Deuteronomy 14 15

Deuteronomy 14:15 kjv

And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind,

Deuteronomy 14:15 nkjv

the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after their kinds;

Deuteronomy 14:15 niv

the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,

Deuteronomy 14:15 esv

the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind;

Deuteronomy 14:15 nlt

the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the seagull, hawks of all kinds,

Deuteronomy 14 verses

Deuteronomy 14 15 Meaning

Deuteronomy 14:15 lists five specific types of birds that the Israelites were prohibited from eating. These birds, along with others enumerated in the surrounding verses, were designated as "unclean" according to the dietary laws given by God, setting apart His chosen people. The underlying purpose was not primarily for health, but for maintaining ritual purity and holiness before the Lord.

Deuteronomy 14 15 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 14 outlines specific regulations designed to preserve Israel's holiness and identity as God's chosen people. It opens with a declaration of Israel's unique relationship with God as His children (v. 1), leading into a prohibition against pagan mourning rituals (v. 1). The verses that follow (v. 3-21) meticulously detail dietary laws, differentiating between clean and unclean animals, fish, and birds. This section on food laws directly precedes instructions on tithing (v. 22-29), underscoring how Israel's daily life, from what they ate to how they supported the priesthood, was to reflect their sacred covenant with Yahweh. Historically, these laws were given to Israel as they stood on the verge of entering Canaan, a land saturated with pagan practices. These prohibitions served to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations, preventing assimilation into their idolatry and maintaining a unique separation for divine purposes.

Deuteronomy 14 15 Word analysis

• the ostrich (יַעֲנָה - ya'anah):
  • Meaning: Likely refers to the ostrich.
  • Significance: This large desert bird, once native to the Middle East, is a swift, ground-dwelling creature. Its exact identification has been debated historically, sometimes translated as "owl," but modern scholarship widely agrees on the ostrich, associating it with desolate places and mourning. Its inclusion emphasizes the broad category of non-kosher fowl.
• the nighthawk (תַּחְמָס - taḥmās):
  • Meaning: Commonly understood as the nighthawk or screech owl.
  • Significance: Identified as a nocturnal bird, possibly a type of owl or a bird known for its secretive nature. Its predatory or scavenging habits and association with darkness may contribute to its "unclean" status. Exact species identification is less crucial than the general classification of birds perceived as predatory or carrion eaters.
• the seagull (שָׁחַף - shaḥaf):
  • Meaning: Translation varies from cuckoo to gull or skua. Modern consensus leans towards a type of seagull or an associated scavenging seabird.
  • Significance: Gulls are often scavengers, consuming carrion or a wide range of available food. The prohibition might be due to their scavenging nature or perhaps association with certain pagan practices linked to coastal regions.
• the hawk (נֵץ - nets):
  • Meaning: Refers specifically to a hawk or falcon.
  • Significance: Hawks are archetypal birds of prey, known for their predatory instincts and sharp talons. Their carnivorous diet of other creatures inherently aligns them with the "unclean" category which often included carnivores.
• after its kind (לְמִינֵהוּ - l'mīnehū):
  • Meaning: A common biblical phrase, translating to "according to its species" or "of its own kind."
  • Significance: This phrase, used since creation accounts (Gen 1), signifies the divinely established order of distinct biological types. When applied to unclean animals like the hawk, it means all varieties within the broad hawk/falcon family are prohibited, avoiding the need to list every specific raptor species. This ensures a comprehensive ban on the entire category of such birds.
• and the little owl (כּוֹס - kos):
  • Meaning: Identified as a small owl, possibly the little owl or screech owl.
  • Significance: Small, nocturnal, often associated with ruins and desolation. Owls have been linked in various ancient cultures to wisdom or foreboding, but in Israel, they were ritually unclean, possibly due to their nocturnal habits, predatory nature, or dwelling in dark, abandoned places. This specific inclusion ensures no owl-like bird is permitted.

Deuteronomy 14 15 Bonus section

The categories of prohibited animals, including these birds, often mirrored or opposed animals utilized in pagan idolatry or necromancy, subtly serving as an indirect polemic against those practices. The prohibitions taught discernment, not merely what to avoid, but how to live consecrated lives where daily choices reflected divine principles. While the New Testament reveals these ceremonial food laws were abrogated (Mark 7, Acts 10), the underlying principles of holiness, distinctiveness, and discerning God's will remain eternally relevant for believers, applied now to spiritual and moral purity rather than dietary restrictions.

Deuteronomy 14 15 Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:15, nestled within the broader clean/unclean food laws, illustrates God's design for Israel's holiness. The listing of specific birds like the ostrich, nighthawk, seagull, hawk (and all its types), and little owl underscores a principle of separation. These birds generally share characteristics such as being birds of prey, scavengers, or nocturnal, often dwelling in desolate places. While reasons like hygiene were secondary, the primary intent was spiritual distinctiveness. By abstaining from these, Israel physically embodied their unique covenant relationship with a holy God. This visible difference served as a constant reminder of their identity and separation from the surrounding pagan cultures, whose diets and practices often involved animals considered abominable by God's standards. These dietary restrictions forged communal solidarity and devotion to divine instructions, teaching them to seek God's approval in every facet of life, including their very sustenance. This prepared them to be a peculiar treasure, distinct from other nations.