Pygarg
What Is the Pygarg?
The term 'pygarg' appears in English translations of the Bible (such as the King James Version and Revised Version) as the rendering for the Hebrew word dishon in Deuteronomy 14:5. It is not the name of a specific animal known to modern zoology but is a translation of a Greek descriptive term (pugargos) meaning 'white-rumped.' This characteristic—a bright white patch on the rear—is common among many species of antelope, gazelle, and deer, serving as a visual signal for herd cohesion when fleeing. The original Hebrew dishon is likely a general term for a specific, but now uncertain, species of graceful, hoofed game animal.
The Pygarg in Biblical Law
The pygarg's sole biblical appearance is in the context of Israel's dietary laws. Deuteronomy 14:4-5 lists ten specific animals that are considered 'clean' and permissible for the Israelites to eat: 'The ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep' (ESV). The pygarg (translated as 'antelope' or 'white-rumped deer' in many modern versions) is included in this list. These laws, part of the covenant given at Sinai and reiterated by Moses on the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy 12-26), served to set Israel apart from surrounding nations, promote holiness in daily life, and likely had health and ecological considerations.
Identifying the Animal
Precisely identifying the dishon has challenged scholars for centuries. The ancient Greek translation (the Septuagint) used pugargos, a term the historian Herodotus applied to a kind of antelope. Many modern scholars and translations, like the NIV and ESV, render it as a general 'antelope.' Specific candidates proposed include the addax (Addax nasomaculatus), a desert antelope, or the Arabian oryx. However, the addax's historical range may not have extended into the core regions of ancient Israel. A more likely candidate is a species of gazelle, such as the dorcas gazelle or the mountain gazelle, which were common in the region and fit the description of a swift, clean animal with a light-colored rump. The key identifying feature from the ancient name remains its distinctive white hindquarters.
Significance and Legacy
While a minor biblical detail, the pygarg's inclusion is significant. First, it underscores the concrete, practical nature of biblical law, which governed even the specifics of diet. Second, it reflects the promised land's abundance, described as 'a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey' (Deuteronomy 8:7-8). The permission to eat such game was part of enjoying that God-given bounty. Finally, the difficulty in its precise identification reminds modern readers of the cultural and zoological distance between the ancient world and our own, encouraging careful study of context and translation.
Biblical Context
The pygarg (Hebrew dishon) appears only once in the entire Bible, in Deuteronomy 14:5. It is listed as the ninth among ten specific types of land animals declared ritually clean and permissible for the Israelites to consume according to the Mosaic Law. This list is part of a larger legal section (Deuteronomy 14:3-21) that reiterates and expands upon the dietary laws originally given in Leviticus 11. Its role is purely within the context of defining clean and unclean food sources for the covenant people.
Theological Significance
The pygarg, as a clean animal, contributes to the biblical theme of divinely ordained separation. The dietary laws were not primarily about health but holiness, teaching Israel to distinguish between the clean and the unclean as God distinguishes between His people and the nations (Leviticus 20:25-26). Its inclusion in a specific list underscores that holiness was to be practiced in the mundane details of everyday life, including eating. Furthermore, permitting its consumption highlights God's gracious provision—the good land was filled with lawful, nourishing food for His people to enjoy with thanksgiving.
Historical Background
Extra-biblical sources and archaeology help contextualize the pygarg. Ancient Near Eastern cultures also had dietary taboos, but Israel's system was unique in its connection to covenant identity. Faunal remains found at Israelite sites show evidence of gazelle and deer consumption, confirming the practice of hunting such game. Greek naturalists like Herodotus (5th century BCE) used the term pugargos, confirming it was a known descriptor for a type of antelope in the ancient Mediterranean world. The difficulty in precise identification stems from the fact that common animal names in ancient Hebrew do not always correspond one-to-one with modern Linnaean species, often covering a broader group of similar animals.