Leviticus 11:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The little owl, cormorant, and great owl continue Israel's clearly prohibited covenant fowl list. The verse is brief because it carries forward the controlling command from verse 13, and its traditional KJV names should be handled without unsupported modern species certainty.
The little owl, cormorant, and great owl are specifically named among the fowls that Israel was prohibited from eating under this law.
The Context of Leviticus 11:17
Leviticus 11:13 introduces a sequence of fowls that Israel must not eat. Verses 13 through 16 name several creatures, including every raven and the hawk after his kind. Verse 17 adds the little owl, cormorant, and great owl. Two more verses complete the list before the subject changes to flying creeping things. Deuteronomy 14 gives a closely corresponding list, although its order places the little owl, great owl, and swan together, followed by the pelican, gier eagle, and cormorant. Comparing the passages shows stable covenant instruction alongside small differences in arrangement. Leviticus later grounds all these food distinctions in Israel's holy calling.
What Does Leviticus 11:17 Mean?
The repeated and links three more entries to the list already governed by they shall not be eaten. This line neither gives a new rule nor supplies individual explanations for the creatures. Its purpose is cumulative classification. The little owl, cormorant, and great owl all belong to the prohibited fowl category for Israel. Because punctuation and verse numbers can visually separate the entry from verse 13, a trustworthy study must restore that governing command and resist making the reader guess why three animal names matter.
Animal naming deserves caution here. Little owl and great owl sound comparative in English, while cormorant is a familiar traditional name, yet an exact mapping to modern species may remain debated in reference literature. The verse itself does not provide measurements, habitats, or distinguishing marks. We should not manufacture those details or make a scientific claim from the English terms alone. The secure interpretation concerns Israel's table and the continuation of the prohibited list. Comparing Deuteronomy helps confirm that function even though its neighboring order differs.
These food exclusions operate within God's good created world. Genesis says that God made winged creatures and saw that his work was good. Jesus likewise uses the Father's provision for fowls to teach freedom from consuming anxiety. Christian readers can therefore respect Israel's holy discipline and also treat living creatures as objects of divine care. The names in this verse must never become excuses to mock people for night work, eyesight, age, body shape, diet, or cultural background. Following Christ joins faithful reading with dignifying speech, calm trust, and hospitable meals.
Bible Verses Related to Leviticus 11:17
“And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.”
- Leviticus 11:13-19
“Of all clean birds ye shall eat. But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, And every raven after his kind, And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, 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.”
- Deuteronomy 14:11-18
“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.”
- Genesis 1:20-23
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
- Matthew 6:26
Where Leviticus 11:17 Echoes in Scripture
Deuteronomy 14:16-17 includes the little owl, great owl, and cormorant in its corresponding prohibited list, though the neighboring order is different. That careful parallel confirms the food classification and reminds readers to preserve each passage's exact arrangement when making comparisons.
How to Apply Leviticus 11:17 Today
When a verse continues a list, identify the governing command and read through the end of the unit. Create a comparison table if needed, keeping Leviticus and Deuteronomy in separate columns so no wording or order is silently changed. Mark uncertain animal identifications honestly and avoid dramatic claims about behavior that the text never states. Do not use owl or other bird names to belittle disability, appearance, age, sleep patterns, or intelligence. At meals, ask privately about restrictions and provide careful choices. Let attention to birds nurture gratitude and responsible creation care under current local guidance.
Reflection & Prayer
Will we let a short list verse train patient attention rather than invite confident invention? We might pray: 'LORD of all living things, steady our reading, restrain careless claims, teach us trust through Jesus, and make our words and tables safe for every neighbor.'