Deuteronomy 14:5

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 14:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the chamois.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the chamois.
Deuteronomy 14:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the chamois.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The hart, the roebuck, and the fallow deer, etc.] All of the deer kind, and very agreeable food; harts were very common in the land of Canaan and parts adjacent; Aelianus says f135 harts are bred in the great mountains in Syria, Amanus, Lebanon, and Carmel: the roebuck, or “dorcas”, from whence a good woman had her name, (<440936>Acts 9:36) is spoken of by Martial f136 as very delicious food, and so are fallow deer; the word “jachmur”, here used, having the signification of redness in it, may be used for that sort which are called red deer: it is observed that in the Arabic language it is used for an animal with two horns, living in the woods, not unlike an hart, but swifter than that; and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“OF BEASTS. (Deu 14:4-8) The hart--(see on Deu 12:15). fallow deer--The Hebrew word (Jachmur) so rendered, does not represent the fallow deer, which is unknown in Western Asia, but an antelope (Oryx leucoryx), called by the Arabs, jazmar. It is of a white color, black at the extremities, and a bright red on the thighs. It was used at Solomon's table. wild goat--The word akko is different from that commonly used for a wild goat (Sa1 24:2; Psa 104:18; Pro 5:19), and it is supposed to be a goat-deer, having the body of a stag, but the head, horns, and beard of a goat. An animal of this sort is found in the East, and called Lerwee [SHAW, Travels]. pygarg--a species of antelope (Oryx addax) with…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Leviticus 11:0. The variations here, whether omissions or additions, are probably to be explained by the time and circumstances of the speaker. Deuteronomy 14:5 The “pygarg” is a species of gazelle, and the “wild ox” and “chamois” are swift types of antelope. Deuteronomy 14:21 The prohibition is repeated from Leviticus 22:8. The directions as to the disposal of the carcass are unique to Deuteronomy, and their motive is clear. To have forbidden the people either themselves to eat that which had died, or to allow any others to do so, would have involved loss of property, and consequent temptation to an infraction of the command. The permissions now for the first time granted would have…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the wild goat: The word akko, according to the LXX and Vulgate, signifies the tragelephus, or goat-deer; so called from its resemblance to both species. Dr. Shaw states that an animal of this kind is found in the East, where it is called fishtull, and lerwee. pygarg: or, bison. Heb. dishon. The pygarg, πυγαργος, or white-buttocks, according to the LXX; and Dr. Shaw states that the liamee, as the Africans call it, is exactly such an animal; being of the same shape and colour as the antelope, and of the size of a roebuck. the wild ox: Theo, probably the oryx of the Greeks, a species of large stag; and the Bekkar el wash of Dr. Shaw. Deu 14:5 Deuteronomy 14:6”
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Sources and verification