from נָשַׁם; properly, a hard breather, i.e. the name of two unclean creatures, a lizard and abird (both perhaps from changing color through their irascibility), probably the tree-toad and the water-hen; mole, swan.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tanshemeth**, represented by `{{H8580}}`, is defined as "properly, a hard breather". It is used as the name for two distinct unclean creatures, one a lizard and the other a bird, with translations including the **mole** and the **swan**. The word appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H8580}}` appears exclusively in lists of unclean animals as outlined in the Mosaic Law. In one context, it is categorized among unclean creeping things, translated as the **mole** [[Leviticus 11:30]]. In two other instances, it is listed among unclean birds, where it is translated as the **swan** ([[Leviticus 11:18]], [[Deuteronomy 14:16]]). This dual usage highlights the ambiguity of the term, applying it to both a ground-dwelling creature and a bird.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear alongside `{{H8580}}` in these lists of unclean animals, helping to establish its context:
* `{{H6893}}` **qâʼath**: Defined as "probably the pelican (from vomiting)," this unclean bird is listed directly alongside `{{H8580}}` in the list of forbidden fowl [[Leviticus 11:18]].
* `{{H3244}}` **yanshûwph**: Meaning "an unclean (acquatic) bird; probably the heron... (great) owl," this word appears with `{{H8580}}` in the list of unclean birds in [[Deuteronomy 14:16]].
* `{{H3581}}` **kôach**: While this word can mean power or strength, in its zoological context it refers to "a large lizard." It is listed with `{{H8580}}` as an unclean creeping thing [[Leviticus 11:30]].
* `{{H3911}}` **lᵉṭâʼâh**: This word, meaning "a kind of lizard (from its covert habits)," is found in the same list of unclean creatures as the **mole** translation of `{{H8580}}` [[Leviticus 11:30]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8580}}` is tied directly to its function within biblical law.
* **Defining Ritual Purity:** The inclusion of `{{H8580}}` in the lists of unclean animals is its sole theological function. It serves as a concrete example of what the Israelites were to avoid to maintain ritual purity before God ([[Leviticus 11:18]], [[Leviticus 11:30]]).
* **Comprehensive Scope of the Law:** By being identified as both a bird (**swan**) and a creeping thing (**mole**), `{{H8580}}` illustrates the all-encompassing nature of God's dietary laws, which set boundaries for creatures in the sky and on the earth ([[Deuteronomy 14:16]], [[Leviticus 11:30]]).
* **Marker of Separation:** The classification of **tanshemeth** as unclean contributes to the broader biblical theme of separation—distinguishing Israel as a holy people set apart from other nations through obedience to God's specific commands.
### Summary
In conclusion, **tanshemeth** `{{H8580}}` is a specific term whose precise zoological identity is uncertain, referring to both a bird (**swan**) and a ground creature (**mole**). Its significance in scripture is not found in the creature itself, but in its consistent use as an example within the legal framework of clean and unclean animals. The word functions as a marker of what is forbidden, thereby helping to define the boundaries of holiness and obedience for the people of Israel as laid out in the law.
TRV