H8580 H8580
an unclean bird or reptile, possibly barn owl, white owl, ibis, chameleon, or lizard
This term appears in Levitical purity laws but presents a genuine identification puzzle. In Leviticus 11:18 and Deuteronomy 14:16, it designates an unclean bird—possibly the barn owl, white owl, or ibis. Yet in Leviticus 11:30, the same word lists among unclean reptiles, suggesting a chameleon or lizard. Ancient lexicographers proposed the chameleon was named for allegedly living on air, though this etymology doesn't fit the bird usage. The multilingual evidence reveals ongoing translator uncertainty, with each tradition making different choices about this enigmatic creature.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The cross-lingual glosses reveal deep uncertainty about this creature's identity. English translators opt for 'barn owl,' 'white owl,' or 'chameleon' depending on context. Spanish chooses 'ibis' and 'toad/mole,' while French and German largely preserve transliterations. This reflects the ancient puzzle: how can one term span birds and reptiles? The clearest biblical fact is its ritual impurity—whether it flies or crawls, it was forbidden to Israel. 3×
AR["الْقُوقَ", "وَ-التِّنْشَمَةَ", "وَ-الْوَزَغَةُ"]·ben["-শ্বেত-পেচা", "এবং-তিনশেমেথ"]·DE["der-weiss-owl", "und-der-Scheune-owl", "und-der-chameleon"]·EN["and-the-barn-owl", "and-the-chameleon", "the-white-owl"]·FR["et-le-barn-owl", "et-le-chameleon", "le-blanc-owl"]·heb["ה-תנשמת", "ו-ה-והתנשמת", "ו-ה-תנשמת"]·HI["और-गिरगिट", "और-तिनशेमेत", "सफेद उल्लू"]·ID["burung-undan", "dan-bunglon", "dan-burung-undan"]·IT["e-il-barn-owl", "e-il-chameleon", "il-bianco-owl"]·jav["lan-bunglon", "lan-manukondhok.", "manuk-kodhok"]·KO["그-흰-올빼미를", "그리고-그-두더지를", "그리고-그-박쥐를"]·PT["a-coruja-branca", "e-a-toupeira", "e-a-íbis"]·RU["и-сипуху", "и-хамелеон", "ибиса"]·ES["el-ibis", "y-el-topo", "y-la-lechuza"]·SW["bundi-wa-masikio", "na-kinyonga-mkubwa", "na-mumba"]·TR["pelikana", "ve-köstebek", "ve-peçeli-baykşu"]·urd["اور-تنشمے", "اور-گرگٹ", "چمگادڑ"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† תִּנְשֶׁ֫מֶת n.f. an animal;—ת׳ Lv 11:18, תִּנְשָּׁ֑מֶת Lv 11:30 Dt 14:16:— 1. unclean bird, the ibis, water-hen, 𝔊 πορφυρίων, (acc. TristrNHB 249); or species of owl (Di Bu SS); pelican (Ges): Lv 11:18 = Dt 14:16. 2. unclean שֶׁרֶץ Lv 11:30, lizard (Saad TristrNHB 120), or chameleon (BoHieroz. i. 1078 ff.; ed. Rosenm. ii. 503 ff.), so most; (deriving name from alleged living on air, PlinNH viii. 51; but this not applicable to 1; cf. LagBN 130 f.).