Original Word: חֲזִיר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chaziyr
Pronunciation: khaw-zeer'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaz-eer')
Definition: Pig, Swine
Meaning: a hog

boar, swine

From an unused root probably meaning to enclose; a hog (perhaps as penned) -- boar, swine.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
swine, boar
NASB Translation
boar (1), pig (2), swine's (4).

חֲזִיר noun masculine^{Psalm 80:14} swine, boar (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic חֲזִירָא, Arabic (Aramaic Loan-word according to Frä¹¹⁰, yet see Lag^{BN 113}); Ethiopic : (only once; = wild boar), see Hom^{NS 319 f.} 358, 385) — always stative absolute, 4 t. with article ׳הַח; —

1 swine, forbidden as food Leviticus 11:7 (P), Deuteronomy 14:8, compare ׳בְּשַׂר הַח Isaiah 65:4; Isaiah 66:17, and ׳דַּםחֿ Isaiah 66:3 as heathen offering (RS^{Semitic 1, 272, 325, 338, 392}); with implication of repul siveness ׳נֶזֶם זָהָב בְּאַף ח Proverbs 11:22 simile of fair woman with dubious character.

2 wild boar מִיָּ֑עַר ׳ח Psalm 80:14 figurative of foes of Israel (in figurative of vineyard).

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to enclose.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek term in the New Testament is ὗς (hus), Strong's Greek Number G5300. This term is used in similar contexts, such as in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:15-16), where the prodigal son finds himself feeding pigs, highlighting his fall from grace and the depth of his desperation. The use of pigs in this parable would have resonated with a Jewish audience familiar with the animal's unclean status.

Usage: The term חֲזִיר (chazir) is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a pig or swine, an animal considered unclean according to Levitical law.

Context: The Hebrew word חֲזִיר (chazir) appears in several passages within the Old Testament, primarily in contexts that highlight the animal's unclean status according to Jewish dietary laws. In Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8, the pig is explicitly listed among the animals that are not to be eaten by the Israelites because it does not chew the cud, despite having a split hoof. This prohibition underscores the broader Levitical emphasis on ritual purity and the distinctiveness of the Israelite community.

The pig is also used metaphorically in Proverbs 11:22, where it is written, "Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." This proverb uses the image of a pig to convey the incongruity and folly of external beauty without inner wisdom or virtue.

In Isaiah 65:4 and 66:3,17, the consumption of swine's flesh is associated with idolatrous practices and is condemned as an abomination. These passages reflect the broader prophetic critique of Israel's unfaithfulness and the call to return to covenantal obedience.

The pig's negative connotations are consistent throughout the biblical text, serving as a symbol of impurity and moral corruption. This reflects the cultural and religious context of ancient Israel, where dietary laws were integral to maintaining holiness and separation from surrounding nations.

הַ֠חֲזִיר הַחֲזִ֔יר החזיר חֲזִ֑יר חֲזִ֔יר חֲזִ֣יר חזיר chaZir ha·ḥă·zîr ḥă·zîr Hachazir haḥăzîr ḥăzîrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts