In the Bible, the lapwing is mentioned only twice, and both times it is listed among the “unclean” birds that the Israelites were instructed not to eat. The first mention can be found in Deuteronomy 14:12, where it says, “But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey, and the vulture, and the kite after his kind; every raven after his kind; and the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, the little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, and the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.”
The second mention of the lapwing is in Leviticus 11:19, which also provides a list of unclean birds: “And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.” These verses are part of the Old Testament dietary laws that were given to the Israelites as part of their religious and cultural practices.
So, what exactly is a lapwing? The lapwing, also known as the northern lapwing or Vanellus vanellus, is a bird species that belongs to the plover family. It is a medium-sized bird with distinctive features. Lapwings have a black and white plumage, with a crest of feathers on their head. They have long legs and a slender body, making them agile on the ground. Their wings are broad and rounded, enabling them to perform impressive aerial displays during courtship and territorial defense.
In biblical times, the lapwing was likely a familiar sight to the Israelites, as the species was found in the region. It is known for its loud, distinctive call and its acrobatic flight patterns. However, the specific reason why the lapwing was classified as an unclean bird in the Bible is not explicitly mentioned.
It is important to note that the classification of certain animals as clean or unclean in the Bible served a symbolic and practical purpose for the Israelites. The dietary laws were intended to set the Israelites apart from other nations and to promote rituals of cleanliness and purity. These laws also helped to ensure the health and well-being of the people by discouraging the consumption of potentially harmful or unclean animals.
While the lapwing’s inclusion in the list of unclean birds may seem arbitrary to us today, it held significance within the context of the ancient Israelite culture and religious practices. The lapwing’s classification as unclean was a part of the larger system of laws and regulations that governed various aspects of life for the Israelites.
The lapwing is mentioned twice in the Bible, both times in a list of unclean birds that the Israelites were instructed not to eat. The lapwing, also known as the northern lapwing, is a medium-sized bird with distinctive black and white plumage. Its inclusion in the list of unclean birds served a symbolic and practical purpose within the context of ancient Israelite culture and religious practices.