Leviticus 11:13-19 - Exposition

The unclean birds are those which are gross feeders, devourers of flesh or offal, and therefore offensive to the taste, beginning with the eagle and vulture tribe. It is probable that the words translated owl ( Leviticus 11:16 ), night hawk ( Leviticus 11:16 ), cuckow ( Leviticus 11:16 ) should be rendered, ostrich, owl, gull, and perhaps for swan ( Leviticus 11:18 ), heron ( Leviticus 11:19 ), lapwing ( Leviticus 11:19 ), should be substituted ibis, great plover, hoopoe. In the case of the bat, we have again phenomenal language used. Being generally regarded as a bird, it is classed with birds.