:15; Rom. 8:19-22. The living creatures in Ezek. 10:15, 17, are imaginary beings, symbols of the Divine attributes and operations.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kre'-tur: The word "creature," as it occurs in the New Testament, is the translation and also the exact English equivalent of the Greek ktisis, or ktisma, from ktizo, "to create." In the Old Testament, on the other hand, it stands for words which have in the original no reference to creation, but which come from other roots. Nephesh, "living creature" (literally, "a breathing thing"), occurs in the accounts of the Creation and the Flood and at the close of the lists of clean and unclean animals in Le 11:46. Chay, "living creature" (literally, "a living thing"), occurs 13 times in Eze 1; 3 and 10 (see CREATURE, LIVING). Sherets, "moving creature" (literally, "a swarming thing," generally rendered "creeping thing," which see), occurs once in Ge 1:20. 'Ochim, "doleful creatures," occurs once only in Isa 13:21. It appears to be an onomatopoetic word referring to the mournful sounds emitted by the animals in question. From the context it is fair to suppose that owls may be the animals referred to.</p><p>See OWL; CREATION.</p><p>Alfred Ely Day</p>