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What does נמר quoted in this Passuk mean:

ירמיהו יג, כג: היהפוך כושי עורו ונמר חברבורותיו

I see it translated as a leopard e.g. in mishna avot 5.20 and in "What's the point of Jeremiah 13:18–27?"

Someone told me it is incorrect and it means tiger.

Ifs he is correct what is the source?

Alternatively could there be another explanation?

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  • The shape of the spots are not congruent with Tiger but more vith panther menumar in several mishna. Azut also suggested that namer is panther=leopard
    – kouty
    Nov 29, 2016 at 16:14
  • @kouty Panthera Includes in it leopard and tiger
    – hazoriz
    Nov 29, 2016 at 16:17
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    zootorah.com/assets/media/LeopardLayout.pdf has everything you need.
    – Double AA
    Nov 29, 2016 at 16:19
  • @hazoriz yes in terminology panthera includes also panthera Leo but in non latin language panther is leopard and perhaps particularly black panther
    – kouty
    Nov 29, 2016 at 16:38
  • @kouty but plack panther has not spots?
    – hazoriz
    Nov 29, 2016 at 16:38

2 Answers 2

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Rav Ovadia Bar Tenura Pirkei Avot, 5,20 explains that a נמר is a cross breed between a wild boar and a Lioness.

עז כנמר - הנמר הזה נולד מן חזיר היער והלביאה, כי בעת יחם האריות הלביאה מכנסת ראשה בסבכי היער ונוהמת ותובעת את הזכר, והחזיר שומע קולה ורובעה, ונמר יוצא מבין שניהן.

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  • Probably how they understood leopards in those days.
    – user15253
    Sep 20, 2018 at 8:11
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Sukkah 36a refers to a spotted etrog as "menumar", meaning spotted. That would indicate that a Nemer is probably a leopard, and that the popular translation is indeed spot-on.

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    Cheetahs have spots too.
    – Double AA
    Nov 29, 2016 at 16:21
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    @DoubleAA you're right, I just meant as opposed to a tiger
    – Jay
    Nov 29, 2016 at 16:22
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    You are indeed “spot-on.” I edited in the daf for you.
    – DonielF
    Sep 20, 2018 at 4:34

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