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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Leviticus 11:16 the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/11-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/03_Lev_11_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 11:16 - Clean and Unclean Animals" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk," /><script type="application/javascript" 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border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/leviticus/11-15.htm" title="Leviticus 11:15">◄</a> Leviticus 11:16 <a href="/leviticus/11-17.htm" title="Leviticus 11:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/leviticus/11.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/leviticus/11.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/11.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the seagull, hawks of all kinds,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/11.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/11.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/11.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, and the hawk in its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/11.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />and the ostrich and the owl and the sea gull and the hawk in its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />and the ostrich and the owl and the sea gull and the hawk in its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />and the ostrich and the owl and the gull and the hawk in its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, every species of hawk,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />ostriches, short-eared owls, gulls, any kind of hawk,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/11.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/11.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and the ostrich, and the night hawk, and the seamew, and the hawk after its kind;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />ostriches, nighthawks, seagulls, all types of falcons,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/11.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />ostrich, nighthawk, seagull, hawks of every kind, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/11.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the long-eared owl, the hawk of any kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />the horned owl, the screech owl, and the gull, any kind of hawk,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the owl, and the night-hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/11.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and the ostrich, and the nightjar [[or male ostrich]], and the seagull, and the hawk after its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and the owl, and the night-hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the daughter of the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the seagull, and the hawk according to its kind;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The ostrich, and the owl, and the larus, and the hawk according to its kind. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />the ostrich, and the owl, and the gull, and the hawk, according to its kind,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/11.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />the eagle owl, the kestrel, the long-eared owl, the various species of hawks,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the little owl and the pelican, the great owl, the cuckoo, and the hawk after its kind;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/11.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the little owl, the heron and the crow,<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/11.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kinds;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/11.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and every raven, and the birds like it, and the hawk and his like,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/11-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=2510" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/11.htm">Clean and Unclean Animals</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">15</span>any kind of raven, <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’êṯ (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: baṯ (N-fsc) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3284.htm" title="3284: hay·ya·‘ă·nāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Perhaps greed. Feminine of ya'en, and meaning the same.">the ostrich,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8464.htm" title="8464: hat·taḥ·mās (Art:: N-ms) -- Male ostrich. From chamac; a species of unclean bird, perhaps an owl.">the screech owl,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7828.htm" title="7828: haš·šā·ḥap̄ (Art:: N-ms) -- A sea mew, gull. From an unused root meaning to peel, i.e. Emaciate; the gull.">the gull,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4327.htm" title="4327: lə·mî·nê·hū (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Kind, species. From an unused root meaning to portion out; a sort, i.e. Species.">any kind</a> <a href="/hebrew/5322.htm" title="5322: han·nêṣ (Art:: N-ms) -- A flower, a hawk. From natsats; a flower; also a hawk.">of hawk,</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Deuteronomy 14:15</a></span><br />the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/34-11.htm">Isaiah 34:11</a></span><br />The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/30-29.htm">Job 30:29</a></span><br />I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of ostriches.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/50-39.htm">Jeremiah 50:39</a></span><br />So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there and ostriches will dwell there. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-21.htm">Isaiah 13:21</a></span><br />But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/43-20.htm">Isaiah 43:20</a></span><br />The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/2-14.htm">Zephaniah 2:14</a></span><br />Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/102-6.htm">Psalm 102:6</a></span><br />I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/14-23.htm">Isaiah 14:23</a></span><br />“I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/1-8.htm">Micah 1:8</a></span><br />Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a></span><br />O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/13-34.htm">Luke 13:34</a></span><br />O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-2.htm">Revelation 18:2</a></span><br />And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-24.htm">Luke 12:24</a></span><br />Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Deuteronomy 14:15-18</a></b></br> And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/102-6.htm">Psalm 102:6</a></b></br> I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/13-21.htm">Isaiah 13:21,22</a></b></br> But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/11-15.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Cuckoo</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Cuckow</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-6.htm">Female</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Gull</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-11.htm">Hawk</a> <a href="/genesis/49-17.htm">Horned</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-15.htm">Kind</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-15.htm">Kinds</a> <a href="/leviticus/9-4.htm">Male</a> <a href="/leviticus/8-35.htm">Night</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Nighthawk</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Night-Hawk</a> <a href="/micah/1-8.htm">Ostrich</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-15.htm">Owl</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-14.htm">Screech</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-10.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Sea-Hawk</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Sea-Mew</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-15.htm">Sort</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/11-19.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Cuckoo</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Cuckow</a> <a href="/leviticus/12-5.htm">Female</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Gull</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Hawk</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-18.htm">Horned</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-19.htm">Kind</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-19.htm">Kinds</a> <a href="/leviticus/12-2.htm">Male</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-13.htm">Night</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Nighthawk</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Night-Hawk</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Ostrich</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-17.htm">Owl</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Screech</a> <a href="/numbers/4-6.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Sea-Hawk</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-15.htm">Sea-Mew</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-19.htm">Sort</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 11</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/11-1.htm">What animals may be eaten</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/11-4.htm">and what may not be eaten</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/11-9.htm">What fishes</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/11-13.htm">What fowls</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/11-29.htm">The creeping things which are unclean</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/11.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/11.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>the ostrich</b><br>The ostrich is a large, flightless bird native to Africa and parts of the Middle East. In biblical times, it was known for its speed and size. The ostrich is mentioned in several other scriptures, such as <a href="/job/39-13.htm">Job 39:13-18</a>, where its lack of wisdom is highlighted despite its impressive physical attributes. The ostrich's inclusion in the list of unclean birds may symbolize the importance of discernment and wisdom, as it is often associated with neglecting its young, contrasting with the care God shows for His creation.<p><b>the screech owl</b><br>The screech owl, often translated from the Hebrew word "tachmas," is a nocturnal bird known for its eerie calls. In ancient cultures, owls were often associated with desolation and ruin, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/34-11.htm">Isaiah 34:11</a> and <a href="/jeremiah/50-39.htm">Jeremiah 50:39</a>, where they inhabit desolate places. The screech owl's presence in the list of unclean animals may reflect its association with darkness and desolation, serving as a reminder of the spiritual desolation that comes from turning away from God's light.<p><b>the gull</b><br>The gull, a seabird commonly found along coastlines, is known for its scavenging behavior. In biblical times, gulls would have been familiar to those living near the Mediterranean Sea. Their inclusion as unclean may be due to their diet, which often includes carrion and refuse, symbolizing impurity and the need for spiritual cleanliness. This reflects the broader biblical theme of distinguishing between clean and unclean, as seen in <a href="/acts/10-14.htm">Acts 10:14-15</a>, where Peter learns that God has made all things clean through Christ.<p><b>any kind of hawk</b><br>Hawks are birds of prey known for their keen eyesight and hunting prowess. In the ancient Near East, they were admired for their strength and agility. However, their predatory nature and diet of other animals made them unclean according to Levitical law. This distinction emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance and purity, as hawks symbolize the need to be watchful and discerning, akin to the call in <a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a> to be alert against spiritual adversaries.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people to whom the laws in Leviticus were given, as part of their covenant relationship with God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness.htm">The Wilderness</a></b><br>The setting where the Israelites received the law, during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/clean_and_unclean_animals.htm">Clean and Unclean Animals</a></b><br>The broader context of <a href="/bsb/leviticus/11.htm">Leviticus 11</a>, which outlines dietary laws distinguishing between clean and unclean animals.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_promised_land.htm">The Promised Land</a></b><br>The ultimate destination of the Israelites, where they were to live as a holy nation, set apart by God's laws.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_holiness.htm">Understanding Holiness</a></b><br>The dietary laws, including the list of unclean birds, were given to teach the Israelites about holiness and being set apart for God. As Christians, we are called to live holy lives, distinct from the world.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_unclean_animals.htm">Symbolism of Unclean Animals</a></b><br>The unclean birds, such as the owl and the gull, often symbolize desolation and scavenging. This can remind us to avoid spiritual desolation and to seek purity in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/fulfillment_in_christ.htm">Fulfillment in Christ</a></b><br>While the dietary laws were specific to the Israelites, they point to a greater spiritual truth fulfilled in Christ. In Him, we find true cleanliness and holiness, transcending the old covenant's restrictions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_daily_life.htm">Discernment in Daily Life</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites had to discern between clean and unclean, Christians are called to discern what is spiritually beneficial and what is not, in our daily choices and actions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_identity.htm">Community and Identity</a></b><br>The dietary laws helped define the identity of the Israelite community. Similarly, our practices and values as Christians should reflect our identity in Christ and our belonging to His body, the Church.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_11.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 11</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_do_owls_symbolize_in_the_bible.htm">What do owls symbolize in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_atman_in_hinduism.htm">What do owls symbolize in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_god_view_re-enslavement_vs._slavery.htm">Jeremiah 34:11-17 - How does God's condemnation of re-enslavement align with other passages where slavery was permitted (e.g., Leviticus 25)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_are_believers_god's_temple_without_proof.htm">In 2 Corinthians 6:16, how can the believers be the temple of God without any tangible, verifiable sign beyond personal conviction?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/11.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) <span class= "bld">And the owl.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">and the ostrich, </span>as the Authorised Version rightly renders it in the margin in three out of the eight passages in which it occurs, viz., <a href="/job/30-29.htm" title="I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.">Job 30:29</a>, <a href="/isaiah/34-13.htm" title="And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.">Isaiah 34:13</a>; <a href="/isaiah/43-20.htm" title="The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.">Isaiah 43:20</a>; literally, <span class= "ital">the daughter </span>or <span class= "ital">inhabitant of the desert. </span>The ostrich, which is the largest bird and the swiftest of all cursorial animals, was associated by the Hebrews with the terrors of the wilderness, and was regarded by the ancients as an unnatural hybrid, as a kind of half bird and half quadruped. It dwells amongst desolated places (<a href="/isaiah/13-21.htm" title="But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.">Isaiah 13:21</a>; <a href="/isaiah/34-13.htm" title="And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.">Isaiah 34:13</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/50-39.htm" title="Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelled in from generation to generation.">Jeremiah 50:39</a>), fills the air with its doleful and hideous wails (<a href="/micah/1-8.htm" title="Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.">Micah 1:8</a>) and cruelly neglects its eggs to be hatched by the sun or trodden down under foot (<a href="/lamentations/4-3.htm" title="Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.">Lamentations 4:3</a>; <a href="/context/job/39-17.htm" title="Because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.">Job 39:17-18</a>). Owing to its proverbial stupidity, this hybrid is selected with another monster to illustrate the abundant goodness of the Lord, by showing that even this creature will become sensible of gratitude and break forth into thanksgiving and praise (<a href="/isaiah/43-20.htm" title="The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.">Isaiah 43:20</a>). The flesh of the ostrich was eaten by the ancient Ethiopians, Indians, and other nations. The Romans regarded ostrich brains as a great delicacy. The ostrich occasionally devours fowls and other small vertebrates like a bird of prey, and tradition assures us that ostriches consumed the body of Agag. . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/11-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">the ostrich,</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(baṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the night hawk,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַתַּחְמָ֖ס</span> <span class="translit">(hat·taḥ·mās)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8464.htm">Strong's 8464: </a> </span><span class="str2">A species of unclean bird, an owl</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the gull,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשָּׁ֑חַף</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šā·ḥap̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7828.htm">Strong's 7828: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sea mew, gull</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֶת־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’eṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">any kind</span><br /><span class="heb">לְמִינֵֽהוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·mî·nê·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4327.htm">Strong's 4327: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sort, species</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of hawk;</span><br /><span class="heb">הַנֵּ֖ץ</span> <span class="translit">(han·nêṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5322.htm">Strong's 5322: </a> </span><span class="str2">A flower, a hawk</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/11-16.htm">Leviticus 11:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/11-16.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 11:16 The horned owl the screech owl (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/11-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 11:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 11:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/11-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 11:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 11:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>