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צְפִיר

𐤑𐤐𐤉𐤓

tsᵉphîyr

H6841 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צפר to leap, bound, (directionally) to jump

Definition

Male goat, specifically a he-goat; in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible the term designates an adult male of the goat species, often used in ritual contexts or as a symbolic animal. Primary use is zoological and cultic, denoting the male goat either as an animal in the herd or in sacrificial settings.

Semantic Range

he-goat, male goat, symbolic representation of a kingdom or leader (Daniel), ritual or sacrificial animal

Root / Etymology

Root צפר (uncertain meaning in this nominal form), but likely related to צָפִיר (ṣāphîr) in Hebrew, whose root may be associated with the idea of leaping or bounding, traits characteristic of goats. The form צְפִיר (tsᵉphîyr) represents the Aramaic morphological variant.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צְפִיר appears in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (such as Daniel 8) and is the standard Aramaic correspondent to the Hebrew צָפִיר. In the Hebrew Bible, both terms designate a he-goat, especially as a cultic or symbolic animal, such as in Daniel's visions where the he-goat often symbolizes powerful kingdoms or leaders. While later English translations have rendered the term as 'he-goat' or simply 'goat', the underlying sense in both zoological and symbolic contexts remains tied to an adult, male goat. Unlike the term גְּדִי (gəḏî), meaning 'kid' (young goat), צְפִיר refers explicitly to the mature male. There is no evidence that the term carried metaphorical meanings beyond animal or symbolic referent during the periods in which it is attested. The term is not used with specifically priestly or Israelite ritual nuance in Aramaic usage unless context provides this; such usage is more characteristic of Hebrew צָפִיר or שָּׂעִיר (śā‘îr, 'hairy one, male goat'). The Greek tradition (LXX) often translates it as χίμαρος (‘he-goat’), with no implication of later religious identity or terminology. The term is never used for ethnonymic or religious designations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to צָפִיר; a he-goat; he (goat).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צפר (ṣ-p-r) — to leap, bound, jump

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6691 צוֹפַר Tsophar
H6833 צִפּוֹר the chirping bird
H6834 צִפּוֹר Tsippôr
H6842 צָפִיר prancing male goat
H6843 צְפִירָה the encircling crown

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6841-01 וּ/צְפִירֵ֨י utsefirey AC/Ncmpc and goats and he-goats of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6841-01 Ezra 6:17 וּ/צְפִירֵ֨י utsefirey AC/Ncmpc and goats and he-goats of
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