חֹ֫לֶד (cho.led)
cho.led
weasel
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 choled refers to a small mammal, traditionally identified as a weasel or sometimes a mole. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 11:29, where it is listed among animals that are unclean for consumption. The exact identity of this creature remains uncertain, with scholars suggesting it may even be an extinct animal whose precise characteristics are no longer known.
This single occurrence places choled within the dietary laws given to Israel, serving as a specific example of creatures deemed inappropriate for holy people to eat. Its inclusion alongside other small ground-dwelling animals highlights the boundary markers that distinguished Israelite practice from surrounding cultures. The ambiguity of its meaning underscores how some ancient categories resist modern zoological precision, yet still function clearly within their original ritual context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word choled appears just once in Scripture, listed among creatures deemed unclean for consumption in Leviticus 11:29. This single mention places it firmly within the dietary laws given to ancient Israel. These regulations were not merely about hygiene but served as tangible boundary markers, distinguishing God's people from surrounding nations through daily acts of obedience.
For modern readers, this rare word invites reflection on holiness as a practical reality. It reminds us that spiritual separation often involves specific, sometimes small, choices. While we are not bound by these ancient dietary codes today, the underlying principle remains: God calls His people to live differently, set apart for His purposes in every area of life.
Understanding such terms helps us appreciate the precision of Scripture. Even when an animal's exact identity is uncertain, its role in the text is clear. It points to a God who cares about details and desires His people to reflect His holiness in their daily routines.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ weasel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/חֹ֥לֶד1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:29
“‘These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard,
This verse explicitly lists choled among creeping things that are unclean, defining its ritual status within Israel's dietary laws.