חֹמֶט
a lizard (as creeping)
Definition
חֹמֶט (chômeṭ) refers to a type of lizard, specifically one characterized by its creeping or low-crawling movement. In its sole biblical occurrence in Leviticus 11:30, it is listed among the unclean animals that the Israelites were forbidden to eat. The term likely denotes a particular species of lizard common to the Levant, understood by its behavior. The KJV's translation as 'snail' is considered a mistranslation based on older interpretations; modern versions correctly identify it as a lizard.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 11:30, within the context of the dietary laws. It appears in a list of various creeping creatures that are deemed ritually unclean and therefore prohibited for consumption. There are no patterns of usage across other books, as it is a specific zoological term within this legal list.
Etymology
The noun חֹמֶט derives from an unused Hebrew root likely meaning 'to lie low' or 'to creep.' This etymological sense directly informs its meaning as a low-crawling lizard. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the meaning of a creeping creature.
Semantic Range
While the word itself names a specific animal, its theological significance lies in its context within the Levitical holiness code (Leviticus 11). It contributes to the broader biblical theme of separation and purity, teaching Israel to distinguish between the clean and the unclean as part of their covenant identity. Understanding this specific term enriches the reading of these laws by highlighting the concrete, everyday details through which holiness was practiced.
In the ancient Israelite cultural setting, this term would have identified a recognizable reptile within the local ecosystem. The classification was not primarily zoological but religious-legal, determining what could and could not be eaten. The modern understanding differs mainly in precise species identification, but the core concept of a forbidden creeping creature remains.
לְטָאָה (leṭā'â, H3911) — a more general term for lizard, also listed as unclean in Leviticus 11:30. תִּנְשֶׁמֶת (tinshemeth, H8580) — likely a chameleon or another kind of lizard, also appearing in the same list (Leviticus 11:30).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →