Trivia: Greyhound, the Biblical Dog

The “greyhound” translation is an artifact of the time and place the Kin James Version was put together (sixteenth century England). Most other translations give “a strutting rooster.” The translators probably didn’t like the idea of comparing a king with a rooster (seeing as how they were in the pay of King James I)

I wonder if greyhound is a modern word translated for King James Version. At the time that the Proverbs were said to be written I think the Saluki would have been the breed of choice, from which the greyhound is descended. I could be wrong though…

Greyhound racing?! That’s the silliest thing I ever heard of. I mean HORSE racing is bad enough, but Greyhound racing? Come on, quit pulling my leg. I mean how small would the jockeys have to be to sit on a Greyhound? Imagine the tiny saddles. Get real.

The above posters are right, it would not have been greyhound in the original text. Generally speaking the only dog breed of the period for comparison would have been the saluki. Though these would not have been exceptionally common. Most individuals would have been familiar with the common pariah dogs.

French translation gives a horse. In fact the original text mentions something like “animal with solidly built small of the back” without giving an actual name of an animal. The feel of speed can be understood as well. Translators thought it could be a horse, or a greyhound. Since dogs are not spoken in good terms, except sheperd dogs, I guess the French translators chose a horse.

And they’re right : horses are faster…
…or are they?
http://www.williamhillgreyhoundderby.com/pixpage.htm

Or bigfoot.

In the Middle Ages there was a Saints’ Cult devoted to a greyhound – based on that urban myth about a dog killing a snake, the master thinking the snake’s blood is his child’s and killing the dog, then feeling bad when he realise the dog saved the child instead of hurting it.