Cheetahs in the Hebrew Bible? A lexical-linguistic note on נָמֵר in Habakkuk 1:8

The Hebrew Bible uses several times the word נָמֵר (namēr). Usually, it is translated ‘leopard’ but in Habakkuk 1:8, where the speed of the animal is underlined, the meaning ‘cheetah’ seems appropriate. Whereas several dictionaries and commentaries mention this option, a proper substantiation has been lacking so far. This article examines the exegesis of Habakuk 1:8 and the meaning of נָמֵר through lexicography, zooarchaeology, iconography, and ethnoarchaeology. This corroborates the meaning of ‘cheetah’ in Habakuk 1:8 and leads to the conclusion that נָמֵר is a ‘generic term', encompassing the semantic domain of both the leopard and the cheetah (but not the lion).