מַמְזֵר
a mongrel, i.e. born of aJewish father and aheathen mother
Definition
The Hebrew word מַמְזֵר (mamzêr) refers to a person of mixed or illegitimate parentage, specifically someone born from a prohibited union. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes a child born from a relationship forbidden by Israelite law, such as between an Israelite and a foreigner from a prohibited nation (Deuteronomy 23:2) or, metaphorically, a mixed or degraded population (Zechariah 9:6). The term carries a strong connotation of religious and social exclusion, denoting someone not fully integrated into the covenant community. It is often translated as 'bastard,' but its meaning is more specifically tied to the violation of ethnic and religious boundaries established in the Mosaic law.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 23:2, it is used in a legal context, stating that a מַמְזֵר shall not enter the assembly of the Lord, highlighting its role in defining communal purity. In Zechariah 9:6, the prophet uses the term metaphorically to pronounce judgment on the Philistine city of Ashkelon, declaring that a 'mongrel people' will dwell there, symbolizing its future degradation and loss of distinct identity. Both uses emphasize exclusion and impurity.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to alienate' or 'to be estranged.' This root sense directly informs its meaning as one who is alienated from the pure lineage of Israel. The word itself implies a mixing or corruption of lines. There are no widely agreed-upon direct cognates in other Semitic languages, which underscores its specific development within the context of Israel's religious and social laws concerning pedigree.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it relates to key concepts of covenant identity, purity, and community boundaries in ancient Israel. Understanding מַמְזֵר enriches the reading of texts like Deuteronomy 23 by revealing the seriousness with which the Torah guarded the religious integrity of the covenant community. It also highlights the grace of the New Covenant, where inclusion is based on faith in Christ rather than physical descent (e.g., Galatians 3:28-29), providing a stark contrast to the old system of exclusion.
In its original cultural setting, this term was a severe social and religious label. It did not merely denote illegitimacy in a general sense but specifically a child from a union that violated Israel's holiness codes, particularly those forbidding marriage with certain foreign groups (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). Such a person was excluded from full participation in Israel's worship and civic life ('the assembly of the Lord'), reflecting the paramount importance of maintaining a distinct, holy people for Yahweh.
נָכְרִי (nokri, H5237) — a foreigner or stranger, but not necessarily of illegitimate birth; זָר (zar, H2114) — another term for a foreigner or one outside the covenant, often used for unauthorized persons approaching the sanctuary.
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.
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