אֲנָקָה (a.na.qah)
a.na.qah
gecko
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun a.na.qah refers to a small creature classified as unclean in the dietary laws of Leviticus 11:30. Modern translations often render it as "gecko," though some versions use "ferret" or "shrew-mouse." The exact identity of this animal remains uncertain, with scholars suggesting it may even be an extinct species whose precise characteristics are no longer known.
Its inclusion in the list of detestable animals highlights the careful distinctions made in ancient Israelite law regarding clean and unclean creatures. While the specific biological classification is debated, its presence in the Torah underscores the ritual boundaries that separated holy practices from common ones. The word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, leaving its full connotations to be inferred from this single legal context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anakah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, listed among the creatures deemed unclean in Leviticus 11:30. While modern translations often call it a gecko, its exact identity remains uncertain to scholars. This single mention highlights how ancient Israelite law drew careful boundaries between clean and unclean animals.
For your faith today, this rare word reminds us that holiness involves attentive distinction. God’s commands were not arbitrary but designed to teach His people about purity and separation. Even small, obscure details in Scripture reflect a God who cares about the specifics of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ the/ gecko1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הָ/אֲנָקָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:30
the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.
This verse lists the gecko among other reptiles as unclean, showing how dietary laws included even small, unnoticed creatures.