צְפִיר
a he-goat
Definition
צְפִיר (tsᵉphîyr) is an Aramaic noun meaning 'he-goat' or 'male goat.' It refers specifically to a mature male goat, often used in sacrificial contexts. In the Bible, this word appears only in Ezra 6:17, where it describes one of the types of animals offered as a sin offering during the dedication of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. The term is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew word צָפִיר (tsāphîr, H6842), which also means 'he-goat' and is used in similar ritual settings, such as in Daniel 8:5-8 in the vision of the goat representing the king of Greece.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Ezra 6:17, within an Aramaic section of the book (Ezra 4:8–6:18). It appears in the context of the post-exilic community's worship, specifically listing the animals sacrificed at the dedication of the second temple: 'twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel' as a sin offering. Its usage is purely cultic and ceremonial, tied to the restoration of proper temple worship after the Babylonian exile.
Etymology
The word צְפִיר is borrowed from Aramaic, where it means 'he-goat.' It corresponds directly to the Hebrew word צָפִיר (H6842), which shares the same meaning. Both likely derive from a root suggesting 'to leap' or 'to bound,' possibly relating to the agile nature of goats. This etymological connection highlights the linguistic interplay between Hebrew and Aramaic in the post-exilic period, as Aramaic became a common language in the Persian Empire.
Semantic Range
Though צְפִיר appears only once, it holds theological significance in representing the continuity of Israel's sacrificial system after the exile. Its use in Ezra 6:17 underscores the community's commitment to restoring covenant worship as commanded in the Mosaic law, using sin offerings to atone for the people. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches reading by highlighting how the returned exiles meticulously followed Torah instructions, even adopting foreign administrative languages, to reestablish their religious identity and seek God's forgiveness.
In the ancient Near East, goats were valuable livestock for milk, hair, and meat, and male goats were commonly used in sacrifices across various cultures. In Israel's context, the he-goat as a sin offering was prescribed in Leviticus for atonement (e.g., Leviticus 4:23-24). The specific number of twelve in Ezra 6:17 symbolically represented all Israel's tribes, emphasizing national unity and collective repentance in the restored worship system, a cultural practice rooted in Mosaic tradition.
צָפִיר (tsāphîr, H6842) — Hebrew equivalent, also meaning 'he-goat,' used in visions like Daniel 8:5. עַתּוּד ('attûd, H6260) — another Hebrew term for 'he-goat' or 'male goat,' often used in sacrificial lists (e.g., Numbers 7:17). תַּיִשׁ (tayish, H8495) — a Hebrew word for 'male goat,' sometimes with a focus on its role as a leader of the flock (e.g., Proverbs 30:31).
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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