Ostrich Dietary Laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy
The dietary laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy classify the ostrich as an unclean bird, prohibiting its consumption [2, 4]. These laws are part of a broader set of regulations concerning clean and unclean animals, which are detailed in Leviticus 11 and reiterated in Deuteronomy 14 [6].
Leviticus, the third book of the Pentateuch, primarily outlines the Levitical service and includes extensive laws regarding sacrifices and priestly duties [1]. Within this framework, specific animals are designated as unfit for consumption. Deuteronomy largely repeats these dietary laws, emphasizing the distinction between clean and unclean foods [6]. For instance, Deuteronomy 14:15 explicitly lists the ostrich among other birds that are not to be eaten [2].
The Hebrew term for ostrich, ya'anah, is sometimes rendered as "daughter of the ostrich" in rabbinic literature, but it consistently refers to the ostrich itself [5]. The ostrich is described in ancient texts as a large bird, almost beast-like, known for its speed and its habit of laying eggs that are sometimes poorly covered, making them vulnerable to predators [3, 4]. The prohibition against eating the ostrich is part of a larger category of forbidden fowl, which also includes various birds of prey and scavengers [2].
Maimonides, in his Mishneh Torah, explains that any food derived from forbidden species, such as eggs from a forbidden bird, is also prohibited by Scriptural Law [5]. This principle extends to the ostrich, meaning its eggs would also be considered unclean. The dietary laws in both Leviticus and Deuteronomy serve to distinguish the Israelites and maintain their ritual purity [1, 6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Leviticus — The third book of the Pentateuch; so called in the Vulgate, after the LXX., because it treats chiefly of the Levitical service. In the first section of the book (1-17), which exhibits the worship itself, there is, (1.) A series of laws (1-7) regarding sacrifices, burnt-offerings, meat-offerings, and thank-offerings (1-3), sin-offerings and trespass-offerings (4; 5), followed by the law of the priestly duties in connection with the offering of sacrifices (6; 7). (2.) An historical section (8-10), giving an account of the consecration of Aaron and his sons ”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 14:15 (BBE) — And the ostrich and the night-hawk and the sea-hawk and birds of that sort;”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ostrich — (Lam. 4:3), the rendering of Hebrew pl. enim; so called from its greediness and gluttony. The allusion here is to the habit of the ostrich with reference to its eggs, which is thus described: "The outer layer of eggs is generally so ill covered that they are destroyed in quantities by jackals, wild-cats, etc., and that the natives carry them away, only taking care not to leave the marks of their footsteps, since, when the ostrich comes and finds that her nest is discovered, she crushes the whole brood, and builds a nest elsewhere." In Job 39:13 this word in”
- Leviticus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Leviticus 11:16: And the owl,.... The great and little owls being after mentioned, it seems best, by the word here used, to understand the "ostrich" with the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, the Oriental versions, and the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan: the account which Pliny (p) gives of the African and Ethiopic ostriches is this; that they are the largest of birds, and almost of the kind of beasts; that they exceed the height of a horseman on horseback, and are swifter than the horses; that their wings are given them to help them in their running, otherwise they are not flying fowls”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Forbidden Foods 3:1: Any food that is produced from forbidden species for which lashes are given for partaking of 1 I.e., foods that are forbidden by a negative commandment. is forbidden to be eaten according to Scriptural Law, e.g., milk from a forbidden species of domesticated animal or wild beast or the eggs of a forbidden species of birds or fish. [This is derived from Leviticus 11:16 which mentions]: "the bat of the ostrich." [Our Sages 2 Chullin 64b. The term literally means "the daughter of the ostrich." Our Sages, however, expanded the inter”
- Deuteronomy (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Deuteronomy 14:3: With reference to food, the Israelites were to eat nothing whatever that was abominable. In explanation of this prohibition, the laws of Lev 11 relating to clean and unclean animals are repeated in all essential points in vv. 4-20 (for the exposition, see at Lev 11); also in Deu 14:21 the prohibition against eating any animal that had fallen down dead (as in Exo 32:30 and Lev 17:15), and against boiling a kid in its mother's milk (as in Exo 23:19).”