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צָפִיר

𐤑𐤐𐤉𐤓

tsâphîyr

H6842 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A male goat, especially mature and vigorous; often used in contexts of sacrifice, particularly as a designated animal for certain sin offerings or ritual purposes in priestly texts. The term typically connotes the age and strength of the animal, distinguishing it from younger or generic goats.

Semantic Range

mature male goat, prancing male goat, sacrificial male goat, he-goat (specifically for offerings); rarely, goat in a generic sense

Root / Etymology

From the root צפר (tz-p-r), which means 'to leap, spring,' emphasizing the lively, prancing nature of the animal. The noun צָפִיר (tsafîr) derives from this root, referring specifically to an active male goat.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, צָפִיר appears primarily in priestly and legal texts to designate the specific type of male goat required for offerings, differentiating it from other goat terms such as שָׂעִיר (sa‘îr) and עֵז (êz). While שָׂעִיר can also mean 'he-goat,' צָפִיר appears to emphasize the vitality and maturity of the animal. It is most frequent in Levitical and Numbers passages prescribing ritual procedures. Later translations, including the Septuagint and English versions, often render צָפִיר as 'he-goat,' but without consistently preserving the specific nuance. The term was not typically used as a broad designation for goats in everyday speech, but rather as a technical term within ritual/legal discourse. Its use persists into Second Temple literature, but diminishes with the decline of sacrificial practice.

Translation Consistency

primary "male goat" 4 occurrences

This term clearly conveys the animal’s sex and distinguishes it from young or female goats, matching the word’s usual sense as a mature/he-goat used in sacrificial and ritual contexts. “Male goat” is natural English and fits the typical priestly usage.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"male goats of" (1x) "mature male goats of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָפַר; a male goat (as prancing); (he) goat.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

צפר (Tsofar) — to leap, to depart, to go early; to chirp, to sound (of birds)

Root צפר to spring, leap, be lively
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6691 צוֹפַר Tsophar
H6833 צִפּוֹר the chirping bird
H6834 צִפּוֹר Tsippôr
H6841 צְפִיר and he-goats of
H6843 צְפִירָה the encircling crown

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6842-05 וְ/הַ֨/צָּפִ֔יר vehatsafir HC/Td/Ncmsa and-the-goat and the prancing male-goat and the male goat 2
H6842-01 צְפִיר tsefir HNcmsc a male goat prancing male goat a male goat 1
H6842-02 צְפִירֵ֥י tsefirey HNcmpc goats of prancing male goats of male goats of 1
H6842-03 וּ/צְפִ֥יר utsefir HC/Ncmsc and-the-male-goat and prancing he-goat of and the male goat 1
H6842-04 וּ/צְפִירֵ֨י utsefirey HC/Ncmpc and he-goats-of mature prancing male-goats of and mature male goats of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6842-01 Daniel 8:5 צְפִיר tsefir HNcmsc a male goat prancing male goat a male goat
H6842-05 Daniel 8:5 וְ/הַ֨/צָּפִ֔יר vehatsafir HC/Td/Ncmsa And the goat and the prancing male-goat and the male goat
H6842-03 Daniel 8:8 וּ/צְפִ֥יר utsefir HC/Ncmsc and-the-male-goat and prancing he-goat of and the male goat
H6842-05 Daniel 8:21 וְ/הַ/צָּפִ֥יר vehatsafir HC/Td/Ncmsa and-the-goat and the prancing male-goat and the male goat
H6842-02 Ezra 8:35 צְפִירֵ֥י tsefirey HNcmpc goats of prancing male goats of male goats of
H6842-04 2 Chronicles 29:21 וּ/צְפִירֵ֨י utsefirey HC/Ncmpc and he-goats-of mature prancing male-goats of and mature male goats of
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