Lapwing
A Case of Mistaken Identity
The lapwing appears in the King James Version of Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18 as one of the birds the Israelites were forbidden to eat. However, modern translations have corrected this identification. The Hebrew word in question is 'dukhiphath,' which scholars now universally agree refers to the hoopoe (Upupa epops), not the lapwing. This correction appears in virtually all modern Bible translations, including the ESV, NIV, and NASB.
The Hoopoe: The Correct Identification
The hoopoe is a striking bird with a distinctive fan-shaped crest of feathers on its head, a long curved bill, and bold black-and-white striped wings. It is widespread across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia. The hoopoe was well known in the ancient world and featured prominently in the folklore of many cultures. In 2008, Israel even designated the hoopoe as its national bird. The bird feeds on insects by probing the ground with its bill, and it has a famously foul-smelling nest — a characteristic that may have contributed to its classification as unclean.
Why the Hoopoe Was Considered Unclean
The lists of unclean birds in Leviticus 11:13-19 and Deuteronomy 14:11-18 include various birds of prey, scavengers, and other species that the Israelites were commanded not to eat. The hoopoe's inclusion likely relates to its feeding habits and nesting behavior. The female hoopoe and her chicks produce a foul-smelling secretion in their nests as a defense mechanism against predators. This, combined with the bird's habit of feeding in dung and refuse, would have made it ritually and practically undesirable as food.
The Lapwing vs. the Hoopoe
The lapwing (genus Vanellus) is actually a type of plover found across Europe and Asia. Unlike the hoopoe, the lapwing's flesh and eggs were considered delicious food in the ancient world and were widely consumed. The two birds share a superficial resemblance — both have crests — but they differ significantly in size, coloring, behavior, and habitat. The confusion in translation likely arose because early English translators were unfamiliar with the hoopoe but knew the crested lapwing from their own experience in northern Europe.
Lessons from Biblical Bird Lists
The dietary laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy reflect God's concern for every aspect of Israel's life, including what they ate. These regulations served multiple purposes: they set Israel apart from surrounding nations, they promoted health and hygiene, and they taught the people to make distinctions between clean and unclean — a principle that carried deep spiritual meaning. The careful identification of specific bird species demonstrates the precision and practical nature of the Mosaic law, even when later translators struggled to match ancient Hebrew terms with their correct modern equivalents.
Biblical Context
The lapwing/hoopoe appears in the two parallel lists of unclean birds in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18. These chapters contain God's dietary instructions given to Israel through Moses, defining which animals were permissible to eat and which were forbidden. The bird lists come at the end of sections covering land animals and aquatic creatures, forming part of the broader holiness code.
Theological Significance
The dietary laws, including the prohibition against eating the hoopoe, reflect God's call for Israel to be holy and set apart. These distinctions between clean and unclean taught Israel to exercise discernment in all areas of life. In the New Testament, the clean/unclean distinction takes on new meaning when Peter receives a vision declaring all foods clean (Acts 10:9-15), signaling the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan of salvation.
Historical Background
The hoopoe was well known throughout the ancient Near East. It appears in Egyptian art and was associated with various myths in Greek and Arabian culture. The bird's distinctive appearance made it easily recognizable. The mistranslation as 'lapwing' in the KJV reflects the challenges faced by sixteenth- and seventeenth-century translators working with limited knowledge of Middle Eastern fauna. The correct identification as hoopoe has been accepted since at least the mid-nineteenth century.