פֹּכֶרֶת צְבָיִים
𐤐𐤊𐤓𐤕 𐤑𐤁𐤉𐤉𐤌
Pokheret Tsevayim
H6380 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The proper name 'Pokereth-Tsebayim' designates a family or individual among the groups identified as 'servants of Solomon' returning from exile. The term is constructed and does not occur elsewhere as a common noun. It likely means 'Snarer of Gazelles' or 'Trapmaker for Gazelles,' combining an agent-participle concept with a plural noun. The lexical meaning centers on the activity of capturing or entrapping gazelles, suggesting a professional or clan name.
Semantic Range
proper name; occupational designation ('snarer of gazelles'); clan/family name; title pointing to a function or attribute
Root / Etymology
The first element, פֹּכֶרֶת (Pokereth), is a feminine active participle from an otherwise unattested root, likely פכר, related to the concept 'to ensnare, trap.' The second element, צְבָיִים (Tsebayim), is the plural of צְבִי (ṣəvî), meaning 'gazelle.' The composite phrase functions as a proper name and may reflect a clan occupation. The precise sense of the root is uncertain due to its appearance only in this constructed designation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פֹּכֶרֶת צְבָיִים appears only in Ezra 2:57 and Nehemiah 7:59 among the list of 'servants of Solomon' who returned with other families from Babylonian exile. In historical context, these names often preserve ancient family or professional designations. The 'servants of Solomon' are traditionally understood as descendants of foreign laborers or retainers associated with the monarchy. This name, likely denoting a family profession (gazelle trappers), does not equate directly to later religious or ethnic identities. Standard English translations render the name variously, sometimes reading it as 'Pochereth of Zebaim,' but this loses the occupational nuance of the original. The personal and clan names in these exilic lists are often enigmatic and preserve archaic or context-specific meanings, some of which became obscure even to later Israelite chroniclers.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the active participle (of the same form as the first word) feminine of an unused root (meaning to entrap) and plural of צְבִי; trap of gazelles; Pokereth-Tsebajim, one of the 'servants of Solomon'; Pochereth of Zebaim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צבי (ṣ-b-y) — gazelle, beauty, grace, splendor
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6636 | צְבֹאִים | Gazelles |
| H6645 | צִבְיָּה | Gazelle-of-Yahweh |
| H6646 | צְבִיָּה | female gazelle |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6380-01 |
הַצְּבָיִ֖ים | hatsevayim | HNp |
of the gazelles | the gazelles | 2 |
H6380-02 |
פֹּכֶ֥רֶת | pokheret | HNp |
Pochereth | female snarer | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6380-02 |
Ezra 2:57 | פֹּכֶ֥רֶת | pokheret | HNp |
Pochereth | female snarer |
H6380-01 |
Ezra 2:57 | הַצְּבָיִ֖ים | hatsevayim | HNp |
of the Zebaim | the gazelles |
H6380-02 |
Nehemiah 7:59 | פֹּכֶ֥רֶת | pokheret | HNp |
Pochereth | female snarer |
H6380-01 |
Nehemiah 7:59 | הַצְּבָיִ֖ים | hatsevayim | HNp |
of the gazelles | the gazelles |