3180. yachmur
Lexical Summary
yachmur: Roebuck, Deer

Original Word: יַחְמוּר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: yachmuwr
Pronunciation: yahk-MOOR
Phonetic Spelling: (yakh-moor')
KJV: fallow deer
NASB: roebuck, roebucks
Word Origin: [from H2560 (חָמַר - To boil up)]

1. a kind of deer (from the color)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fallow deer

From chamar; a kind of deer (from the color; compare chamowr) -- fallow deer.

see HEBREW chamar

see HEBREW chamowr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chamar
Definition
a roebuck
NASB Translation
roebuck (1), roebucks (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יַחְמוּר noun [masculine] roebuck (Samaritan יחמור, Syriac ᵑ7 יַחְמוּרָא see HomNS 392 (and 339), LagBN 127; name from reddish colour ?) — edible Deuteronomy 14:5; 1 Kings 5:3; — on identification with roebuck, see TristrProc. Zool. Soc. London, May 2, 1876 ConderTent Work, 1887, p.91.

I. חמשׁ (√ of following; meaning unknown).

Topical Lexicon
Zoological Identification

Yachmur is commonly rendered “roe deer” or “fallow deer,” pointing to a graceful, medium-sized cervid native to the eastern Mediterranean. Modern zoologists often associate it with the Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica), once widespread in the woodlands and river valleys of ancient Israel. Characterized by a spotted coat, palmated antlers in the males, and an alert, elusive nature, the animal thrives on young shoots, leaves, acorns, and seasonal grasses. Its physiology meets the biblical criteria for a clean land animal—cloven hooves and rumination—explaining its inclusion among permissible foods.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Deuteronomy 14:5 enumerates seven kinds of wild game Israel was free to eat, listing the yachmur third: “the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep”.
2. In the record of Solomon’s daily provisions, 1 Kings 4:23 states that the royal kitchens received “ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep, plus deer, gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl”. The yachmur appears among the wild meats that testified to the wealth and stability of the kingdom.

Dietary Significance under Mosaic Law

By placing the roe deer on the “clean” list, the Lord affirmed that His people could enjoy the bounty of the land without compromising covenant holiness. The distinction between clean and unclean animals (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14) set Israel apart from neighboring nations and instructed the conscience in matters of obedience. Because the yachmur both chews the cud and has a divided hoof, it met the twofold criterion for land animals, prefiguring the necessity of a wholehearted, undivided walk before God (compare James 1:8).

Symbol of Covenant Blessing

The presence of yachmur on Solomon’s table illustrates how obedience and wisdom bring material plenty (1 Kings 4:20-21). Its inclusion in royal fare communicates the peace and security of Israel at the height of the United Monarchy, when even the wild game of the forests could be harvested without fear of enemy invasion or ecological collapse. Thus the animal serves as a living witness to Deuteronomy 28:11, where God promises to “abound in prosperity” those who keep His commandments.

Historical and Cultural Context

Archaeological records and ancient texts indicate that large herds of deer inhabited the Galilean highlands, the Carmel range, and the Jordan Valley in biblical times. Iconography from nearby Phoenicia and Assyria frequently depicts similar cervids as hunting trophies, royal gifts, and sacrificial offerings. Israel, however, did not exploit the animal as a religious symbol; rather, its use was practical—food for celebrations, tithes, and royal hospitality (compare Deuteronomy 12:15). This practical focus underscores Scripture’s balanced view of creation: nature is neither to be idolized nor abused, but stewarded under God’s mandate (Genesis 1:28-31).

Spiritual Reflections and Ministry Applications

• Provision: Yachmur reminds believers that the Lord equips His people with “everything required for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
• Moderation: Solomon’s consumption, though abundant, was regulated and recorded, suggesting accountability even amid prosperity. Churches and households today likewise model stewardship by transparent handling of resources.
• Beauty and Speed: The deer’s agility evokes the believer’s pursuit of God: “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He makes me tread upon the heights” (Habakkuk 3:19). While the verse employs a different Hebrew term, the imagery naturally extends to yachmur—swift, sure-footed, and free.
• Creation Care: As modern Israel works to reintroduce the Persian fallow deer after near extinction, ministries can highlight practical ways to preserve God’s handiwork while meeting human needs, reflecting the original balance of Deuteronomy 14.

Summary

Yachmur appears only twice, yet its presence enriches biblical theology by illustrating clean provision, covenant blessing, and responsible dominion. From the wilderness diet outlined by Moses to the opulent table of Solomon, the roe deer testifies that every good gift—whether in scarcity or abundance—“is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).

Forms and Transliterations
וְיַחְמ֑וּר וְיַחְמ֔וּר ויחמור veyachMur wə·yaḥ·mūr wəyaḥmūr
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Deuteronomy 14:5
HEB: אַיָּ֥ל וּצְבִ֖י וְיַחְמ֑וּר וְאַקּ֥וֹ וְדִישֹׁ֖ן
NAS: the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat,
KJV: and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat,
INT: the deer the gazelle the roebuck the wild the ibex

1 Kings 4:23
HEB: מֵֽאַיָּ֤ל וּצְבִי֙ וְיַחְמ֔וּר וּבַרְבֻּרִ֖ים אֲבוּסִֽים׃
NAS: gazelles, roebucks, and fattened
KJV: and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted
INT: deer gazelles roebucks fowl and fattened

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3180
2 Occurrences


wə·yaḥ·mūr — 2 Occ.

3179
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