Birds
Leviticus 11:13–19; Deuteronomy 14:11–18
Bat: the Bible calls it a bird"Birds" is a case in point in regards to biblical definitions. While modern biology does not include bats among the taxonomic class of birds, the Bible groups them together into one category. The term in Hebrew used here for birds (ohf, עוף) comes from a verbal root meaning "to fly," although some of the species of birds listed cannot actually fly.1
In each of the other categories of animals, the Bible gives us general rules by which we can determine whether or not a species of animal is kosher. With birds, no such rule is given. People often look at the list of species prohibited by the Bible and note that many of them appear to be birds of prey or scavengers; however, it is critical to note that Scripture never mentions such a pattern. Rather, the text seems to indicate that there is a considerable but finite list of non-kosher birds. It would appear that all other birds may be eaten, regardless of their physical characteristics or diet.
However, we are presented with a serious problem regarding the list of non-kosher birds. Jewish tradition is uncertain about the exact identity of many of the twenty birds that are proscribed. Most of the time we take for granted the important role Jewish tradition plays in preserving the meanings of Hebrew words. If it had not been for Jewish tradition, Hebrew would be as obscure as the language of the ancient Mayans. It is only because of Jewish tradition that we can read and translate the Hebrew Bible.The meanings of many words (such as tzitzit, ציצית) would be a complete mystery. The vocalization of the text (i.e. the placement of vowels and accents), which can have a significant impact on meaning, could only be speculated since it was preserved orally until about one millennium ago. For that matter, it was Jewish tradition that decided what books are authoritative and included in the canon in the first place. But in this case, we are at a loss because tradition is unable to provide us with answers.
Pigeons: a kosher species of bird (source)Our English translations, unfortunately, do not typically communicate that uncertainty. They do their best to find a likely candidate for each bird named and leave it at that. This is particularly the case in Christian translations, where the editors would see no practical reason for someone to need to know the exact identity of each bird, since they believe that kosher law no longer applies.2 Among Jewish Bibles, the JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society) mentions in a footnote that "a number of these cannot be identified with certainty," and the Stone Edition Tanach (ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications) leaves many of them untranslated with suggestions in footnotes.
As a result of that uncertainty, the Jewish community has taken the approach that to be safe, one must only eat birds for which there is a reliable tradition that it is kosher. This may seem like a drastic measure, but it is the only way to be certain to avoid the species that are off-limits.
Some of the birds that are considered "safe" are chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys,3 pheasants, doves, and pigeons. Most birds typically eaten in Western cultures fall into this category, although recently ostrich and emu farms (both non-kosher) have become more mainstream.4
- 1. ArtScroll cites R' Saadia and Chizkuni in identifying the bat haya'anah (בת היענה) as the ostrich. Scherman, Nosson and Zlotowitz, Meir. The Stone Edition Tanach. Mesorah Publications. 1998.
- 2. "Among the fowls - The true signification of the following Hebrew words is now lost, as the Jews at this day confess; which not falling out without God's singular providence may intimate the cessation of this law, the exact observation whereof since Christ came is become impossible" (John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible, Leviticus 11:13). "From our imperfect knowledge of the natural history of Palestine, Arabia, and the contiguous countries at that time, it is not easy to determine exactly what some of the prohibited birds were; although they must have been all well known among the people to whom these laws were given" (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, Leviticus 11:13–19).
- 3. There is some dispute about the turkey, but there is a general consensus that it is safe.
- 4. Yi, Matthew. Bird meat gaining popularity Associated Press. 09/23/1998. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-19528749.html