the little owlThe little owl is listed among the unclean birds in
Leviticus 11, which the Israelites were prohibited from eating. This prohibition reflects the broader Levitical concern with maintaining ritual purity and distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. The little owl, known for its nocturnal habits, may have been associated with darkness and death, which were often considered impure in ancient Israelite culture. Owls are mentioned in other parts of the Bible, such as
Isaiah 34:11 and
Psalm 102:6, often symbolizing desolation and loneliness, reinforcing their negative connotations.
the cormorant
The cormorant, a water bird known for its diving ability, is also deemed unclean. In ancient times, cormorants were often found along the coasts and were known for their voracious appetites. The inclusion of the cormorant in this list may reflect its association with scavenging and consuming dead fish, which would render it unclean according to Levitical law. The cormorant's presence in the list underscores the importance of distinguishing between animals that were considered suitable for consumption and those that were not, emphasizing the Israelites' call to holiness and separation from practices of surrounding nations.
the great owl
The great owl, another nocturnal bird, is similarly classified as unclean. Owls, in general, were often associated with ruins and desolate places, as seen in passages likeIsaiah 13:21 andJeremiah 50:39. This association with desolation and the night may have contributed to their unclean status. The great owl's inclusion in the list serves as a reminder of the symbolic nature of the dietary laws, which were intended to teach the Israelites about purity, holiness, and the importance of living in accordance with God's commands. The emphasis on separation from unclean animals can be seen as a type pointing to the separation from sin and the call to holiness found in the New Testament, as believers are called to be set apart in Christ.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
MosesThe author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites.
2.
IsraelitesThe people to whom the laws in Leviticus were given, as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land.
3.
Mount SinaiThe place where God delivered the laws to Moses, including dietary laws.
4.
Clean and Unclean AnimalsThe classification system given by God to the Israelites, distinguishing between animals that could and could not be eaten.
5.
The WildernessThe setting in which the Israelites received these laws, emphasizing their need for guidance and holiness.
Teaching Points
Understanding HolinessThe dietary laws, including the prohibition of certain birds, were given to set the Israelites apart as a holy nation. As Christians, we are called to live distinct lives that reflect God's holiness.
Obedience to God's CommandsThe specific instructions about clean and unclean animals teach us the importance of obedience to God's commands, even when we may not fully understand the reasons behind them.
Symbolism of PurityThe distinction between clean and unclean animals symbolizes the need for spiritual purity. We are called to examine our lives and remove anything that defiles us spiritually.
Freedom in ChristWhile the dietary laws were specific to the Israelites, Christians are reminded of the freedom we have in Christ. However, this freedom should be exercised with consideration for others and in a way that honors God.
Respect for CreationThe mention of specific birds reminds us of the diversity and intentionality in God's creation. We are called to steward the earth responsibly and with respect for all living creatures.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Leviticus 11:17?
2.How does Leviticus 11:17 guide our understanding of God's dietary laws?
3.What spiritual principles can we derive from Leviticus 11:17's dietary restrictions?
4.How do Leviticus 11:17's laws connect with New Testament teachings on purity?
5.How can we apply Leviticus 11:17's principles to our daily lifestyle choices?
6.What does Leviticus 11:17 reveal about God's desire for holiness in His people?
7.Why does Leviticus 11:17 list specific birds as unclean?
8.How does Leviticus 11:17 reflect ancient dietary laws?
9.What is the significance of the hoopoe in Leviticus 11:17?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 11?
11.What do owls symbolize in the Bible?
12.What does the Bible say about donating blood?
13.Why does the text in Isaiah 34:10-11 claim permanent desolation when other biblical passages speak of possible restoration?
14.What are the main rules of Kosher dietary laws?What Does Leviticus 11:17 Mean
The little owlLeviticus 11:17 begins with “the little owl.” Under the dietary laws, Israel was told to avoid any bird that preyed by night or fed on carrion. The little owl, though small and perhaps even endearing to modern eyes, fit that description.
• In the larger context (Leviticus 11:13-19), God marks out certain birds as “detestable” because they scavenge or hunt in darkness, behaviors associated with impurity.
•Deuteronomy 14:16 repeats the ban, reinforcing that this was not a localized or temporary restriction.
•Psalm 102:6: “I am like an owl of the desert.” The psalmist uses the owl to picture desolation—exactly the image God wanted His people to avoid in their worship and daily habits.
•Ephesians 5:11: “Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness.” Though believers today are not under the dietary code (Acts 10:13-15), the moral principle—steering clear of darkness—remains timeless.
By refusing the little owl, Israel declared, “We belong to the Light and will not feed on what darkness offers.”
The cormorantNext comes “the cormorant,” a seabird known for gorging itself on fish and nesting in solitary, windswept places.
•Isaiah 34:11 pictures a devastated land where “the pelican and the cormorant will possess it,” linking the bird with judgment and barrenness.
• The cormorant’s relentless appetite mirrors the warning inPhilippians 3:19 about those “whose god is their stomach.” God was teaching Israel that life is not about unchecked consumption but disciplined dependence on Him.
• By labeling the cormorant unclean, the Lord trained His people to reject greed and self-centered hunger—an attitude echoed for the church in1 Timothy 6:6-8.
The great owlFinally, “the great owl” refers to a larger nocturnal predator, commanding yet forever linked with darkness.
•Job 30:29: “I have become a brother to jackals and a companion to ostriches.” The great owl’s kinship with desert creatures paints a picture of spiritual desolation when God’s fellowship is absent.
•Deuteronomy 14:15 lists the great owl again, doubling down on the command so Israel could not plead ignorance.
•1 Peter 2:9 reminds believers, “You are a chosen people… to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Like Israel, we must choose daylight living over nocturnal lurking.
By excluding the great owl from their diet, Israel rehearsed daily the truth that God’s people thrive in the light, not the gloom.
summaryLeviticus 11:17 is more than an odd lineup of birds—it is a vivid, everyday call to holiness. Each creature—the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl—embodied darkness, greed, or desolation. God’s ban trained Israel to separate from anything that smelled of spiritual impurity. While Christ has fulfilled the dietary law, the character of God displayed in it still speaks. He is holy, He wants a people who live in the light, and He equips us through His Spirit to turn from darkness and soar in the freedom of His marvelous light.
(17)
And the little owl.--With the exception of the parallel passage,
Deuteronomy 14:16, this bird only occurs once more, in
Psalm 102:6, where it is properly rendered in the Authorised Version by "owl," omitting the word "little," and is described as inhabiting deserted ruins. It not only feeds upon insects and molluscs, hares, rabbits, ducks, geese, and birds of prey, but devours mice and rats, which are especially detested by the Jews. Its flesh is, however, regarded by some tribes as very savoury. The name
koswhich is translated "owl" in the three above-named passages, is the common Hebrew word for "cup," and it is supposed that it has been given to this bird because the sitting owl especially widens towards the upper part, thus imparting to it a cup-like appearance.
And the cormorant.--Of all the web-footed birds which prey on fish, cormorants are the most voracious. They usually assemble in flocks on the rocks which overhang the sea, whence they drop down from the greatest height upon their victim, dive after it with the rapidity of a dart, and invariably gulp their prey head foremost. The cormorant is to be found in every climate, and is the destruction of all the finny tribe in any fresh-water river which he happens to occupy for a time. Hence he is called the feathered terror of the finny tribe. From the skill which he displays in casting himself down from a great height, and in plunging dart-like after his victim, he derives his Hebrew name, which denotes "darter." The flesh of the cormorant, though rank, is eaten in some regions; whilst the skin, which is tough, is made into garments. The Hebrew name only occurs again in the duplicate catalogue of unclean animals inDeuteronomy 14:17. By comp.Leviticus 11:17-18 of the list before us with the parallel list inDeuteronomy 14:16-17, it will be seen that though the two catalogues respectively enumerate in these two verses the same six birds, yet the order is different. The cormorant, which is here second inLeviticus 11:17, is in Deuteronomy 14 sixth inLeviticus 11:17. There can, therefore, hardly be any doubt that the verse before us has been disturbed, and that by placing the cormorant here sixth, as it is in Deuteronomy, we obtain the two species of owls naturally following each other, as is the case in the parallel catalogue. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
the little owl,הַכּ֥וֹס(hak·kō·ws)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3563:A cup, a lot, some unclean bird, an owlthe cormorant,הַשָּׁלָ֖ךְ(haš·šā·lāḵ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7994:(bird of prey) probably cormorantthe great owl,הַיַּנְשֽׁוּף׃(hay·yan·šūp̄)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3244:(a ceremonially unclean bird) perhaps an owl
Links
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OT Law: Leviticus 11:17 The little owl the cormorant the great (Le Lv Lev.) 
