Mouse; Mice
Natureâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Hebrew word 'akbar' appears in the Bible to denote unclean creeping things, golden mice accompanying tumors sent by the Philistines, and as part of a phrase describing the consumption of swine's flesh. The cosmopolitan house mouse is the species most likely intended in these contexts.
What is the meaning of Mouse; Mice in the Bible?
The Hebrew word 'akbar' appears in the Bible to denote unclean creeping things, golden mice accompanying tumors sent by the Philistines, and as part of a phrase describing the consumption of swine's flesh. The cosmopolitan house mouse is the species most likely intended in these contexts.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the presence of mice in the ancient Near East clarifies the biological basis for ritual purity laws regarding unclean creeping things and explains the Philistines' offering of golden mice as a tangible acknowledgment of the plague they suffered.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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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.