זֶ֫מֶר (ze.mer)
ze.mer
mountain goat
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun zemer refers to a specific type of wild animal permitted for consumption under Mosaic law. While often translated as "mountain goat" or "mountain sheep," the exact species remains uncertain among scholars. The sources suggest it could be a moufflon, gazelle, or chamois, but the text does not specify which distinct creature is intended.
This ambiguity is central to the word’s usage. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Deuteronomy 14:5, as part of the list of clean animals Israel may eat. The inclusion highlights a category of wild, ungulate-like creatures that are ritually acceptable, even if their precise biological identity is lost to history or remains debated.
Translators typically render zemer as "mountain goat" for clarity, though some note the possibility of an extinct animal. The term serves primarily as a legal marker in dietary codes rather than a zoological description, reminding readers that ancient categories sometimes prioritize ritual status over modern scientific classification.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zemer appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, listed among the clean animals Israel could eat (Deuteronomy 14:5). Scholars still debate its exact identity, suggesting it might be a moufflon, chamois, or ibex. This uncertainty reminds us that ancient dietary laws focused on ritual purity rather than modern zoological precision.
For your faith life, this detail invites humility. We do not need to resolve every historical ambiguity to trust God’s provision. The text assures us that these wild creatures were acceptable food, showing care for Israel’s physical needs in the wilderness. You can rest in the truth that God provides what is good, even when details are unclear.
When reading Scripture, let this word encourage you to focus on the broader theme of God’s faithful provision. Whether the animal was a goat or an antelope, the point remains: God guides His people in all aspects of life, including what they eat.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ a mountain sheep1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וָ/זָֽמֶר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 14:5
the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the chamois.
This verse lists the zemer among clean animals, showing it was ritually acceptable for consumption despite its uncertain biological identity.