Leviticus 11:14-16 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The vulture and the kite Known birds of prey. Every raven All interpreters agree that the Hebrew word ערב, gnoreb, signifies raven, from gnereb, evening, on account of its colour. After his kind Including crows, rooks, pyes. The owl The original word, literally daughter of the echo, signifies a bird which inhabits desolate places, as appears from Isaiah 13:21; Jeremiah 50:32, where the same word occurs. This description agrees well to the owl. It must be observed, however, that there is great uncertainty as to the meaning of several of the Hebrew names here used, the Jews themselves acknowledging the meaning of many of them to be now lost. Add to this that the animals in the eastern countries differ greatly from those of our climate, and for want of a better knowledge of them, it is probable that in giving them the names of such animals as we are acquainted with here, we often greatly err. This consideration might convince the Jews of the absurdity of pretending still to adhere to the law of Moses; since it is evident, in many cases, they know not what is forbidden, and what is not.