The term "roebuck" appears in the context of biblical fauna, often associated with the broader category of deer. In the Bible, the roebuck is mentioned as part of the wildlife that inhabited the ancient Near East, particularly in the regions that the Israelites encountered and settled. The roebuck is noted for its grace and swiftness, characteristics that are often highlighted in biblical literature.

Biblical References:

The roebuck is mentioned in several passages in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 12:15 , the text states: "But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it, as they would a gazelle or deer." Here, the roebuck is included in the category of clean animals that the Israelites were permitted to eat, alongside the gazelle and other deer-like creatures.

Similarly, in Deuteronomy 14:5 , the roebuck is listed among the animals that are considered clean: "the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep." This passage underscores the roebuck's status as a permissible source of food under the dietary laws given to the Israelites.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the roebuck was not only valued for its meat but also admired for its beauty and agility. These attributes made it a symbol of grace and elegance. The roebuck's ability to move swiftly and gracefully through the rugged terrain of the region may have contributed to its symbolic representation in biblical literature.

The Song of Solomon, a poetic book of the Bible, uses imagery of the roebuck to convey themes of love and beauty. In Song of Solomon 2:9 , the beloved is compared to a gazelle or a young stag, highlighting the admired qualities of these animals: "My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice."

Natural Habitat and Characteristics:

The roebuck, or roe deer, is native to Europe and parts of Asia, including the regions surrounding the biblical lands. It is a small to medium-sized deer, known for its reddish-brown coat in the summer and a greyish coat in the winter. The male roebuck is distinguished by its antlers, which are shed and regrown annually.

In biblical times, the roebuck would have been found in the forests and open fields of the Levant, thriving in the diverse landscapes that provided ample food and cover. Its presence in the biblical narrative reflects the rich biodiversity of the region and the importance of wildlife in the daily lives and spiritual symbolism of the ancient Israelites.

Conclusion:

The roebuck, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a reminder of the beauty and diversity of God's creation. Its inclusion in the dietary laws and poetic imagery of Scripture highlights its significance in the cultural and religious life of the Israelites. Through its graceful presence, the roebuck continues to inspire admiration and reflection on the natural world as a testament to divine craftsmanship.(n.) A small European and Asiatic deer (Capreolus capraea) having erect, cylindrical, branched antlers, forked at the summit. This, the smallest European deer, is very nimble and graceful. It always prefers a mountainous country, or high grounds.ROE; ROEBUCK

ro, ro'-buk: the King James Version has "roe" and "roebuck" for tsehi, tsebhiyah. the Revised Version (British and American) usually substitutes "gazelle" in the text (Deuteronomy 12:15, etc.) or margin (Proverbs 6:5, etc.), but retains "roe" in 2 Samuel 2:18 1 Chronicles 12:8; Songs 3:5; Songs 7:3. So the Revised Version (British and American) has "gazelle" for the King James Version "roe" in Sirach 27:20 (dorkas). the Revised Version (British and American) has "roe-buck" for yachmur (Deuteronomy 14:5 1 Kings 4:23), where the King James Version has "fallow deer." In the opinion of the writer, 'ayyal English Versions of the Bible "hart," should be translated "roe-buck," yachmur "fallow deer," and tsebhi "gazelle."

See DEER; GAZELLE.

Alfred Ely Day

3180. yachmur -- a roebuck
... 3179, 3180. yachmur. 3181 . a roebuck. Transliteration: yachmur Phonetic
Spelling: (yakh-moor') Short Definition: roebuck. Word ...
/hebrew/3180.htm - 6k

6643. tsbiy -- beauty, honor
... tsbiy. 6643a . beauty, honor. Transliteration: tsbiy Phonetic Spelling:
(tseb-ee') Short Definition: beautiful. beautifulty, glorious, goodly, pleasant, ...
/hebrew/6643.htm - 5k

Roebuck (5 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ROE; ROEBUCK. ro, ro'-buk: the King James Version
has "roe" and "roebuck" for tsehi, tsebhiyah. ...Roebuck (5 Occurrences). ...
/r/roebuck.htm - 9k

Roe (21 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A roebuck. See Roebuck. ... ROE; ROEBUCK. ro,
ro'-buk: the King James Version has "roe" and "roebuck" for tsehi, tsebhiyah. ...
/r/roe.htm - 15k

Deer (15 Occurrences)
... In both places the King James Version has "fallow deer" and the Revised Version
(British and American) "roebuck." In view of the fact that the roe deer has ...
/d/deer.htm - 17k

Gazelle (12 Occurrences)
... does not occur in the King James Version, where tsebhi and tsebhiyah, in the 16
passages where they occur, are uniformly translated "roe" or "roebuck." In the ...
/g/gazelle.htm - 13k

Fallow-deer (2 Occurrences)
... A species of deer has been found at Mount Carmel which is called yahmur by
the Arabs. It is said to be similar to the European roebuck. ...
/f/fallow-deer.htm - 7k

Antelope (2 Occurrences)
... Tsebhi in the list of clean animals in Deuteronomy 14:5 (the King James Version
"roebuck"; the Revised Version (British and American) "gazelle") is quite ...
/a/antelope.htm - 11k

Lusteth (6 Occurrences)
... lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given
thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of ...
/l/lusteth.htm - 8k

Girl (71 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A female child, from birth to the age of puberty; a young maiden. 3. (n.)
A female servant; a maidservant. 4. (n.) A roebuck two years old. Int. ...
/g/girl.htm - 28k

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

Roebuck: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus