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פֶּדֶר

𐤐𐤃𐤓

peder

H6309 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Suet or the specific kind of hard, white fat found covering the internal organs (especially the kidneys and loins) of animals; in the biblical context, refers to the particular portions of fat deduced as belonging to deity during sacrificial rites, not general body fat. The term indicates a distinct anatomical component of sacrificial animals, ritually significant and reserved exclusively for offerings.

Semantic Range

hard fat, suet, visceral fat for sacrifice, specific fat to be burned on the altar

Root / Etymology

Root: uncertain; commonly compared to an unused root *פדר meaning 'to be greasy' or 'fatty,' but the root is unattested elsewhere in Hebrew. The noun פֶּדֶר appears to be a primary word, potentially related to the general Semitic lexical field for fat, yet remains isolated in biblical usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פֶּדֶר occurs sparingly in the Torah, specifically within legal and ritual texts about animal sacrifice (primarily Leviticus and Exodus). It designates the hard, visceral fat which, according to Israelite cultic practice, was to be burned entirely on the altar as an offering to YHWH, distinct from general flesh or other fats (חֵלֶב, chelev). The physical specificity of פדר is critical; it does not refer to all edible fat but to the unique, solid fat over the kidneys and loins, sometimes rendered 'suet' in translation. Later, rabbinic sources maintain this definition for ritual law. English 'fat' does not capture the anatomical nor ritual specificity; some translations use 'suet' or 'kidney fat' to clarify, though 'suet' may be unfamiliar to modern readers. It bears no direct ethnic or religious identity implications but reflects the technical sacrificial vocabulary of Israelite ritual. The term does not appear in narrative or prophetic literature, restricting its register to priestly legislation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to be greasy; suet; fat.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פדר (p-d-r) — greasiness, fattiness, hard fat

Root פדר to be greasy, to be fatty (hypothetical, as the root is not otherwise attested)

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6309-01 הַ/פָּ֑דֶר hapader HTd/Ncmsa fat the sacrificial suet the sacrificial suet 2
H6309-02 פִּדְר֑/וֹ pidero HNcmsc/Sp3ms its fat his sacrificial suet its suet 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6309-01 Leviticus 1:8 הַ/פָּ֑דֶר hapader HTd/Ncmsa fat the sacrificial suet the sacrificial suet
H6309-02 Leviticus 1:12 פִּדְר֑/וֹ pidero HNcmsc/Sp3ms its fat his sacrificial suet its suet
H6309-01 Leviticus 8:20 הַ/פָּֽדֶר hapader HTd/Ncmsa fat the sacrificial suet the sacrificial suet
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