{
  "entry_id": "TSP-ENT-000092",
  "slug": "bear",
  "url_path": "/types-symbols/bear/",
  "canonical_name": "Bear",
  "entry_classifications": [
    "SIMILE",
    "SYMBOL"
  ],
  "modules": [
    "ANIMALS"
  ],
  "aliases": [],
  "legacy_present": true,
  "legacy_raw_wording_public": false,
  "senses": [
    {
      "sense_id": "TSP-SNS-000242",
      "label": "Bear imagery for ferocity, danger, and destructive force",
      "classification": "SIMILE",
      "definition": "The dangerous ferocity of a bear, especially a robbed mother bear, functions as vivid comparative imagery for extreme threat or destructive force.",
      "not_always": "Bear imagery is contextual and can be applied even to divine judgment; it is not intrinsically a code for evil persons.",
      "scope_note": "Bear imagery is contextual and can be applied even to divine judgment; it is not intrinsically a code for evil persons.",
      "claims": [
        {
          "claim_id": "TSP-CLM-000242",
          "statement": "Bear imagery recurrently conveys ferocity and danger in Proverbs, Hosea, and related texts.",
          "asserted_classifications": [
            "SIMILE"
          ],
          "type_kinds": [],
          "evidence_grade": 4,
          "grade_basis": "G4_RECURRENT_CANONICAL_MOTIF_OR_STRONG_THEMATIC_PATTERN",
          "status": "STRONGLY_SUPPORTED",
          "public_wording_class": "STRONGLY_SUPPORTED_PATTERN",
          "scope_limitation": "Bear imagery is contextual and can be applied even to divine judgment; it is not intrinsically a code for evil persons.",
          "strongest_alternative_explanation": null,
          "residual_uncertainty": "No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.",
          "theological_intersections": [
            "OTHER"
          ],
          "scripture_references": [
            {
              "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-000421",
              "osis_start": "Prov.17.12",
              "osis_end": null,
              "display_label": "Proverbs 17:12",
              "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD"
            },
            {
              "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-000422",
              "osis_start": "Hos.13.8",
              "osis_end": null,
              "display_label": "Hosea 13:8",
              "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD"
            }
          ],
          "source_citations": [
            {
              "source_id": "TSP-SRC-000103",
              "author_editor": "NET Bible / Bible.org / Cambridge commentary contributors",
              "title": "Contextual and cultural controls for TSP-S3 Batch 5",
              "publication_data": "Online exegetical, lexical, and historical notes accessed 2026-09-20",
              "locator": "https://bible.org/; https://classic.net.bible.org/; https://biblehub.com/",
              "verification_level": "V3_CLAIM_VERIFIED",
              "source_function": [
                "TEXT_ESTABLISHMENT",
                "HISTORICAL_BACKGROUND",
                "SCHOLARLY_ARGUMENT"
              ],
              "locator_targets": [
                {
                  "kind": "EXTERNAL_URL",
                  "target": "https://bible.org/"
                },
                {
                  "kind": "EXTERNAL_URL",
                  "target": "https://classic.net.bible.org/"
                },
                {
                  "kind": "EXTERNAL_URL",
                  "target": "https://biblehub.com/"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "s8_wording_provenance": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "sense_id": "TSP-SNS-000243",
      "label": "Fixed bear = evil, cunning, cruel men symbolism",
      "classification": "SYMBOL",
      "definition": "The legacy list proposes that bear imagery represents evil, cunning, and cruel men.",
      "not_always": "Bear imagery may depict dangerous persons or powers in particular contexts, but not as an inherent moral code.",
      "scope_note": "Bear imagery may depict dangerous persons or powers in particular contexts, but not as an inherent moral code.",
      "claims": [
        {
          "claim_id": "TSP-CLM-000243",
          "statement": "Scripture does not establish bear as a fixed symbol of evil or cunning men; Hosea 13:8 directly prevents such an intrinsic evil-person equation because YHWH himself uses the bear simile for judgment.",
          "asserted_classifications": [
            "SYMBOL"
          ],
          "type_kinds": [],
          "evidence_grade": 7,
          "grade_basis": "G7_INSUFFICIENT_BIBLICAL_EVIDENCE",
          "status": "CONTRADICTED_BY_CONTEXT",
          "public_wording_class": "CONTRADICTED_BY_CONTEXT",
          "scope_limitation": "Bear imagery may depict dangerous persons or powers in particular contexts, but not as an inherent moral code.",
          "strongest_alternative_explanation": "Ferocity and destructive danger, rather than intrinsic moral evil or cunning, best explains the recurrent image.",
          "residual_uncertainty": "No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.",
          "theological_intersections": [
            "OTHER"
          ],
          "scripture_references": [
            {
              "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-000423",
              "osis_start": "Prov.28.15",
              "osis_end": null,
              "display_label": "Proverbs 28:15",
              "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD"
            },
            {
              "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-000422",
              "osis_start": "Hos.13.8",
              "osis_end": null,
              "display_label": "Hosea 13:8",
              "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD"
            }
          ],
          "source_citations": [
            {
              "source_id": "TSP-SRC-000102",
              "author_editor": null,
              "title": "Canonical Scripture: TSP-S3 Batch 5 loci, MT/LXX/NA28 with NET/ESV comparison",
              "publication_data": "Passage loci verified for TSP-S3 Batch 5, 2026-09-20",
              "locator": "https://classic.net.bible.org/",
              "verification_level": "V4_QUOTATION_VERIFIED",
              "source_function": [
                "CANONICAL_AUTHORITY",
                "TEXT_ESTABLISHMENT"
              ],
              "locator_targets": [
                {
                  "kind": "EXTERNAL_URL",
                  "target": "https://classic.net.bible.org/"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "s8_wording_provenance": null
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "lexeme_mappings": [],
  "canonical_relationships": [],
  "negative_guardrails": []
}