Leviticus 11 17

Leviticus 11:17 kjv

And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

Leviticus 11:17 nkjv

the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl;

Leviticus 11:17 niv

the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

Leviticus 11:17 esv

the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl,

Leviticus 11:17 nlt

the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 17 Meaning

Leviticus 11:17 declares specific birds as unclean for the Israelites, prohibiting their consumption. This verse is part of an extended list of dietary regulations established by God through Moses, distinguishing between animals permissible for food and those considered an abomination. The underlying principle is to ensure the ritual purity and holiness of the Israelite community, separating them from the defiled practices and common norms of surrounding nations.

Leviticus 11 17 Context

Leviticus Chapter 11 meticulously details the laws concerning clean and unclean animals, laying the foundational dietary regulations for ancient Israel. These laws were not merely arbitrary but deeply symbolic and pedagogical, aiming to reinforce Israel's identity as a holy nation set apart by God. This specific verse (Lev 11:17) belongs to the list of prohibited birds (verses 13-19) that are collectively described as "abominable" or "detestable." The general criteria for avian cleanness seemed to favor non-predatory, non-scavenging birds. Historically, such distinctions aimed to separate Israel from pagan practices which often involved consuming or offering all types of animals, sometimes linking them to divination or idolatry. By abstaining from specific animals, Israel physically manifested their dedication to God's holiness and avoided behaviors associated with the defiling customs of their neighbors. The prohibitions ensured both ritual purity for worship and served as a tangible daily reminder of God's distinct call on their lives.

Leviticus 11 17 Word analysis

• and the little owl:
  • Hebrew: wĕ’et-haq·qôs (וְאֶת־הַקּ֖וֹס) - qôs meaning 'little owl', 'screech owl'.
  • Significance: This bird, likely Athene noctua or Tyto alba (Barn Owl), is often nocturnal and associated with desolation in biblical imagery (Psa 102:6). Its inclusion marks it as ritually impure, perhaps due to its predatory nature, silent flight, or eerie calls that could be linked to dark forces by surrounding cultures, thus necessitating Israel's distinction.
• and the cormorant:
  • Hebrew: wĕ’et-haš·šā·lāḵ (וְאֶת־הַשָּׁלָךְ) - šālakh meaning 'cormorant' or 'diving bird'.
  • Significance: A large, dark diving bird known for fishing. Its status as unclean may stem from its primary diet of fish (some of which were also categorized as unclean without fins or scales) and its method of catching prey. Cormorants were perhaps also considered scavengers by association, further cementing their unclean status.
• and the great owl:
  • Hebrew: wĕ’et-hay·yan·šōwp̄ (וְאֶת־הַיַּנְשֽׁoף) - yanšûp̄ meaning 'great owl', 'horned owl', or 'screech owl'.
  • Significance: Refers to a larger owl, possibly the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo). Like the smaller owl, its nocturnal nature, predatory habits, and association with desolate or ruinous places (Isa 34:11, Zeph 2:14) made it ritually impure. Owls, in general, symbolized wilderness and divine judgment in some ancient Near Eastern contexts, requiring Israel to dissociate from their consumption.

Words-group analysis:

• "and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl": This phrasing highlights the meticulous nature of the Mosaic law, listing specific creatures one by one. The use of "and" (wĕ) links them as part of a collective prohibition. The variety of birds—a nocturnal hunter (little owl), a diving fisher (cormorant), and another large nocturnal predator (great owl)—indicates that uncleanness wasn't based on one single characteristic but on a combination of their habits (predatory, scavenging, habitat) or associations with the wild, death, or "abhorrent" (Lev 11:13) qualities from an Israelite purity perspective. These prohibitions served as boundaries for a holy life.

Leviticus 11 17 Bonus section

The "unclean" designation in Leviticus was not a judgment on the inherent evil of the animals themselves, as God declared His creation "good" (Gen 1). Instead, it functioned as a ritual classification tied to Israel's covenant purity. Animals could be unclean for consumption, but not necessarily for touching (unless specified). The very act of distinguishing between clean and unclean was foundational to Israel's identity, preparing them to "distinguish between the holy and the common" (Lev 10:10) in all aspects of life, mirroring God's own holiness. The exact identification of many Hebrew bird names is challenging and often relies on traditional interpretations and characteristics; various translations reflect ongoing scholarly debate but generally agree on types of predatory, aquatic, or scavenging birds. These avian prohibitions reinforced that Israel's sustenance and, by extension, their entire lives, should reflect their consecrated status to Yahweh, steering them away from anything associated with defilement or chaos in their world perception.

Leviticus 11 17 Commentary

Leviticus 11:17 contributes to the detailed divine instruction on Israel's dietary restrictions, marking the "little owl," "cormorant," and "great owl" as ritually unclean. These laws underscored the Israelites' unique covenant relationship with God, calling them to physical and spiritual purity as a holy nation set apart from others (Lev 11:44-45). The precise reasons for each animal's prohibition were multifaceted, involving observed characteristics like predatory nature, scavenging habits, or associations with desolate places. The aim was not simply health, but holiness: differentiating Israel's daily life from pagan practices, preventing assimilation, and fostering a perpetual awareness of God's presence and requirements for distinct living. The list of birds here reflects the abhorrent qualities these creatures presented in the Israelite cultural context, perhaps due to their ominous sounds, nocturnal activities, or consumption of carrion or "unclean" animals. These prohibitions formed part of the "fence around the Torah," helping to educate God's people on living lives dedicated to His glory, until the new covenant brought a new understanding of inward purity over external dietary codes (Mk 7:19; Acts 10; Rom 14; Col 2).