לְטָאָה (le.ta.ah)
le.ta.ah
lizard
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 leṭāʾâ refers to a specific type of lizard, appearing only once in the Old Testament at Leviticus 11:30. In this context, it is listed among various creeping creatures that are declared unclean for the Israelites to eat. The text groups it with animals like the gecko and the chameleon, indicating it was a recognized part of the local fauna known to the ancient audience.
Its precise identity remains uncertain because the exact species is difficult to pin down today. Some scholars suggest it might refer to an extinct animal or a specific reptile whose name has been lost to time. Despite this ambiguity, its theological function is clear: it serves as a boundary marker in the dietary laws, distinguishing between animals that are permissible and those that are not.
Translators typically render it simply as "lizard" or "gecko," acknowledging the lack of a perfect modern equivalent. The word highlights the detailed nature of holiness codes in Leviticus, where even small creatures play a role in defining the community’s ritual purity. This single mention underscores how ancient Israelite law engaged with the natural world around them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word leṭāʾâ appears only once in Scripture, listed among unclean creatures in Leviticus 11:30. This single mention places it alongside other small reptiles like the gecko and chameleon. For ancient Israel, these distinctions were not about hygiene alone but about setting apart a people who belonged to God.
While we may not know the exact species today, the text invites us to consider how holiness involves attention to detail. It reminds us that God cares about the small things in our lives as much as the large ones. This perspective encourages a life of mindful obedience, where every action reflects reverence for the Creator.
Ultimately, these laws point toward a deeper spiritual reality. They teach us to recognize what is pure and what is not, helping us walk in ways that honor God. This awareness fosters a heart that seeks to please Him in all areas 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/ wall lizard1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/לְּטָאָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:30
the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.
This verse lists the leṭāʾâ among other creeping things, showing its role in defining ritual purity for the Israelite community.