Cuckoo
Cuckoo
Cuckoo. Cuckoos are insect-eating migratory birds that appear in Israel during the summer. Scholars feel that the Hebrew word was incorrectly rendered cuckow in the KJV. There is no obvious reason why the cuckoo would be considered an unclean bird (Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15). The NKJV translates “seagull.”
Fuente: Plants Animals Of Bible
Cuckoo
(, shach’aph, prob. from its leanness; Sept. and Vulg. sea-gull, A.V. cuckow) occurs only in Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15, among birds of prey not clearly identified, but declared to be unclean. None of the various ancient or modern versions of this word give a bird possessing any affinity with the other species enumerated; and although the cuckoo is a winter and spring bird, distinctly heard, it appears, by Mr. Buckingham, early in April, while crossing the mountains between Damascus and Sidon, at that time covered with snow, it could scarcely deserve to be included in the prohibited list, for the species is everywhere scarce. The identifications proposed by late writers on the subject all equally lack a sufficient foundation. Bochart (Hieroz. vol. 2, c. 18) thinks the sea-gull is meant. Upon the whole, while so much obscurity still remains on the subject, the interpretation of cuckoo may as well remain undisturbed. (See Penny Cyclopoedia, s.v.) The word shachaph was a good imitation of the dissyllabic voice of this bird, as our word cuckoo, variously repeated in all European languages, and yakoob, which the bird is supposed by the Arabs to utter. The latter, indeed, call it tir el-Yakub, or Jacob’s bird, on this account (Kitto, Phys. Hist. of Palest. p. 403). The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a bird of considerable size, unfit for food, because habitually feeding on reptiles and large insects. It is spread over the whole of Asia and Africa as well as Europe, migrating northward in spring, and probably not breeding in Palestine, although passing the winter there. The American cuckoo (Erythiophris Americanus), often called cow-bird, is a different species of the family of the Cuculinoe, all the members of which are distinguished by laying their eggs in the pests of other birds, and rearing no young themselves.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Cuckoo
(Heb. shahaph), from a root meaning “to be lean; slender.” This bird is mentioned only in Lev. 11:16 and Deut. 14:15 (R.V., “seamew”). Some have interpreted the Hebrew word by “petrel” or “shearwater” (Puffinus cinereus), which is found on the coast of Syria; others think it denotes the “sea-gull” or “seamew.” The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) feeds on reptiles and large insects. It is found in Asia and Africa as well as in Europe. It only passes the winter in Palestine. The Arabs suppose it to utter the cry _Yakub_, and hence they call it _tir el-Yakub_; i.e., “Jacob’s bird.”
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Cuckoo
shachaph; Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15; unclean. Rather the Greek cepphus of Aristotle, a large petrel, as the Puffinus cinereus. From a root “to be slender”, “light of body” like a gull, whose body is small compared with its apparent size and outspread wings; it skims the waves, seeking its food in the agitated water. Andouini’s gull, abounding on the shores of Syria (Tristram), a more likely bird than the storm petrel, which is seldom seen on land.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Cuckoo
shachaph. Only named in scripture as an unclean bird not to be eaten. Some have supposed that a marine bird is alluded to: the R.V. has ‘seamew.’ There are however cuckoos in the land, and called also by that name, because of their cry. Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Cuckoo
A bird, forbidden as food.
Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Cuckoo
Cuckoo. Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15, A. V. A bird whose flesh was not to be eaten. The cuckoo is known in Palestine; but more likely some of the lesser kinds of sea-fowl are meant. The R. V. reads “sea-mew” in both the above places.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Cuckoo
Cuckoo. Lev 11:16; Lev 14:15. The name of some of the larger petrels which abound in the east of the Mediterranean.