Discussion
In this category are all animals that are ridden or made to carry loads. This includes donkeys camels horses mules and oxen. See specific treatments under “mammals".
Translation
We cannot know for certain on which kind of animal the Good Samaritan placed the injured Jew. All we know is that it was an animal that was ridden or could carry a load. Thus many English translations have “beast” or “mount". But since we know that donkeys were the usual means of transport, we can surmise that a donkey was envisioned by Jesus when he told the parable. Thus some translations, such as NIV, have “donkey". The options then for the translator are to use an expression meaning “animal for riding” or “pack animal” or to use a word meaning “donkey".
ACT 23:24: Similarly we cannot know which kind of riding animals were provided for Paul when he left Jerusalem for Caesarea. Since we know that horses were the usual means of transport for the Romans, it is probable that they were horses. Here the translator can use either an expression like “animals to ride” or a word for “horses".
1CO 15:39: Here the context indicates that no specific group of animals is intended, and a general word meaning “animal” best fits this context.
REV 18:13: All English translations have “cattle” in this verse, since the word is plural and is parallel to “sheep". It is almost certain that donkeys were not intended by the writer in this context, since donkeys were not exported as merchandise.