Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 11:14
And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
14. the kite ] vulture A.V. The Heb. word d’h occurs only here as the name of a bird, but a similar word dayyh is found in Deu 14:13 and Isa 34:15 ( kite [ s ] R.V., vulture [ s ] A.V.) only. The Heb. words in Lev. and Deut. are
Lev. d’h (kite) ’ayyah (falcon),
Deut. r’h (glede) ’ayyah (falcon) dayyah (kite).
r’h is doubtless a copyist’s error for d’h (it has been translated in R.V. and A.V. ‘glede,’ an old English word for ‘kite’), and dayyah may have been added instead of the omitted d’h.
the falcon ] kite A.V. The word occurs here, in Deu 14:13 and Job 28:7 ( vulture A.V.) only.
The expression ‘after his kind’ following, implies that several varieties of this bird were known. The Heb. ’ayyah may be derived from the bird’s cry which is rendered in Arabic as y y.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 14. The vulture] daah, from the root to fly, and therefore more probably the kite or glede, from its remarkable property of gliding or sailing with expanded wings through the air. The daah is a different bird from the daiyah, which signifies the vulture. See Bochart, vol. iii., col. 195.
The kite] aiyah, thought by some to be the vulture, by others the merlin. Parkhurst thinks it has its name from the root avah, to covet, because of its rapaciousness; some contend that the kite is meant. That it is a species of the hawk, most learned men allow. See Bochart, vol. iii., col. 192.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
14. the vultureThe word sorendered in our version means more probably “the kite” or”glede” and describes a varying but majestic flight,exactly that of the kite, which now darts forward with the rapidityof an arrow, now rests motionless on its expanded wings in the air.It feeds on small birds, insects, and fish.
the kitethe vulture.In Egypt and perhaps in the adjoining countries also, the kite andvulture are often seen together flying in company, or busily pursuingtheir foul but important office of devouring the carrion and relicsof putrefying flesh, which might otherwise pollute the atmosphere.
after his kindthat is,the prohibition against eating it extended to the whole species.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the vulture, and the kite after his kind. Perhaps it might be better if the version was inverted, and the words be read, “and the kite, and the vulture, after his kind”; and the last word is by us rendered the vulture in Job 28:7 and very rightly, since the kite is not remarkable for its sight, any other than all rapacious creatures are, whereas the vulture is to a proverb; and besides, of the vulture there are two sorts, as Aristotle says k, the one lesser and whiter, the other larger and more of an ash colour; and there are some that are of the eagle kind l, whereas there is but one sort of kites; though Ainsworth makes mention of two, the greater of a ruddy colour, common in England, and the lesser of a blacker colour, known in Germany, but produces no authority for it; however, these are both ravenous creatures: of the kite, Aelianus says m, it is very rapacious, and will take meat out of the meat market, but not touch any sacrificed to Jupiter; the truth of which may well be questioned; and of vultures he reports n, that they will watch a dying man, and follow armies going to battle, expecting prey; [See comments on Mt 24:28].
k Hist. Animal. l. 8. c. 3. l Aristot. ib. l. 9. c. 32. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 3. Aelian. de Animal. l. 2. c. 46. m De Animal. l. 2. c. 42. n Ib. c. 46.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) And the vulture.Rather, the kite. Its name in the original (dh), which literally denotes the swift, majestic and gliding flier, appropriately describes this bird, which sails with its expanded wings through the air, where it often pauses as if suspended, watching for its prey. Kites are very plentiful in Syria, and are frequently seen hovering over the plains, the villages, and the outskirts of towns, and looking out for garbage and offal, and hence are often seen in company with the vulture at their useful task of devouring the carrion. Their gregarious habits are referred to by Isaiah (Isa. 34:15), where they are mentioned in company with other raptatores as suitable inhabitants of devastated Edom. The kite is used by different Eastern tribes as food.
And the kite.Rather, the falcon. The greedy one (ayah), as it is called in the original, fitly describes this most sagacious, sanguinary, and rapacious robber. Its piercing sight is referred to by Job (28:7), where it is translated vulture in the Authorised Version, though in the passage before us and in the parallel passage in Deu. 14:13, it is rendered kite. It exists in Syria in a great variety of species, for which reason the text adds after his kind. The falcon is eaten in the Levant, and is considered rather delicate.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. The vulture The Hebrew dayyah is found only here. Since the parallel word in Deu 14:13 is rayyah, milvius in the Vulgate, some Hebraists regard this as the black kite, but we are inclined to sustain the accuracy of the Authorized Version. The griffon vulture is universally distributed in all the mountainous and rocky districts of Palestine. Its favourite breeding places are between Jerusalem and Jericho and all around the Dead Sea. By a peculiar instinct it follows armies, vast numbers having congregated in the Crimea in the Russian war, although previously they had been rarely seen in that peninsula. Job 28:7, note.
The kite Hebrew ayyah, translated vulture in Job 28:7, and kite in the only other passage, Deu 14:13. Of all the birds of prey this has the keenest vision. See reference in Job. Its habitat is near to cities, and its food is moles, rats, mice, frogs, the young of game birds, offal, and dead birds. Pigeons associate with him without harm. This bird was common in London in the seventeenth century.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 11:14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
Ver. 14. And the vulture, and the kite. ] That feed upon carrion and dead carcasses, and are emblems of greedy gripers and oppressors.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
vulture: or kite.
kite = falcon.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reciprocal: Lev 11:28 – shall wash Deu 14:13 – the glede
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 11:14-16. The vulture and the kite Known birds of prey. Every raven All interpreters agree that the Hebrew word , gnoreb, signifies raven, from gnereb, evening, on account of its colour. After his kind Including crows, rooks, pyes. The owl The original word, literally daughter of the echo, signifies a bird which inhabits desolate places, as appears from Isa 13:21; Jer 50:32, where the same word occurs. This description agrees well to the owl. It must be observed, however, that there is great uncertainty as to the meaning of several of the Hebrew names here used, the Jews themselves acknowledging the meaning of many of them to be now lost. Add to this that the animals in the eastern countries differ greatly from those of our climate, and for want of a better knowledge of them, it is probable that in giving them the names of such animals as we are acquainted with here, we often greatly err. This consideration might convince the Jews of the absurdity of pretending still to adhere to the law of Moses; since it is evident, in many cases, they know not what is forbidden, and what is not.