The chamois is a type of mountain goat-antelope native to the mountainous regions of Europe, including the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians. In the context of the Bible, the term "chamois" appears in some English translations, though its identification with the modern chamois is debated among scholars.

Biblical Reference:

The chamois is mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:5 as part of the list of clean animals that the Israelites were permitted to eat. The Berean Standard Bible translates this verse as follows:

"the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep."

In this context, the term "chamois" is often associated with the Hebrew word "zemer," which is translated in various ways across different Bible versions. Some translations use "chamois," while others opt for "mountain sheep" or "wild goat." The exact identification of the "zemer" remains uncertain, but it is generally understood to refer to a type of clean, hoofed animal that was familiar to the ancient Israelites.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The inclusion of the chamois or "zemer" in the list of clean animals highlights the dietary laws given to the Israelites, which were intended to set them apart as a holy people. These laws, found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, provided guidelines for distinguishing between clean and unclean animals, reflecting both health considerations and spiritual symbolism.

The chamois, as a mountain-dwelling creature, would have been known for its agility and sure-footedness, traits that are often admired in biblical literature. The mountainous regions of the Near East, such as the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges, would have been home to various species of wild goats and similar animals, making the chamois a plausible candidate for the "zemer."

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the dietary laws, including the classification of animals like the chamois, served to remind the Israelites of their covenant relationship with God. By adhering to these laws, the Israelites demonstrated their obedience and commitment to living according to God's standards. The clean animals, including the chamois, symbolized purity and holiness, qualities that were to be emulated by God's people.

In summary, while the exact identification of the "zemer" as the chamois remains uncertain, its inclusion in the biblical text underscores the importance of the dietary laws in the life of ancient Israel. These laws not only provided practical guidelines for health and nutrition but also reinforced the spiritual identity and distinctiveness of the Israelite community.Chamois

(pronounced often shame), the translation of the Hebrew zemer in (14:5) But the translation is incorrect; for there is no evidence that the chamois have ever been seen in Palestine or the Lebanon. It is probable that some mountain sheep is intended.

Chamois

Not the well-known mountain goat of southern Europe, but probably a variety of wild sheep, resembling a goat, and still found in Arabia Petraea, De 14:5.

Only in Deuteronomy 14:5 (Hebrews zemer), an animal of the deer or gazelle species. It bears this Hebrew name from its leaping or springing. The animal intended is probably the wild sheep (Ovis tragelephus), which is still found in Sinai and in the broken ridges of Stony Arabia. The LXX. and Vulgate render the word by camelopardus, i.e., the giraffe; but this is an animal of Central Africa, and is not at all known in Syria. 1. (n.) A small species of antelope (Rupicapra tragus), living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It possesses remarkable agility, and is a favorite object of chase.

2. (n.) A soft leather made from the skin of the chamois, or from sheepskin, etc.; -- called also chamois leather, and chammy or shammy leather. See Shammy.

CHAMOIS

sham'-i, sha-mwa', sha-moi' (zemer; kamelopdrdalis): Occurs only once in the Bible, i.e. in the list of clean animals in Deuteronomy 14:5. Gesenius refers to the verb zamar, "to sing," and suggests the association of dancing or leaping, indicating thereby an active animal. M'Lean in Encyclopedia Biblica cites the rendering of the Targums dica', or "wild goat." Now there are two wild goats in Palestine. The better known is the ibex of the South, which may well be the ya`el (English Versions, "wild goat"; Job 39:1 Psalm 104:18 1 Samuel 24:2), as well as the 'aqqo (English Version, "wild goat," Deuteronomy 14:5). The other is the pasang or Persian wild goat which ranges from the Northeast of Palestine and the Syrian desert to Persia, and which may be the zemer (English Versions "chamois"). The accompanying illustration, which is taken from the Royal Natural History, shows the male and female and young. The male is distinguished by its larger horns and goatee. The horns are in size and curvature very similar to those of the ibex (see GOAT, section 2), but the front edge is like a nicked blade instead of being thick and knotty as in the ibex. Like the ibex it is at home among the rocks, and climbs apparently impossible cliffs with marvelous ease.

Tristram (NHB) who is followed by Post (HDB) suggests that zemer may be the Barbary sheep (Ovis tragelaphus), though the latter is only known to inhabit the Atlas Mountains, from the Atlantic to Tunis. Tristram supports his view by reference to a kebsh ("ram") which the Arabs say lives in the mountains of Sinai, though they have apparently neither horns nor skins to show as trophies, and it is admitted that no European has seen it. The true chamois (Rupicapra tragus) inhabits the high mountains from t he Pyrenees to the Caucasus, and there is no reason to suppose that it was ever found in Syria or Palestine.

Alfred Ely Day

2169. zemer -- perhaps a mountain sheep or goat
... chamois. Apparently from zamar or zamar; a gazelle (from its lightly touching the
ground) -- chamois. see HEBREW zamar. see HEBREW zamar. 2168, 2169. ...
/hebrew/2169.htm - 6k

February the Ninth the Rock and the Bowing Wall
... complete. And the second symbol is this: "He is my high place." The high
place is the home of the chamois, out of reach of the arrow. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/february the ninth the rock.htm

Fear and Faith
... There is a traveller groping along some narrow broken path, where the chamois
would tread cautiously, his guide in front of him. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/fear and faith.htm

Lessons from Nature
... birds are singing; in the tall sombre pine, the silent storks are building their
nests; on the lofty crags, virgin as yet to human foot, the chamois leaps from ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/lessons from nature.htm

The Evolution of a Father
... wild Yak in Tibet in September; the reindeer in Norway at the end of September;
the badger in October; the Capra pyrenaica in November; the chamois, the musk ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter ix the evolution of.htm

Faith Tested and Crowned
... to bring us up to inaccessible cliffs, we may be sure that when we get there we
shall find some ledge, though it may be no broader than a chamois could tread ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/faith tested and crowned.htm

Faith Illustrated
... "In my early days have I climbed it with my father. O'er each of these crags have
I leaped in pursuit of the chamois; I know every chasm and cavern. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/faith illustrated.htm

Striking Similes
... bloom. The guides sniffed, like chamois, the air [chamois = extremely agile
goat antelope]. The heavens are like a scroll unfurled. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section viii striking similes.htm

Chamois (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A soft leather made from the skin of the chamois, or from sheepskin, etc.; --
called also chamois leather, and chammy or shammy leather. ...CHAMOIS. ...
/c/chamois.htm - 9k

Zoology
... Behemoth) (c) Ruminants: (1) Bovidae, Domestic Cattle, Wild Ox or Unicorn, Sinaitic
Ibex (sv GOAT), Persian Wild Goat (sv CHAMOIS), Gazelle, Arabian Oryx (sv ...
/z/zoology.htm - 18k

Deer (15 Occurrences)
... and 'ayyeleth (compare Arabic, 'ayyal and 'iyal, "deer" and 'ayil, "ram," and Latin
caper and capra, "goat," caprea, capreolus, "wild goat," "chamois," or "roe ...
/d/deer.htm - 17k

Chameleon (1 Occurrence)

/c/chameleon.htm - 11k

Champaign (1 Occurrence)

/c/champaign.htm - 10k

Goat (92 Occurrences)
... doe"; 'aqqo (Deuteronomy 14:5), English Versions of the Bible "wild goat"; and zemer
(Deuteronomy 14:5), English Versions of the Bible "chamois." 2. Wild Goats ...
/g/goat.htm - 48k

Gems (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The chamois. Multi-Version Concordance Gems
(5 Occurrences). Exodus 25:7 onyx stones, and stones to ...
/g/gems.htm - 7k

Gazelle (12 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 14:5 the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild
goat, and the ibex, and the antelope, and the chamois. ...
/g/gazelle.htm - 13k

Wild-goat (1 Occurrence)
... Wild-goat (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 14:5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the
fallow-deer, and the wild-goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. ...
/w/wild-goat.htm - 6k

Ibex (1 Occurrence)
... Ibex (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 14:5 the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck,
and the wild goat, and the ibex, and the antelope, and the chamois. ...
/i/ibex.htm - 6k

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