דּוּכִיפַת (du.khi.phat)
du.khi.phat
hoopoe
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 du kiphat refers to an unclean bird, with most scholars identifying it as the hoopoe. This small, distinctive bird is known for its crown of feathers and its unique feeding habits, which likely contributed to its classification among creatures prohibited for consumption in Levitical law.
It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within the list of unclean animals in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18. Its inclusion alongside birds like the owl and the stork highlights the ritual boundaries drawn for ancient Israelite communities, separating clean from unclean creatures based on specific physical or behavioral traits observed by the scribes.
The exact identity remains a subject of minor debate, but the consensus leans heavily toward the hoopoe due to its common presence in the region and its distinct appearance. The word itself may be of foreign origin, possibly Egyptian or Canaanite, reflecting the practical knowledge of local wildlife that informed these dietary regulations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word du kiphat identifies the hoopoe, a bird known for its distinctive crest and unique feeding habits. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears only twice, listed among creatures deemed unclean in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18. These passages outline dietary laws that separated Israel from neighboring cultures, using specific physical or behavioral traits to define ritual boundaries.
For modern readers, this word highlights how ancient communities understood their relationship with the natural world. The inclusion of such a specific bird suggests that these laws were grounded in observable reality rather than abstract theory. While the dietary restrictions no longer apply to Christians, the careful attention to creation reflects a worldview where even small creatures have a place in God's order.
Understanding this term helps us appreciate the precision of Scripture. It reminds us that biblical instructions often addressed practical daily life, guiding people toward holiness through everyday choices. The hoopoe stands as a small but clear marker of these ancient distinctions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ hoopoe1×
- and/ the/ hoopoe1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/דּוּכִיפַ֖ת1×
- הַ/דּוּכִיפַ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:19
the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.
This verse places the hoopoe in the foundational list of unclean birds, establishing its status within the Mosaic law.
-
Deuteronomy 14:18
the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
Here the bird is repeated in the restatement of dietary laws, reinforcing the boundary between clean and unclean creatures for a new generation.