עַכְבָּר

עַכְבָּר

a mouse (as nibbling)

Definition

The Hebrew word עַכְבָּר refers to a rodent, most commonly understood as a mouse. In the biblical context, it primarily denotes a small, unclean animal that was prohibited as food under the Mosaic law (Leviticus 11:29). The word is also used in the narrative of the Philistines returning the Ark of the Covenant, where golden models of mice were sent as a guilt offering (1 Samuel 6:4-5). In Isaiah 66:17, it appears in a list of detestable creatures consumed by those engaging in idolatrous practices, reinforcing its association with ritual impurity.

Biblical Usage

This noun is used exclusively in contexts related to ritual purity and divine judgment. It appears in the legal material of Leviticus, classifying the mouse among the unclean 'swarming things' that defile. Its most notable usage is in 1 Samuel 6, where it is mentioned six times in connection with the plague of tumors (likely bubonic plague) sent upon the Philistines; golden mice were part of their reparations to Israel's God. The final reference in Isaiah condemns those who eat mouse flesh as part of pagan rituals.

Etymology

The word עַכְבָּר (ʻakbâr) is probably derived from the same root as H5908 (עַכָּבִישׁ, 'akabîsh, 'spider'), conveying a secondary sense of 'attacking' or 'nibbling.' This connection highlights the perceived destructive, gnawing behavior of rodents. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'akbaru' and Arabic 'ukbur,' both meaning 'mouse,' confirming its long-standing reference to this type of rodent.

Semantic Range

עַכְבָּר carries theological weight related to the concepts of holiness, defilement, and divine judgment. Its inclusion in the Levitical purity laws (Leviticus 11:29) underscores the biblical distinction between clean and unclean, teaching separation for God's people. In 1 Samuel 6, the mice are instruments of God's judgment on the Philistines for capturing the Ark, illustrating that even small creatures serve God's sovereign purposes. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how physical purity laws pointed to spiritual holiness and how God uses creation to execute justice. In the ancient Near East, mice and similar rodents were widely seen as pests that destroyed crops and food stores, and they were often associated with disease. The plague narrative in 1 Samuel 6 likely reflects a known connection between rodents and the spread of illness (such as bubonic plague). The crafting of golden mice as a guilt offering by the Philistines indicates they recognized the mice as a visible symbol of the plague afflicting them, seeking to appease the God of Israel through symbolic restitution. There are no direct synonyms for 'mouse' in Biblical Hebrew with distinct nuances. The word stands as the specific term for this rodent.

Word Details