אֲנָפָה (a.na.phah)
a.na.phah
heron
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun anaforah refers to a specific type of unclean bird, likely a heron. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within lists of prohibited animals found in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18. These passages detail dietary laws for Israel, distinguishing between clean and unclean creatures.
Lexical sources suggest the word may denote a heron due to its association with wetlands and marshes, habitats typical of such birds. The term itself carries no additional metaphorical weight in Scripture; it functions strictly as a zoological category within the legal code. Its rarity underscores the precision of these ancient classifications rather than any broader theological symbolism.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anaforah appears only twice in the Old Testament, nestled within the dietary laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It refers to a heron, a bird associated with marshes and wetlands. For ancient Israel, this classification was part of a broader system distinguishing clean from unclean animals.
While the term itself carries no direct metaphorical weight for modern faith, its presence reminds us of God’s attention to detail in His instructions. These lists were not arbitrary but reflected a specific cultural and ecological context. Understanding such terms helps us appreciate the precision of Scripture without forcing symbolic meanings where none exist.
This rare word invites us to study the text closely, respecting its original setting. It encourages humility as we navigate laws that may seem distant from our daily lives today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ heron1×
- and/ the/ heron1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הָ/אֲנָפָ֖ה1×
- הָ/אֲנָפָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:19
the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.
This verse lists the heron among unclean birds, showing its role in Israel's dietary separation.
-
Deuteronomy 14:18
the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
Here the heron is repeated in Deuteronomy’s restatement of the law, reinforcing its status as prohibited food.