חֲזִיר
𐤇𐤆𐤉𐤓
chăzîyr
H2386 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A domesticated pig or wild boar; an unclean animal according to Israelite ritual law, typically referenced in contexts emphasizing opposition to Israelite dietary practices or as a symbol of ritual impurity. The term refers equally to the wild species (boar) and the domesticated pig in general usage.
Semantic Range
domesticated pig, wild boar, swine; unclean animal in ritual context; symbolic of impurity or apostasy
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. While Strong's suggests it may derive from an unused root meaning 'to enclose,' there is no direct evidence for such a root in biblical Hebrew. The form חֲזִיר does not transparently link to known roots or patterns but appears to denote the animal by its own noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical texts, חֲזִיר is mentioned primarily in contexts describing dietary prohibitions (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8), listing it among animals considered unclean for Israelite consumption, largely because it does not chew the cud despite having divided hooves. It is also found in later passages (e.g., Isaiah 65:4; 66:3,17) as a symbol of apostasy or abhorrent practices, depicting those who eat pig's flesh as engaging in behavior antithetical to Israelite norms. The pig (domesticated or wild) was clearly known in the ancient Near East; archaeological evidence confirms pig remains in various contexts, but biblical texts associate the animal with ritual impurity. The term חֲזִיר may refer to both wild boar and domesticated swine. The English term "swine" often translates the word but carries no particular cultic or social significance; "pig" or "boar" is literal but may fail to capture ritual connotations in biblical passages. Later tradition rendered חֲזִיר as "unclean animal," and in the post-biblical and Second Temple periods, the avoidance of pork consumption became a strong cultural marker distinguishing Israelites — later Judeans — from surrounding populations. In contrast with other animal names (e.g., שׁוֹר 'ox'), חֲזִיר is almost always used pejoratively in biblical literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root probably meaning to enclose; a hog (perhaps as penned); boar, swine.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חזר (uncertain) (ḥ-z-r (uncertain)) — pig, boar, swine (animal designation; etymology uncertain)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2386-02 |
הַ֠/חֲזִיר | hachazir | HTd/Ncmsa |
pig | the pig | 4 |
H2386-01 |
חֲזִ֔יר | chazir | HNcmsa |
boar | pig | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2386-02 |
Leviticus 11:7 | הַ֠/חֲזִיר | hachazir | HTd/Ncmsa |
pig | the pig |
H2386-02 |
Deuteronomy 14:8 | הַ֠/חֲזִיר | hachazir | HTd/Ncmsa |
pig | the pig |
H2386-02 |
Isaiah 65:4 | הַ/חֲזִ֔יר | hachazir | HTd/Ncmsa |
of swine | the pig |
H2386-01 |
Isaiah 66:3 | חֲזִ֔יר | chazir | HNcmsa |
of swine | pig |
H2386-02 |
Isaiah 66:17 | הַ/חֲזִ֔יר | hachazir | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the swine | the pig |
H2386-01 |
Psalms 80:14 | חֲזִ֣יר | chazir | HNcmsa |
boar | pig |
H2386-01 |
Proverbs 11:22 | חֲזִ֑יר | chazir | HNcmsa |
of a pig | pig |