גֵּרָה

גֵּרָה

the cud (as scraping the throat)

Definition

The Hebrew noun גֵּרָה (gêrâh) specifically refers to the 'cud,' the portion of food that a clean, ruminating animal brings back up from its stomach to chew a second time. This precise physiological process is central to its biblical usage, where it serves as one of the two primary criteria (along with having a split hoof) for determining which land animals are ritually clean and permissible for Israel to eat according to the Mosaic law. The word appears exclusively in the legal texts of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, which list animals like the ox, sheep, and goat as clean because they 'chew the cud' (e.g., Leviticus 11:3), while animals like the pig and rabbit are declared unclean because, though they may have a split hoof or appear to chew, they do not truly 'bring up' the cud (Leviticus 11:4-7).

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the context of the dietary laws (kashrut) given in the Torah. All nine occurrences are found in two chapters: Leviticus 11:3-7, 26 and Deuteronomy 14:6-7. Its usage is formulaic and legal, appearing in the phrase 'מַעֲלֵה גֵרָה' (maʿălê gêrâh), meaning 'bringing up/chewing the cud.' It is used to classify animals as either clean (טָהוֹר) or unclean (טָמֵא) for consumption and sacrifice.

Etymology

גֵּרָה (gêrâh) is derived from the root verb גָּרַר (gārar, H1641), which means 'to drag, drag away, or scrape.' The noun form captures the idea of the cud being 'dragged up' or 'scraped up' from the stomach back into the mouth for re-chewing, vividly describing the ruminating process.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it establishes a concrete, observable standard for ritual purity and holiness within the community of Israel. The law regarding cud-chewing animals, alongside the split hoof, taught Israel to make careful distinctions in obedience to God's commands (Leviticus 20:25-26). It served as a daily, practical reminder of their set-apart status. For Christians, while the dietary law itself is fulfilled in Christ (Mark 7:19, Acts 10:15), the underlying principle of discernment and holiness remains vital. In the ancient Near East, Israel's dietary laws were unique and served as a boundary marker of their identity. Understanding 'chewing the cud' (gerah) as a specific, God-given criterion for clean animals distinguished Israel from surrounding nations with different food practices. This was not primarily about hygiene but about covenantal obedience and symbolic separation for a holy purpose. There are no direct synonyms for this specific physiological and ritual term. The concept is uniquely described by the phrase 'maʿălê gerah' (bringing up the cud).

Word Details