Deuteronomy 14:12 — Word Study
WLCוְזֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־ תֹאכְל֖וּ מֵהֶ֑ם הַנֶּ֥שֶׁר וְהַפֶּ֖רֶס וְהָֽעָזְנִיָּֽה׃
BSAbut thesezeh [specific, particular] you may notlôʼ eatʼâkal▸ the eaglenesher [a large bird of prey] the bearded vulturepereç [also known as the gier-eagle or griffon vulture] the black vultureʻoznîyâh [or osprey, a type of bird of prey]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְזֶ֕ה | and this | Conjunction, particle |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | [is that] which | Particle |
| לֹֽא־ | not | Particle |
| תֹאכְל֖וּ | you will eat | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| מֵהֶ֑ם | any of them | Preposition, suffix |
| הַנֶּ֥שֶׁר | the eagle | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְהַפֶּ֖רֶס | and the bearded vulture | Conjunction, particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְהָֽעָזְנִיָּֽה׃ | and the osprey | Conjunction, particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, |
| KJV | But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, |
| ASV | But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray, |
| YLT | and these [are] they of which ye do not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, |
| WEB | But these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, |
| BBE | But these birds you may not take: the eagle and the gier-eagle and the ospray; |
All translations agree on the identification of the birds that are prohibited for consumption.
The main clause is straightforward, followed by a list of the specific birds that are prohibited, creating a clear and direct prohibition.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָכַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 14:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Dietary Lawsgenerated
Deuteronomy 14:12 outlines specific birds that the Israelites are forbidden to eat as part of the dietary laws given by God. This verse is part of a larger section that distinguishes between clean and unclean animals, emphasizing the importance of holiness and obedience in the lives of the Israelites. The list continues with additional unclean birds in the following verses, reinforcing the guidelines for what is acceptable for consumption.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 11:13–19 | Additionally, you are to detest the following birds, and they must not be eaten because they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — זֶה, ve.Zehgenerated
The word זֶה (zeh) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'here.' It is used to indicate something specific, pointing out particular items among a larger group. In this context, it highlights the specific birds that are prohibited for the Israelites to eat.
This word serves to emphasize the particularity of the dietary laws, making it clear that not just any bird is unclean, but these specific ones must be avoided.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions identifying the birds that are not to be eaten.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the verb תֹאכְל֖וּ (you will eat), which is negated by the particle לֹֽא־ (not). The structure emphasizes the prohibition by placing the negation directly before the verb.
The sentence lists the specific birds as the subject of the prohibition, creating a clear and straightforward structure that delineates what is acceptable and what is not.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates זֶה as καὶ (and), which serves to connect the specific birds in the list. This choice maintains the emphasis on the items being discussed.
The other terms are rendered similarly, reflecting a consistent understanding of the dietary laws in both the Hebrew and Greek traditions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 14:12 lists specific birds that the Israelites are not allowed to eat. These include the eagle, the bearded vulture, and the osprey. This is part of the dietary laws that God gave to the Israelites to help them maintain a distinction between clean and unclean animals.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In the context of the dietary laws, unclean birds are those that God has designated as not suitable for consumption by the Israelites.
The classification of clean and unclean animals is based on God's commands, which serve to set the Israelites apart and promote holiness.
The dietary laws were specific to the Israelites and their covenant with God; their relevance today can vary depending on religious beliefs.
Dietary laws serve to teach the Israelites about holiness, obedience, and the importance of following God's commands.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about God's standards for cleanliness and holiness from these dietary laws?
- How do these prohibitions reflect the relationship between the Israelites and their identity as God's chosen people?
- In what ways can we apply the principles behind these dietary laws in our own lives today?
- How does understanding the context of these laws enhance our reading of the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 14:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 12-18. But these are they of which they shall not eat,.... Jarchi observes, that the unclean birds are particularly mentioned, to teach that the clean sort are more than the unclean, and
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 14 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBut these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 14 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12) These are they of which ye shall not eat.—With one exception, the unclean birds are the same described in Leviticus 11:13-19.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 14 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. eagle] nesher, Ar. nisr, the great vulture or griffon, gyps fulvus, identified by the baldness of its head and neck, Micah 1:16; from its frequency and its size ‘the most striking ornithological feature of Palestine’ (Tr. 95 f.); worshipped among Syrians and Arabs. gier eagle] peres, the breaker, A.V. the ossifrage, the Lδmmergeier or bearded vulture. It carries its prey to a great height and then drops it, repeating the operation till the prey is shattered (Tr. 94), LXX, γρύψ. ospray] ‘oznξyyah; LXX, ἁλιάετος (the sea-eagle or osprey). Tristram (98) takes it either as generic for all the eagles, or specific either for the golden eagle, ‘not uncommon in winter over the whole country’…
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 14 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible12. These… ye shall not eat — The birds prohibited here are as in Leviticus 11:13-23, except that the glede is added.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 14 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,
But these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,
but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,
These are the ones you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,
Tyndale line
But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray,
But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the gier eagle, and the ospray;
But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
But these are they, whereof ye shall not eate: the eagle, nor the goshawke, nor the osprey,
Strictly literal
But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the sea-eagle,
and these [are] they of which ye do not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
and these [are] they of which you do not eat: the eagle, and the bearded vulture, and the osprey,
But these are they which ye shall not eat of them: The eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey,
But these are the birds that you must not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,
From the Latin
The unclean eat not: to wit, the eagle, and the grype, and the osprey,
Simplified
But you must not eat the following: eagle, griffon vulture, bearded vulture,
But these birds you may not take: the eagle and the gier-eagle and the ospray;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all eight words matched in the Hebrew and Greek. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, adding the object markers את before each bird, but the core prohibitions remain consistent across these texts.
וְזֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־ תֹאכְל֖וּ מֵהֶ֑ם הַנֶּ֥שֶׁר וְהַפֶּ֖רֶס וְהָֽעָזְנִיָּֽה׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
וזה אשׁר לא תאכלו מהם את הנשׁר ואת הפרס ואת העזניה
3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: את (
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 14:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
זֶה (zeh) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone, be used appositively, or function as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns, adding emphasis and directness. In poetry, it may serve as a relative pronoun, though this usage is rare.
זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here
standing alone
In appos. to subst.
More oft. as pred.
It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
With prefixes (in special senses)
base
H2088 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone
. In appos. to subst.
. More oft. as pred.
. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
. With prefixes (in special senses)
2088 zeh zeh
a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this
or that:--he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the
one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same,
such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on
that side, X thus, very, which. Compare 2063, 2090, 2097,
2098.
see HEBREW for 02063
see HEBREW for 02090
see HEBREW for 02097
see HEBREW for 02098
זֶה (zeh) — this.
1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such
1a) (alone)
1a1) this one
1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another
1b) (appos to subst)
1b1) this
1c) (as predicate)
1c1) this, such
1d) (enclitically)
1d1) then
1d2) who, whom
1d3) how now, what now
1d4) what now
1d5) wherefore now
1d6) behold here
1d7) just now
1d8) now, now already
1e) (poetry)
1e1) wherein, which, those who
1f) (with prefixes)
1f1) in this (place) here, then
1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter
1f3) thus and thus
1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus
1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side
1f6) on this account
1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · particleHC/Tm
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
HTr — ParticleHTr
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVqi2mp
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3mp
נֶשֶׁר (nesher) refers to a griffon-vulture or eagle, derived from a root meaning to lacerate. The term covers large birds of prey, including both eagles and vultures. It has an Aramaic equivalent, נְשַׁר (ne.shar), which also means eagle.
נֶשֶׁר n.m. griffon-vulture, eagle
base
H5404 נֶשֶׁר griffon-vulture, eagle
5404 nesher neh'-sher
from an unused root meaning to lacerate; the eagle (or other
large bird of prey):--eagle.
נֶשֶׁר (ne.sher) — eagle.
eagle, vulture, griffon-vulture
Aramaic equivalent: ne.shar (נְשַׁר "eagle" H5403)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
e'-g'-l (nesher; aetos; Latin aquila): A bird of the genus aquila of the family falconidae.
The Hebrew nesher, meaning "to tear with the beak," is almost invariably translated "eagle," throughout the Bible; yet many of the most important references compel the admission that the bird to which they applied was a vulture.
There were many large birds and carrion eaters flocking over Palestine, attracted by the offal from animals slaughtered for tribal feasts and continuous sacrifice. The eagle family could not be separated from the vultures by their habit of feeding, for they ate the offal from slaughter as well as the vultures. One distinction always holds good. Eagles never flock. They select the tallest trees of the forest, the topmost crag of the mountain, and pairs live in solitude, hunting and feeding singly, whenever possible carrying their prey to the nest so that the young may gain…
Eagle
(Herb. nesher; properly the griffon vulture or great vulture, so called from its tearing its prey with its beak), referred to for its swiftness of flight (Deut. 28:49; 2 Sam. 1:23), its mounting high in the air (Job 39:27), its strength (Ps. 103:5), its setting its nest in high places (Jer. 49:16), and its power of vision (Job 39:27-30).
This “ravenous bird” is a symbol of those nations whom God employs and sends forth to do a work of destruction, sweeping away whatever is decaying and putrescent (Matt.…
(Heb. nesher , i.e. a tearer with the beak). At least four distinct kinds of eagles have been observed in Palestine, viz., the golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos , the spotted eagle, Aquila naevia , the imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca , and the very common Circaetos gallicus . The Hebrew nesher may stand for any of these different species, though perhaps more particular reference to the golden and imperial eagles and the griffon vulture may be intended. The passage in Micah, (Micah 1:16) "enlarge thy baldness as the eagle," may refer to the griffon vulture, Vultur fulvus , in which case the simile is peculiarly appropriate, for the whole head and neck of this bird are destitute of true feathers. The "eagles" of (Matthew 24:28; Luke…
Job 39:27-30, a large and very powerful bird of prey, hence called the King of birds. There are several species of eagle described by naturalists, and it is probable that this word in the Bible comprehends more than one of these. The noble eastern species, called by Mr. Bruce "the golden eagle," measures eight feet four inches from wing to wing; and from the tip of his tail to the point of his beak, when dead, four feet seven inches. Of all known birds, the eagle flies not only the highest, Pr 23:5 Jer 49:16 Ob 1:4, but also with the greatest rapidity. To this circumstance there are several striking allusions in the sacred volume,
פֶּ֫רֶס (peres) refers to a bird of prey, possibly a bearded vulture or ossifrage. It is derived from a root meaning 'claw' and may also refer to an extinct animal, though its exact meaning is uncertain. The entries suggest a focus on its predatory nature.
פֶּ֫רֶס n.[m.] a bird of prey, perh. bearded vulture, ‘ossifrage’
base
H6538 פֶּ֫רֶס a bird of prey, perh. bearded vulture, ‘ossifrage’
6538 perec peh'-res
from 6536; a claw; also a kind of eagle:--claw, ossifrage.
see HEBREW for 06536
פֶּ֫רֶס (pe.res) — vulture.
1) bird of prey
1a) perhaps bearded vulture or ossifrage
1b) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown
Conj | Art | N-ms — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Td/Ncmsa
vul'-tur (da'ah; Septuagint gups, and iktinos; Latin Vulturidae): Any member of a family of large birds that subsist wholly or in part on carrion. The largest vulture of Palestine was the Lammer-geier. This bird waited until smaller vultures, eagles and hawks stripped a carcass to the bone, then carried the skeleton aloft and dashed it on the rocks until the marrow could be secured. This was a favorite delicacy. This bird was fond of tortoise also, and is said to have dropped the one that struck the bald head of Aeschylus, which the bird mistook for a stone, so causing the death of the poet. Several smaller species, including "Pharaoh's chickens," flocked all over Palestine. These were protected by a death penalty for their value as scavengers in cities. They fed on carcasses of animals that killed each other, ate putrid fish under the nests of pelican and cormorant, followed caravans…
Vulture
(1.) Heb. da’ah (Lev. 11:14). In the parallel passage (Deut. 14:13) the Hebrew word used is ra’ah, rendered “glede;” LXX., “gups;” Vulg., “milvus.” A species of ravenous bird, distinguished for its rapid flight. “When used without the epithet ‘red,’ the name is commonly confined to the black kite. The habits of the bird bear out the allusion in Isa. 34:15, for it is, excepting during the winter three months, so numerous everywhere in Palestine as to be almost gregarious.” (See EAGLE.)
(2.) In Job 28:7 the Heb. ‘ayyah is thus rendered. The word denotes a clamorous and a keen-sighted bird of prey. In
The rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew daah, dayyah , and also in (Job 28:7) of ayyah . There seems no doubt that the Authorized Versions translation is incorrect, and that the original words refer to some of the smaller species of raptorial birds, as kites or buzzards. [KITE] But the Hebrew word nesher , invariably rendered "eagle" in the Authorized Version, is probably the vulture. [EAGLE]
A large bird of prey, belonging to the genus hawks, and including a great many species. It is pronounced unclean by Moses, Le 11:14 De 14:13. See BIRDS. The vulture has a naked or downy head, a bare neck and long wings, and is disgusting to every sense, especially to the smell. It is a carrion bird, though not exclusively, and has extraordinary powers of vision. Scarcely can an exhausted camel fall on it route and die, before numbers of these filthy scavengers show themselves in the distance, hastening to the spot, Job 28:7.
עָזְנִיָּה (ozniyah) refers to an unclean bird of prey, likely akin to a vulture, and is identified as an osprey. The term is probably feminine and may also refer to a black eagle or buzzard, though its exact meaning is uncertain, with some sources suggesting it could denote an extinct species.
עָזְנִיָּה n.f. (unclean) bird of prey, appar. akin to vulture; = osprey
base
H5822 עָזְנִיָּה (unclean) bird of prey, appar. akin to vulture; = osprey
5822 `ozniyah oz-nee-yaw'
probably feminine of 5797; probably the sea-eagle (from its
strength):--ospray.
see HEBREW for 05797
עׇזְנִיָּה (oz.niy.yah) — vulture.
1) an unclean bird of prey
1a) osprey, black eagle, buzzard
1b) perhaps an extinct bird, exact meaning unknown
Conj | Art | N-fs — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Td/Ncfsa
Osprey
Heb. ‘ozniyyah, an unclean bird according to the Mosaic law (Lev. 11:13; Deut. 14:12); the fish-eating eagle (Pandion haliaetus); one of the lesser eagles. But the Hebrew word may be taken to denote the short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus of Southern Europe), one of the most abundant of the eagle tribe found in Palestine.
The Hebrew word occurs in (Leviticus 11:13) and Deuteronomy 14:12 So the name of some unclean bird. It’s probably either the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) or the white-tailed eagle (Haliaetus albicella).
A bird of the eagle kind, unfit for food, Le 11:13. It is thought to be the sea eagle, or the black eagle of Egypt. See BIRDS.