Coney
Identifying the Coney
The animal called "coney" in older English translations of the Bible is the Syrian hyrax, a small mammal about the size of a rabbit. Despite its superficial resemblance to rodents, the hyrax is actually more closely related to elephants and manatees, a surprising fact of zoology. The Hebrew word used in Scripture is now universally identified with the hyrax rather than the rabbit, which the English word "coney" originally meant.
The Syrian hyrax is reddish-brown in color and lacks the long hind legs characteristic of rabbits. It has short, rounded ears and a compact body. Its feet have rubbery pads that provide exceptional grip on rocky surfaces, allowing it to climb steep cliffs with remarkable agility. These features make the hyrax perfectly adapted to its preferred habitat among the rocks and crags of the Middle Eastern landscape.
The Coney in the Dietary Laws
The coney appears in the lists of animals declared unclean for Israelite consumption. Leviticus 11:5 states, "The rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you." The same classification appears in Deuteronomy 14:7. The hyrax is not technically a ruminant, but its distinctive chewing motion, in which it moves its jaws in a manner that closely resembles cud-chewing, led the biblical writers to classify it among animals that appear to chew the cud.
The dietary laws classified animals as clean or unclean based on observable characteristics. For land animals, the two requirements were split hooves and cud-chewing. The hyrax appears to meet one criterion but not the other, placing it in the unclean category along with the camel and the hare (Leviticus 11:4-6).
The Coney in Wisdom Literature
The most memorable reference to the coney appears in Proverbs 30:26: "The rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs." This verse is part of a series of observations about four small creatures that display remarkable wisdom despite their physical insignificance. The ant stores food, the rock badger finds secure shelter, the locust moves in disciplined ranks, and the lizard can be found even in kings' palaces (Proverbs 30:24-28).
The lesson is that wisdom and security do not require strength. The hyrax compensates for its vulnerability by choosing an impregnable habitat. The steep cliffs and rocky crevices where it makes its home provide protection from predators that the hyrax could never outrun or outfight. This observation carries a spiritual implication: the wise person, like the rock badger, finds safety not in personal strength but in taking refuge in what is secure and immovable.
The Coney and God's Care for Creation
Psalm 104:18 places the rock badger within a hymn celebrating God's provision for all creatures: "The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers." The psalmist marvels at how God has designed the natural world so that every creature has its place. The mountains and cliffs are not barren wastelands but divinely provided habitats for specific animals. This verse reflects the broader biblical theme that God's creative wisdom extends to the smallest and most overlooked parts of the natural order.
Natural History
The Syrian hyrax lives in colonies among rocks and cliffs throughout the Middle East, from the Dead Sea region to Lebanon and the Sinai Peninsula. Colonies typically include a dominant male, several females, and their young. Hyraxes are social animals that post sentinels to watch for predators and communicate through a variety of vocalizations. They bask in the sun during the morning hours, as their bodies have difficulty regulating temperature independently. Their diet consists primarily of vegetation, and they rarely venture far from the safety of their rocky shelters.
Biblical Context
The coney (rock badger/hyrax) appears in the dietary laws of Leviticus 11:5 and Deuteronomy 14:7 as an unclean animal. It is praised for its wisdom in Proverbs 30:26 as one of four small but remarkably wise creatures. Psalm 104:18 includes it in a celebration of God's provision for all creatures in the natural world.
Theological Significance
The coney illustrates the biblical principle that God values and provides for all His creatures, not just the large and powerful. Its inclusion in the wisdom literature of Proverbs teaches that true security comes from finding refuge in the right place, a lesson easily applied to the spiritual life of finding refuge in God. The dietary laws, in which the coney appears, also taught Israel to live distinctly among the nations, making even eating a daily reminder of covenant identity.
Historical Background
The Syrian hyrax has been identified by naturalists and scholars as the animal referred to in the Hebrew Bible since the 19th century. Earlier translations used 'coney' (rabbit) or 'rock badger,' but modern zoological identification has settled on the hyrax. Hyraxes are found throughout the rocky terrain of Palestine, Sinai, and East Africa. Ancient Near Eastern peoples would have been familiar with these animals, which live in conspicuous colonies on cliff faces and are easily observed.