abominationתּוֹעֵבָה
toebah · Hebrew Noun
Something that is detestable, loathsome, or ethically/ritually impure in the sight of God. It often refers to idolatrous practices or food/actions that violate the holiness required by the covenant.
parts the hoofפַּרְסָה
parsah · Hebrew Noun
An animal that possesses a split hoof or cloven hoof; in the context of the Mosaic Law, this was one of the two necessary physical criteria for a land animal to be classified as 'clean' and fit for consumption.
chews the cudגֵּרָה
gerah · Hebrew Noun
The act of regurgitating food to chew it a second time; this physiological trait was one of the two mandatory requirements for land animals to be considered ritually clean under the dietary laws of Israel.
uncleanטָמֵא
tame' · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to that which is ceremonially impure, unfit for use in sacrifice, or prohibited for consumption; it denotes a state of ritual estrangement from the holiness required to approach God or to maintain covenantal purity.
carcassesנְבֵלָה
nebelah · Hebrew Noun
The dead body of an animal; contact with such carcasses rendered a person ritually impure, necessitating ceremonial cleansing before they could participate in the life of the community or worship.
fins and scalesסְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת
senappir veqasqeset · Hebrew Noun
Anatomical features of fish—fins for locomotion and scales for protection—that serve as the biblical diagnostic criteria for identifying water creatures that are ceremonially 'clean' and permissible to eat.
cleanטָהוֹר
tahor · Hebrew Adjective
In the Mosaic Law, this refers to animals or objects ceremonially fit and permitted for food or liturgical use, signifying purity and adherence to God's covenant requirements.
eagleנֶשֶׁר
nesher · Hebrew Noun
A bird of prey often associated in Scripture with power, speed, divine judgment, or divine protection; it was strictly prohibited as food under the Levitical dietary laws.
bearded vultureדָּאָה
da'ah · Hebrew Noun
A term generally applied to a family of birds of prey or scavengers, often associated with desolation or divine judgment in the prophetic books; prohibited as food for Israel.
black vultureעַיָּה
ayyah · Hebrew Noun
A bird of prey known for its ability to spot food from a distance; its inclusion in the list of prohibited foods emphasizes the distinction between the holy people of Israel and the surrounding nations.
kiteדַּיָּה
dayyah · Hebrew Noun
A bird of prey, typically a scavenger, categorized among the unclean animals under Mosaic Law to maintain the ritual separation of the Israelites.
falconבַּז
baz · Hebrew Noun
A swift bird of prey used symbolically in Scripture for keen vision and agility; it was declared ceremonially unclean for the people of God.
ravenעֹרֵב
oreb · Hebrew Noun
Generally regarded as a scavenger bird, often associated in biblical literature with judgment, death, or desolate places; it was forbidden as food for the Israelites.
ostrichיַעֲנָה
ya'anah · Hebrew Noun
A large desert bird often used in the Bible as a symbol of desolation and the wilderness; its status as an unclean bird reinforced the Israelites' separation from pagan practices.
nighthawkתַּחְמָס
tachmas · Hebrew Noun
An nocturnal bird, generally identified as a type of owl, categorized as unclean in the Mosaic code; its presence was often associated with ruined or desolate places.
sea gullשַׁחַף
shachaph · Hebrew Noun
A bird categorized as unclean in the dietary laws; its inclusion serves to delineate the boundaries of ritual purity required for the covenant community.
hawkנֵץ
netz · Hebrew Noun
A bird of prey whose inclusion in the prohibition list underscores the dietary holiness required of Israel, separating them from the eating habits of other nations.
uncleanטָמֵא
tame' · Hebrew Adjective
In the Levitical and Deuteronomic dietary laws, 'unclean' refers to things that are ritually impure or unfit for consumption by the people of God, often because they are associated with death, carrion, or specific symbolic associations within the Holiness Code. It does not necessarily imply physical toxicity, but rather a status that prevents one from partaking in the holy life required of Israel.
cleanטָהוֹר
tahor · Hebrew Adjective
In the context of biblical purity laws, 'clean' refers to creatures permitted to be consumed by the Israelites. These animals were considered ritually pure and appropriate for the dietary life of God's covenant people.
winged things/winged insectsעוֹף
oph · Hebrew Noun
Refers to creatures capable of flight, often used in the context of distinguishing birds and insects. In the law, these were categorized based on whether they were ritually acceptable for food.
bird (implied by the list)עוֹף
oph · Hebrew Noun
A general term for a bird or fowl, often used in the Torah to classify animals for the purpose of identifying those prohibited (mostly birds of prey or carrion eaters) and those permitted for food.
sojournerגֵּר
ger · Hebrew Noun
An individual living outside their native land, often denoting someone residing temporarily or permanently among a host nation, who is afforded certain protections under the Law.
foreignerנָכְרִי
nokri · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A person of a different nation or people group; in the Old Testament, it often refers to those outside the covenant community of Israel.
holyקָדוֹשׁ
qadosh · Hebrew Adjective
Set apart or consecrated for God’s specific use; describes the status of the people of Israel as belonging uniquely to Yahweh.
the LORDיהוה
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, revealed name of the God of Israel, indicating His covenant-keeping nature and His self-existent, eternal being.
