Hock
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Hock in the Bible?
The hock is the tarsal joint located in the hind leg of quadrupeds, serving as a key anatomical reference in ancient livestock management and biblical descriptions of animal injury and sacrifice.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the hock as a specific anatomical structure clarifies the severity of injuries described in biblical narratives and explains the physical criteria for selecting unblemished animals for ritual sacrifice under Levitical law.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Hock. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Hock in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Hock clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Hock." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/hock/