Lexical Summary aqqo: Acco Original Word: אַקּוֹ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wild goat Probably from 'anaq; slender, i.e. The ibex -- wild goat. see HEBREW 'anaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition perhaps a wild goat NASB Translation wild goat (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַקּוֺ noun masculine wild goat (?) only Deuteronomy 14:5 in list of clean animals וָזָ֑מֶר אַיָּל וּצְבִי וְיַחְמוּר וְאַקּוֺ וְדִישׁוֺן וּתְאוֺ (ᵐ5 ὄρυξ, ᵑ6 ᵑ7 ibex; compare BoHieroz. i. 900 f., Thes below אנק compare MV, with reference to Arabic  goat; Thes compare also Talmud אִיקָא, but NHWB MV refer this to αἴξ). אֹר see אוֺר, for Amos Deuteronomy 8:8 see יְאֹר. Topical Lexicon Canonical Occurrence and Context The single appearance of אַקּוֹ occurs in the list of land animals declared clean for Israel’s diet (Deuteronomy 14:5). In that passage Moses, reiterating the dietary code, says Israel may eat “the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep” (Berean Standard Bible). By including the אַקּוֹ among clean animals, Scripture affirms both the creature’s physical suitability for consumption—split hoof and rumination—and the covenantal demand that Israel practice discernment even in everyday eating. Identification and Natural History Most modern translators render אַקּוֹ as “wild goat,” often identified with the Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) or a closely related caprid inhabiting the limestone cliffs and wadis of the Negev, Edom, and the Judean Wilderness. Agile and sure-footed, these animals retreat to high, inaccessible crags (compare the imagery of Habakkuk 3:19). Their presence in Deuteronomy’s list reflects the fauna Israel encountered from the Sinai journey to Canaan. Older English versions (e.g., King James Version) adopted “pygarg,” following the Septuagint’s designation of a white-rumped antelope; yet archaeological and zoological data from the Levant favor the ibex-type identification. Historical Reception and Translation Early Jewish tradition accepted אַקּוֹ as a species distinct from the domestic goat, but consistently grouped it with caprids on anatomical grounds. The Septuagint translators (third–second centuries BC) opted for πυγάργος, a term occasionally used in classical Greek for an antelope of North Africa, underscoring the difficulty of matching ancient Hebrew zoology to Hellenistic categories. Church Fathers such as Jerome retained the LXX rendering in the Vulgate (“pygargus”), influencing medieval exegesis. Modern scholarship, aided by Near-Eastern zoology, has largely converged on “wild goat/ibex,” bringing translation practice back into alignment with the animal most familiar to Israelites traversing arid highlands. Theological and Symbolic Importance 1. Covenant Obedience: The inclusion of אַקּוֹ in the clean list reinforces the principle that holiness permeates ordinary life. Israel’s menu was not determined by human preference but by divine decree, teaching that covenant faithfulness extends to seemingly mundane choices (Deuteronomy 14:2). Practical Application for Ministry • Teaching on Holiness: Deuteronomy 14 provides a framework for discussing how believers today distinguish themselves through obedience in everyday decisions—dietary or otherwise—rooted in gratitude rather than legalism (1 Corinthians 10:31). Related Biblical Motifs • Distinction Between Wild and Domestic Goats (Leviticus 16:5–10; Proverbs 27:27) Summary Though mentioned only once, אַקּוֹ enriches the biblical narrative by situating Israel’s dietary code firmly within the land’s ecological reality and by offering enduring lessons on covenant obedience, divine provision, and the Creator’s meticulous care for all His works. Forms and Transliterations וְאַקּ֥וֹ ואקו veakKo wə’aqqōw wə·’aq·qōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 14:5 HEB: וּצְבִ֖י וְיַחְמ֑וּר וְאַקּ֥וֹ וְדִישֹׁ֖ן וּתְא֥וֹ NAS: the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, KJV: and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, INT: the gazelle the roebuck the wild the ibex the antelope 1 Occurrence |
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