Deuteronomy 14 5

Deuteronomy 14:5 kjv

The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.

Deuteronomy 14:5 nkjv

the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.

Deuteronomy 14:5 niv

the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.

Deuteronomy 14:5 esv

the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.

Deuteronomy 14:5 nlt

the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the addax, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.

Deuteronomy 14 verses

Deuteronomy 14 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 14:5 lists seven specific terrestrial mammals identified as "clean" and thus permissible for the Israelites to eat, in adherence to the divine dietary laws. This verse delineates certain types of deer, gazelle, goats, and oxen as fit for consumption, provided they meet the general criteria of chewing the cud and having a divided hoof, as stipulated in earlier verses. This dietary instruction was foundational to Israel's covenant identity, setting them apart as a holy nation to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 14 5 Context

Deuteronomy 14 forms part of Moses' second major address to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, before entering the Promised Land. This chapter falls within a larger section (Deut 12-26) detailing the specific laws and ordinances that would govern their life in the land, expanding upon and reaffirming much of the Law given at Sinai. The immediate context of Deuteronomy 14 focuses on Israel's distinctiveness as a holy people to the Lord, particularly expressed through practices related to mourning and diet. Following a prohibition against pagan mourning rituals (14:1-2), the chapter moves directly into dietary laws (14:3-21), explicitly linking proper consumption to their status as "a people holy to the Lord your God" (14:2). Verse 5 lists specific examples of "clean" land animals after stating the general rule in verse 4, ensuring clarity for the people regarding permissible food sources that distinguish them from surrounding pagan nations and uphold their consecrated identity.

Deuteronomy 14 5 Word analysis

• The deer (אייל - ’ayyal):
  • Meaning: Stag, buck, or specifically the red deer.
  • Significance: A common, desirable game animal in the region, known for its agile nature. Its inclusion signifies that highly prized sources of meat were permissible, emphasizing that holiness did not preclude enjoyment of good things.
• the gazelle (צבי - tsevi):
  • Meaning: Gazelle, a small, swift, graceful antelope.
  • Significance: Another common, clean game animal. Its presence highlights the variety of animals explicitly approved by God. It may represent a specific sub-category of the clean horned and hoofed animals.
• the fallow deer (יחמור - yaḥmur):
  • Meaning: Though often translated as "fallow deer," the exact identification is debated among scholars. It could refer to a species of wild sheep or goat, possibly the roe deer.
  • Significance: This uncertainty demonstrates the ancient origin of these lists, with some animal names possibly having more general or regional meanings now lost. The underlying principle is the categorisation by physical characteristics, not precise zoological species as understood today.
• the wild goat (אקו - aqqo):
  • Meaning: Wild goat, possibly a specific type like the ibex, which is indigenous to mountainous regions of the Near East.
  • Significance: Indicates that certain agile, cliff-dwelling horned animals were considered clean. This again shows a detailed, specific categorisation of clean animals within the broader family of goats.
• the addax (דישון - dishôn):
  • Meaning: An antelope species, possibly the addax or oryx. It is a large, pale, desert antelope with long, spiral horns.
  • Significance: Its inclusion shows that desert-dwelling ruminants were also acceptable, indicating a comprehensive list of game animals available in varying habitats.
• the wild ox (תאו - te’ô):
  • Meaning: Wild ox, often interpreted as a large, wild bovine similar to a bison or aurochs, not the domestic ox already mentioned.
  • Significance: Points to larger game animals. This term emphasizes that diverse types of the larger bovine family were included if they met the clean animal criteria.
• and the chamois (זמר - zemer):
  • Meaning: Similar to "fallow deer," the identification is uncertain. It might refer to a mountain sheep like the mouflon, or another specific antelope. The modern European chamois is unlikely as it's not native to the region.
  • Significance: The continued presence of uncertain identifications suggests a focus on the type of animal (ruminant, cloven hoof) rather than precise, scientific nomenclature, common in ancient Near Eastern categorisation. The emphasis remains on specific criteria over exact modern species names.

Words-group analysis:

• The list of seven animals:
  • Significance: This specific list supplements the general criteria given in Deut 14:4 and Lev 11:3. It provides concrete examples for the Israelites, reducing ambiguity in their daily lives regarding permissible food. The detailed specification underscores the importance of obedience to divine command in even the seemingly mundane aspects of life. These are all terrestrial mammals that fit the criteria of chewing the cud and having a divided hoof (Deut 14:6), demonstrating consistency within the Law. These animals were typically available through hunting rather than domestication, highlighting God's provision not only through livestock but also through the wild bounty of the land.

Deuteronomy 14 5 Bonus section

• Holiness by distinction: The dietary laws, exemplified by this list, reinforced the concept of qadosh (holy), meaning "set apart." Israel's obedience in choosing clean animals was a daily, practical demonstration of their separated identity to God and from the surrounding cultures.
• God's Provision: This list emphasizes that God provides a rich variety of nutritious and desirable food for His people within the bounds of holiness. It highlights God's generosity and care, not merely His restrictions.
• Cultural Contrast: Ancient Near Eastern peoples often ate whatever was available, sometimes without strict dietary rules, or observed different ritual purity rules often connected to specific deities. Israel's distinct diet, rooted in God's specific commands, made them unique and served as a constant reminder of their covenant with Yahweh.
• Future fulfillment: The transition from these detailed dietary laws in the Old Testament to their spiritual fulfillment in the New Testament is a profound example of progressive revelation, demonstrating that God's ultimate desire is not merely outward conformity but inward transformation and unity in Christ, where the external barriers are transcended.

Deuteronomy 14 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:5 serves as an exemplary list of clean land animals, specifically wild game, reinforcing the dietary laws given to Israel. It functions as a clear guide for a people called to be distinct and holy. These specifications are not arbitrary; they reflect a divine design for separating Israel from the pagan nations, whose dietary practices were often intertwined with idolatry or considered common and defiling. By adherence to these detailed instructions, the Israelites tangibly demonstrated their allegiance to God and their unique covenant status.

Theological scholars often explain that while the dietary laws might have had secondary health or practical benefits (e.g., avoiding scavenging animals, reducing disease transmission), their primary purpose was symbolic and theological: to instill discipline, promote purity, and visually set Israel apart as "holy to the Lord" (Deut 14:2). These animals, which primarily included ruminants with cloven hooves, were symbolically associated with "chewing the cud" (meditating on God's word) and having "divided hooves" (walking uprightly, making distinct moral choices), though these are spiritual applications developed from the literal law.

In the New Testament, these ceremonial food laws are revealed to have served a temporary purpose. Through Christ's coming, symbolized in Peter's vision (Acts 10) and Jesus' teaching (Mark 7), all foods are declared clean. This signifies that the barrier between Jew and Gentile has been broken down, and the true distinctions are now internal and spiritual: between light and darkness, righteousness and unrighteousness, not external dietary regulations (Rom 14, 1 Tim 4). However, the principle of holiness, distinction, and walking in a manner pleasing to God, as subtly taught through these Old Covenant laws, remains eternally relevant for believers.