hart Summary and Overview

(Heb. 'ayal), a stag or male deer. It is ranked among the clean animals (Deut. 12:15; 14:5; 15:22), and was commonly killed for food (1 Kings 4:23). The hart is frequently alluded to in the poetical and prophetical books (Isa. 35:6; Cant. 2:8, 9; Lam. 1:6; Ps. 42:1).

the male stag. The word denotes some member of the deer tribe either the fallow deer or the Barbary deer. The hart is reckoned among the clean animals, #De 12:15; 14:5; 15:22| and seems from the passages quoted, as well as from #1Ki 4:23| to have been commonly killed for food.

HART , HIND, Ps 42:1. The former is the male stag, one of the most graceful and beautiful of all animals. It was clean by the Levitical law, Deut 12:15; Deut 14:5, and the grace and agility of its motions are alluded to in Song 2:9; Isa 35:6. The stag lolls or pants like the dog, and is soon exhausted by hunger. Jer 14:5; Lam 1:6. It is uncertain whether this word denotes the true fallow-deer, the red deer, or the Barbary deer, or whether it embraces all of them. These three species doubtless formerly lived in Palestine or adjoining districts. The fallow-deer alone is still seen, and that rarely, in the wooded districts of the country. The hind is the female stag. She is smaller and weaker than her mate, the hart, and has no horns. She is sure and swift of foot, and leaps fearlessly among the rocks and precipices. 2 Sam 22:34; Ps 18:33; Hab 3:19. The instinctive affection of the hart and hind is alluded to Prov 5:18-19, and Song 2:7; Song 3:5. The figurative prediction of Jacob respecting Naphtali, Gen 49:21, would be more appropriately rendered, "Naphtali is a deer roaming at large; he shooteth forth noble antlers." The antlers or horns indicate the strength and health of the stag, and the whole metaphor expresses the increase of the tribe and the fertility of their portion in Judaea. See Fallow-deer, Roe.

ayal. The male of the stag, Cervus Duma. Resorting to the mountains (Song of Solomon 8:14); sure-footed there (2 Samuel 22:34; Habakkuk 3:19). Monogamous and constant in affection (Proverbs 5:19). In Psalm 42:1 the verb is feminine; the hind therefore, not the hart, is meant; her weakness intensifies her thirst. The emblem of activity (Isaiah 35:6). So Naphtali is described by Jacob prophetically (Genesis 49:21), "a hind let loose." His active energy was shown against Jabin the Canaanite oppressor (Judges 4:6-9; Judges 5:18). The Targums say he first told Jacob that Joseph was yet alive; "he giveth goodly words." The Hebrew sheluchim, "the apostles," answers to shelucha "let loose." So the prophecy hints at what Isaiah (Isaiah 52:7) more clearly unfolds, "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings." Easily agitated (Song of Solomon 2:7; Song of Solomon 3:5), so that the hunter must advance on them with breathless caution if he would take them; an emblem of the resting (Zephaniah 3:17) but easily grieved Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 16:43; Matthew 18:7; Ephesians 4:30). The thunder so terrifies them that they prematurely bring forth (Psalm 29:9). The case of their parturition, through the instinct given them by God's care, stands in contrast to the shepherd's anxiety in numbering the months of the flock's pregnancy, and is an argument to convince Job (Job 39:1-3) of God's consummate wisdom; why then should he harbour for a moment the thought that God, who cares so providentially for the humblest creature, could be capable of harshness and injustice toward His noblest creature, man? The masculine ayal, Septuagint elafos, is the fallow deer (Dama commonis) or the Barbary deer (Cervus Barbarus) according to Appendix, Smith's Bible Dictionary Timid and fleet especially when seeking and not able to find pasture (Lamentations 1:6); emblem of Zion's captive princes at Babylon. Septuagint and Vulgate read eylim, "rams." Ajalon abounded in the ayal, whence it took its name. Aijeleth, "the hind," in the title Psalm 22 symbolizes one shot at by the archers and persecuted to death, namely, Messiah; as the persecutors are symbolized by "bulls," "lions," "dogs." The addition "of the morning" (shahar) implies prosperity dawning after suffering. The hind is emblematic of the grace, innocence, and loveliness (Song of Solomon 2:9) of the Antitype to Joseph (Genesis 49:23-24). The hind's sure footing in the rocks typifies the believer's preservation in high places and difficulties. The Arabs call a deer by a like name to the Hebrew, (iyal). The deer is represented on the slabs at Nineveh, and seems to have abounded anciently in Syria, though not there now.