Leviticus 11:17 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 11:17 mean?

Leviticus 11:17 lists three specific birds—the little owl, the cormorant, and the great owl—as animals that the Israelites were not allowed to eat. This verse is part of a larger section where God, through Moses, gives the Israelites detailed instructions about which animals are considered clean or unclean for food.

In this passage, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they receive laws from God about dietary practices while they are in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. The focus here is on ritual purity and setting the people apart from other nations by their food choices. The mention of these particular birds highlights the attention to detail in the laws and the importance placed on obedience in everyday matters.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 11:17

• The word for "little owl" is כּוֹס (kos), often understood as a type of owl, though the exact species is uncertain. This word points to a bird that was likely familiar to the ancient Israelites but may not match modern classifications exactly.
• The word for "cormorant" is שָׁלָךְ (shalakh), which is often identified as a large water bird, possibly a cormorant or another similar bird. The inclusion of this bird shows that both land and water birds could be considered unclean.
• The word for "great owl" is יַנְשׁוּף (yanshuf), another term for an owl-like bird. The repetition of different owl species underlines the careful distinctions made in these dietary laws.

Why Leviticus 11:17 matters

• This verse helps clarify that not all birds were permitted as food, and it shows the level of detail in the biblical dietary laws, which can be surprising to modern readers.
• By naming specific birds, Leviticus 11:17 demonstrates the seriousness with which ritual purity was treated in ancient Israelite society.
• Understanding which animals were considered unclean helps make sense of later biblical stories and teachings, especially those that discuss purity, holiness, and separation from other nations.