קָאַת
probably the pelican (from vomiting)
Definition
The Hebrew word קָאַת (qâʼath) refers to an unclean bird in the Mosaic Law, likely a type of water bird such as the pelican or cormorant. Its identification is based on its association with desolate places in Psalms 102:6 and Isaiah 34:11, habitats typical for pelicans. The name may derive from the root for 'vomit,' possibly describing the bird's feeding habits. In all biblical occurrences, it is listed among other birds forbidden as food for the Israelites.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in lists of unclean birds within legal and prophetic contexts. It is found in the dietary laws of Leviticus 11:18 and Deuteronomy 14:17, and poetically in descriptions of desolation in Psalms 102:6, Isaiah 34:11, and Zephaniah 2:14. Its usage consistently conveys impurity or abandonment, never in a positive or neutral light.
Etymology
Derived from the root קוֹא (qôʼ, H6958), meaning 'to vomit.' This likely describes the pelican's characteristic behavior of regurgitating food for its young or disgorging indigestible parts, which influenced the bird's Hebrew name.
Semantic Range
As an unclean bird, קָאַת underscores the biblical theme of holiness and separation, teaching Israel to distinguish between the clean and unclean (Leviticus 20:25). Its appearance in prophecies of desolation (Isaiah 34:11) symbolizes God's judgment turning thriving places into habitats for unclean creatures, reinforcing the consequences of covenant rebellion.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, certain birds were avoided due to dietary laws and their association with death or wilderness. The pelican/cormorant, often found in desolate marshes or ruins, would have been viewed as a symbol of isolation and impurity, contrasting with domestic or sacrificial animals.
עֹרֵב (ʿōrēḇ, H6158) — raven, another unclean bird of desolation. תִּנְשֶׁמֶת (tinšemeṯ, H8580) — a general term for unclean swarming creatures, including birds. יַנְשׁוּף (yanšûp̄, H3244) — owl, also an unclean bird inhabiting ruins.
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.
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