H6893 H6893
pelican or desert owl; an unclean bird inhabiting desolate ruins and wilderness
An unclean bird listed among prohibited species in Leviticus 11:18 and Deuteronomy 14:17. Its identification is debated: ancient versions often render it 'pelican' (so the Greek and Latin of Psalm 102:6), but its association with desert ruins in Isaiah 34:11 and Zephaniah 2:14 has led many modern scholars to identify it as a type of owl or bittern. Psalm 102:6 uses it as a poignant image of desolate loneliness: 'I am like a desert owl in the wilderness.' Spanish consistently renders 'pelicano,' while English translations vary between 'pelican' and 'desert owl.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — An unclean bird of uncertain identification, traditionally rendered 'pelican' but possibly a species of owl or bittern suited to desolate habitats. Listed as ritually unclean (Lev 11:18; Deut 14:17) and associated with ruined, abandoned places (Isa 34:11; Zeph 2:14). In Ps 102:6 the psalmist likens himself to this creature in the wilderness as an image of profound loneliness. The divergence between Spanish 'pelicano' and English 'desert owl' reflects the ongoing zoological uncertainty. 5×
AR["البَجَعُ", "الْبَجَعةُ", "الْبَجَعَ", "بَجَعة", "وَ-الْقَوْقَ"]·ben["-হাড়গিলা", "এবং-মরুভূমির-পেঁচা", "পেচা", "পেলিক্যান", "সেই-পেলিকানের"]·DE["[קאת]", "der-pelican", "ein-Wüste-owl", "und-der-pelican"]·EN["a-desert-owl", "and-the-pelican", "pelican", "the-desert-owl", "the-pelican"]·FR["[קאת]", "et-le-pelican", "le-pelican", "pélican", "à-pélican"]·heb["ה-קאת", "ו-ה-קאת", "ל-קאת", "קאת"]·HI["और-काअत", "धनेश", "पेलिकन", "पेलिकन-के", "हवासील"]·ID["Dan-burung-undan", "burung-pelikan", "burung-undan"]·IT["[קאת]", "e-il-pelican", "il-pelican", "pellicano"]·jav["Lan-peksi-gayang", "manuk-undan", "peksi-undan", "qâʾat"]·KO["그-사다새를", "그리고-그-사다새와", "사다새가", "페리칸-에게", "펠리칸이"]·PT["com-o-pelícano", "e-o-pelicano", "o-pelicano", "pelicano", "pelicão"]·RU["И-пеликана", "пеликан", "пеликана", "пеликану"]·ES["a-pelícano-de", "el-pelícano", "pelícano", "y-el-pelícano"]·SW["Na-mwari", "mwari", "na-ndege-wa"]·TR["leşçili", "pelikan", "sakaga", "ve-pelikan", "çöl-baykuşuna"]·urd["اور-ہاتھی", "بیابان-کے-پرندے-کی", "خوردبین", "پیلکن", "ہاوک"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† קָאַת, קָאָת n.[f.] a bird, usually pelican (cf. 𝔊 Lv Dt ψ, 𝔙 ψ (der. by Thes from [קוא], קיא (v. Köii. 1, 173, and, on ת, Ges§ 80 g), as throwing up food from its crop for its young); but sea-fowl improb. in ψ Is; NH קָאָת, 𝔗 קָאתָא id.);—abs. הַקָּאָת Lv 11:18 = Dt 14:17, as unclean; קָאַת (van d. H. Gi; Baer קָאָת) Is 34:11; Zp 2:14, as inhabiting ruins; cstr. קְאַת מִדְבָּר ψ 102:7, sim. of loneliness.