Deuteronomy 14 13

Deuteronomy 14:13 kjv

And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind,

Deuteronomy 14:13 nkjv

the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds;

Deuteronomy 14:13 niv

the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon,

Deuteronomy 14:13 esv

the kite, the falcon of any kind;

Deuteronomy 14:13 nlt

the kite, the falcon, buzzards of all kinds,

Deuteronomy 14 verses

Deuteronomy 14 13 Meaning

Deuteronomy 14:13, as part of a detailed list of dietary regulations given to Israel, designates specific types of raptors—the glede, the kite, and the vulture—as unclean animals not to be consumed. This instruction served to distinguish the Israelites, whom God called to be a holy people, from the surrounding nations whose practices often involved eating such birds or associating them with pagan worship and defilement. The phrase "after his kind" extends the prohibition to all variations or species within these categories, emphasizing a broad, systematic separation based on divine command.

Deuteronomy 14 13 Context

Deuteronomy 14 is primarily concerned with the specific practices that were to distinguish Israel as God's chosen and holy people. The chapter immediately follows the renewed covenant injunctions in Deuteronomy 12 and 13, which prohibited idolatry and commanded worship only at a single, chosen sanctuary. Within this broader theme of unique identity and worship, verses 3-21 specifically detail the clean and unclean animals for food. This segment of dietary laws served as a constant reminder to the Israelites of their separated status unto the Lord. Historically, these regulations were given to Israel as they were about to enter the land of Canaan, a land inhabited by cultures with diverse religious and dietary practices. The dietary laws functioned as a hedge, preventing assimilation and contamination by pagan influences, and continually teaching the principles of holiness, obedience, and the distinctive nature of their relationship with Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 14 13 Word analysis

• And the glede: (וְהָרָאָה vehā-ra'ah)

  • "glede" (רָאָה ra'ah): This Hebrew term refers to a bird of prey, likely a species of kite or a swift-flying bird known for its keen sight, such as the Red Kite. The root ra'ah means "to see" or "to observe," aptly describing a raptor. The prohibition extends to this specific type of predatory bird, typically scavengers or hunters of smaller creatures.

• and the kite: (וְהָאַיָּה vehā-ʾayyāh)

  • "kite" (אָיָּה ʾayyāh): Another Hebrew term for a bird of prey, often identified with a different species of kite, perhaps the Black Kite, or a falcon. Its name may be derived from a root suggesting "to cry" or "scream," referring to its characteristic call. These birds were also likely scavengers or hunters.

• and the vulture: (וְהַדַּיָּה vehā-dayyāh)

  • "vulture" (דַּיָּה dayyāh): This term also points to a bird of prey, specifically a type of vulture or buzzard, from a root meaning "to fly swiftly." Vultures are notoriously scavengers, associated with carrion and death. Their inclusion reinforces the idea of avoiding animals that are predatory or unclean in their feeding habits.

• Word-group analysis:

  • "The glede, and the kite, and the vulture": This listing of three distinct yet similar categories of birds (all birds of prey/scavengers) demonstrates a specific divine exclusion based on characteristics. These birds are generally known for feeding on carrion, or being predatory, thus symbolically representing things associated with death, defilement, or a departure from the "clean" dietary practices established by God for human consumption.
  • "after his kind": (לְמִינֵהוּ ləmīnēhū) This phrase is crucial. It signifies that the prohibition applies not just to the exact named species but to all members, sub-species, or varieties within that general classification. It emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the dietary law, ensuring no related creature could be rationalized as permitted. This concept of "kind" (מין, min) is consistently used in the biblical creation accounts (Gen 1) to denote divinely established biological categories.

Deuteronomy 14 13 Bonus section

The Hebrew classification of animals in these purity laws doesn't perfectly align with modern zoological taxonomy. The specific identification of "glede," "kite," and "vulture" can vary slightly between translations and scholarly opinion, but the overall intent to exclude large, predatory or scavenging birds is consistent. These particular birds were common in the ancient Near East and would have been readily recognizable to the Israelites. The mention of "vulture" could also carry a connotation against consuming birds associated with omens or divination in surrounding pagan cultures, although this is not directly stated in the text. The command "after his kind" also highlights the fixed order God established in creation.

Deuteronomy 14 13 Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:13 details specific avian prohibitions, serving a multi-faceted purpose in ancient Israel. While modern interpretation sometimes focuses on hygiene, the primary rationale for these laws, including the prohibition of glede, kite, and vulture, was rooted in holiness and separation. These raptors, by their nature, are either predators, consuming other living creatures, or scavengers, feeding on carcasses. Both behaviors rendered them symbolically "unclean" for a people called to live distinct from the world and to reflect the purity of a life-giving God. The dietary laws fostered a unique national identity for Israel, guarding them against the cultural and religious practices of their neighbors, many of whom might have eaten these birds or even worshipped them. Ultimately, these tangible external rules trained Israel in obedience and demonstrated a tangible way for them to embody their consecrated status. They foreshadowed a deeper, spiritual cleanness which, in the New Covenant, is transformed from dietary restrictions to an internal separation from sin, as taught by Christ who declared all foods clean (Mk 7:19) and abolished the old covenant shadows.