χοῖρος G5519
choiros -- swine, pig; an unclean animal under Mosaic law, associated with impurity and Gentile life
The noun choiros ('swine, pig') designates the domesticated pig, an animal classified as ritually unclean under the Levitical food laws (Lev 11:7). In the New Testament every occurrence carries overtones of impurity, degradation, or the Gentile world. The Gadarene demoniacs episode, where Jesus sends demons into a herd of swine that rush into the sea (Matt 8:30-32; Mark 5:11-13; Luke 8:32-33), dramatizes the transfer of uncleanness from possessed persons to ritually unclean animals. The prodigal son's nadir is feeding pigs (Luke 15:15-16), the lowest conceivable occupation for a Jewish youth. Jesus' proverb 'do not cast your pearls before swine' (Matt 7:6) uses choiros as a figure for those who cannot appreciate what is holy.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A pig or swine -- an animal ritually unclean under Mosaic law. Used in the Gadarene demoniac episode (Matt 8:30-32; Mark 5:11-13; Luke 8:32-33), the prodigal son's degradation (Luke 15:15-16), and the proverb about pearls before swine (Matt 7:6). Spanish cerdos, French porc, and German Schwein uniformly render a single sense of the unclean domestic animal. 12×
AR["الخَنازيرِ", "الخَنَازِيرُ", "خَنازيرَ", "خَنازيرِ", "خَنَازِيرَ"]·ben["শূকরদের", "শূকররা", "শূকরের"]·DE["Schwein"]·EN["of-pigs", "pigs"]·FR["porc"]·heb["חֲזִירִים"]·HI["के", "बड़ा", "सुअरों-की", "सुअरों-के", "सुअरों-में", "सूअर", "सूअरों", "सूअरों-का", "सूअरों।"]·ID["babi", "itu"]·IT["maiale"]·jav["babi", "babi,", "babi.", "babi;"]·KO["돼지들", "돼지들,", "돼지들-의", "돼지들.", "돼지들의", "돼지들이", "돼지를"]·PT["de-porcos", "porcos", "porcos,", "porcos."]·RU["свиней", "свиньи", "свиньями", "свиньях"]·ES["cerdos", "de-cerdos"]·SW["la-nguruwe", "nguruwe", "nguruwe,", "nguruwe.", "nguruwe;"]·TR["domuzlar", "domuzlara", "domuzlara,", "domuzların", "domuzların."]·urd["سور", "سوروں", "سوروں-کا", "سوروں-کے", "سُوروں", "سُوروں-کا"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
χοῖρος, ὁ (ἡ Refs 6th c.BC+:— young pig, porker (younger than δέλφαξ, Refs 8th c.BC+; offered as one of the smaller sacrifices, Refs 5th c.BC+ __b generally, ={ὗς},{σῦς}, swine, ἤδη δέλφακες, χοῖροι δὲ τοῖσιν ἄλλοις NT+5th c.BC+ __2 pudenda muliebria, frequently in Comedy texts poets, who are always punning on the word and its compounds, Refs 5th c.BC+ {χοιρόσακον}, etc.; said to be a Corinthian…