אֲנָקָה
some kind of lizard, probably the gecko (from its wail)
Definition
The Hebrew word אֲנָקָה (ʼănâqâh) refers to a specific type of small lizard or reptile, most likely identified as the gecko. This identification is traditionally based on the creature's characteristic wailing or groaning cry, as the word's root relates to 'crying out' or 'groaning.' In the biblical context, it appears exclusively in the list of unclean animals in Leviticus 11:30, which Israelites were forbidden to eat. The precise species remains uncertain, but it is grouped with other small, creeping land animals considered ritually impure.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Leviticus 11:30. It appears within the detailed dietary laws given to Israel, specifically in a list of 'creeping things' that swarm upon the earth. Its usage is purely descriptive and taxonomic within this legal and ritual context, with no narrative or poetic occurrences elsewhere.
Etymology
The noun אֲנָקָה (ʼănâqâh) is derived from the identical feminine noun H603, meaning 'crying' or 'groaning.' This root (אָנַק, ʼānaq) signifies 'to cry,' 'groan,' or 'sigh.' The creature's name, therefore, is likely onomatopoeic, derived from the sound it makes. It shares this etymological connection with words expressing lamentation.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple zoological term, its inclusion in Leviticus 11:30 contributes to the larger theological framework of holiness (קדשׁ) and separation. The dietary laws taught Israel to make distinctions between the clean and the unclean, shaping their identity as a people set apart for God. Understanding that even small, common creatures like the אֲנָקָה were regulated underscores the comprehensive nature of God's covenant and the call to holiness in all aspects of life.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, categorizing animals as clean or unclean was unique to Israel's religious law. While neighboring cultures might have avoided certain animals for practical or superstitious reasons, Israel's system was divinely mandated for ritual purity. The precise identification of the אֲנָקָה is less critical than its function within this symbolic system, which taught obedience and reminded the people of their distinct covenant status.
לְטָאָה (leṭāʼâ, H3911) — a more general term for 'lizard,' also listed as unclean in Leviticus 11:30. צָב (ṣāḇ, H6632) — a term for another kind of lizard or possibly a tortoise, also in the unclean list (Leviticus 11:29).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →