חֲזִיר

# The Hebrew Word for Swine (חֲזִיר) The Hebrew term *chazir* denotes swine—domesticated pigs. This straightforward zoological designation appears seven times throughout the biblical text, indicating that while pigs were present in the ancient Levantine world, they were not a frequent focus of biblical discourse. The word functions as a simple categorical noun identifying a specific animal species without inherent moral judgment embedded in the word itself. The limited occurrence of *chazir* in Scripture reflects its cultural and dietary significance within ancient Israel. Given the religious dietary laws that governed Israelite practice, the relative rarity of explicit mentions suggests that swine held a marginal place in the community's everyday vocabulary and concerns—they were acknowledged as animals that existed, but not central to Hebrew literary or legal traditions in the way that sheep, cattle, or goats were. The word's straightforward definition and sparse distribution indicate it served primarily a referential function when biblical authors needed to identify or discuss this particular animal.