Chamois
Natureâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The chamois is a wild goat species native to mountainous regions from the Levant to Persia, which scholars identify as the likely referent for the Hebrew word 'zemer' in biblical texts.
What is the meaning of Chamois in the Bible?
The chamois is a wild goat species native to mountainous regions from the Levant to Persia, which scholars identify as the likely referent for the Hebrew word 'zemer' in biblical texts.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying the chamois as the animal behind the term 'zemer' grounds biblical poetry and legal metaphors in the specific zoological reality of the ancient Near East, clarifying descriptions of agility and horned creatures.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Chamois in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Chamois clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.