זֶמֶר
a gazelle (from its lightly touching the ground)
Definition
The Hebrew noun זֶמֶר (zemer) refers to a specific type of wild, agile animal, most likely a gazelle or ibex. It is derived from a root meaning 'to trim' or 'to prune,' poetically evoking the creature's light, prancing step as its hooves barely touch the ground. In its single biblical occurrence, it is listed among the clean animals permitted for food in Deuteronomy 14:5. While the KJV translated it as 'chamois,' modern scholarship generally identifies it with a species of mountain goat or gazelle native to the ancient Near East.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 14:5. It appears in a legal list of clean animals that the Israelites were permitted to eat. The context is purely zoological and ritual, with no narrative or poetic usage elsewhere in the biblical text.
Etymology
The noun זֶמֶר (zemer) is apparently derived from the root זָמַר (zāmar, H2167 or H2168), which means 'to trim, prune, or pluck' (as in pruning vines or playing a stringed instrument). The connection likely stems from the visual metaphor of the animal's delicate, prancing gait, as if its feet are lightly 'trimming' or touching the ground. This is a poetic example of how animal names often originate from observed behaviors.
Semantic Range
In its cultural context, זֶמֶר (zemer) represented a valuable source of meat and was recognized for its agility and grace, qualities admired in the ancient world. Its inclusion on the 'clean' list in Deuteronomy 14:5 meant it was ritually permissible for Israelites to consume, distinguishing it from other wild game. The KJV's translation as 'chamois' (a European mountain goat) reflects a later, anachronistic attempt to identify the animal, whereas modern understanding points to species like the Nubian ibex or a type of gazelle native to the Levant.
צְבִי (ṣᵉḇî, H6643) — A more common term for gazelle or roebuck, often used in poetic and descriptive contexts (e.g., Song of Solomon 2:9). אַיָּל (ʾayyāl, H354) — A general term for stag or hart, another clean, agile animal used in metaphors for speed and grace (e.g., Psalm 18:33).
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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