רָחָם (ra.cham)
ra.cham
carrion
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun racham refers to a type of vulture or scavenging bird associated with eating carrion. Its precise identification remains uncertain, with some scholars suggesting it may denote an extinct species no longer recognizable today. In the biblical text, this word appears only twice, both within the legal codes that distinguish clean from unclean animals.
Its occurrence in Leviticus 11:13 and Deuteronomy 14:12 places it among other birds deemed ritually impure due to their diet of dead flesh. The classification highlights a concern for ritual purity linked to consumption habits, marking the racham as an animal that feeds on decay rather than living prey.
Translators typically render this word simply as "vulture," though the specific Hebrew term carries connotations of scavenging behavior that distinguish it from birds of prey that hunt live animals. This distinction underscores the ancient Israelite understanding of cleanliness and holiness through observable natural categories.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the racham is listed among birds that are not to be eaten because they feed on carrion. This classification reflects an ancient concern for ritual purity linked to diet. The word highlights a clear distinction between animals that hunt living prey and those that scavenge dead flesh.
For modern readers, this detail reminds us how biblical laws used observable natural categories to teach holiness. By avoiding scavengers, the Israelites maintained a boundary that separated them from practices associated with death and decay. It serves as a historical marker of their commitment to ritual cleanliness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Egyptian vulture/ <towards>1×
- the/ Egyptian vulture1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/רָחָֽם\׃1×
- הָ/רָחָ֖מָ/ה1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:18
the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,
This verse places the racham in the priestly code, grouping it with other unclean birds to establish clear dietary boundaries for ritual purity.
-
Deuteronomy 14:17
the pelican, the vulture, the cormorant,
Here the word appears in Moses' restatement of the law, reinforcing the prohibition against eating scavengers as a lasting command for the community.