The Hebrew word dîyshôn, represented by H1788, identifies a specific animal, the pygarg. The word's root suggests the idea of "the leaper," and it is often identified as a type of antelope. It appears 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible, making its context highly specific.
The sole appearance of H1788 is in Deuteronomy 14:5, where it is listed among the clean animals that the Israelites were permitted to eat. It is included in a list that specifies various types of deer and antelope: "The hart H354, and the roebuck H6643, and the fallow deer H3180, and the wild goat H689, and the pygarg H1788, and the wild ox H8377, and the chamois H2169" Deuteronomy 14:5. This verse places the pygarg firmly within the context of God's dietary laws for Israel.
The list in which dîyshôn appears contains several other named animals, providing a clear context of wild game permissible for food.
- H354 ʼayâl (hart): Defined as a stag or male deer, this animal is often used symbolically to represent agility or longing, as when the psalmist writes, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God" Psalms 42:1.
- H6643 tsᵉbîy (roebuck): This word for a gazelle also carries the meaning of "splendor" or "glory." It is used in both contexts, describing the animal itself Deuteronomy 14:5 and as a metaphor for beauty or glory, such as "a goodly heritage" Jeremiah 3:19.
- H8377 tᵉʼôw (wild ox): This term refers to a species of antelope. Beyond the dietary list, it is used in a simile to describe helplessness, where the sons of a desolate city "lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net" Isaiah 51:20.
While mentioned only once, the inclusion of H1788 carries theological weight within its specific context.
- Divine Command and Holiness: The listing of the pygarg is part of the dietary laws that established a code of conduct for Israel, distinguishing them as a people set apart for God Deuteronomy 14:5.
- Specificity of God's Law: By naming specific creatures like the pygarg, the law demonstrates a detailed divine order that extends to the natural world and everyday life.
- God's Provision: Including a variety of wild animals like the pygarg in the list of clean foods illustrates the breadth of God's provision for His people.
In summary, H1788 dîyshôn is a precise term for the pygarg, a type of antelope. Its singular mention in scripture places it squarely within the framework of Israel's dietary laws in Deuteronomy. While a minor detail, its inclusion highlights the specificity of God's commands, the distinction of His people, and His provision for their needs, showing how even a rarely mentioned creature has a distinct place in the biblical narrative.
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