from קוֹא; probably the pelican (from vomiting); cormorant.
Transliteration:qâʼath
Pronunciation:kaw-ath'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma קָאַת (qâʼath), transliterated as *qâʼath*, is most commonly identified as the "pelican," with "cormorant" as a secondary or alternative possibility. Its etymology is traced to the root קוֹא (qôʼ, `{{H6958}}`), meaning "to vomit" or "to spew out." This etymological connection is crucial for understanding the proposed identification, as pelicans are known for their large gular pouch from which they may appear to "vomit" or disgorge food, particularly for their young. The semantic range of *qâʼath* thus points to a large, fish-eating water bird, characterized by a distinctive feeding habit that may have given rise to its name. Both pelicans and cormorants are typically found in aquatic or desolate environments, aligning with their contextual appearances in Scripture.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word קָאַת (qâʼath) appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, consistently within specific thematic contexts:
* **Ritual Purity Lists:** In the Torah, *qâʼath* is listed among the birds considered "unclean" and therefore forbidden for consumption by the Israelites.
* [[Leviticus 11:18]]: "And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle." Here, it is part of a comprehensive list of birds deemed an abomination, emphasizing the distinctiveness and holiness required of the covenant people.
* [[Deuteronomy 14:17]]: "And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant." This parallel passage reinforces its status as ritually impure, underscoring the dietary laws that set Israel apart.
* **Prophetic Judgment and Desolation:** In prophetic literature, *qâʼath* is depicted as an inhabitant of desolate places, symbolizing divine judgment and utter ruin.
* [[Isaiah 34:11]]: "But the pelican and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness." In this oracle against Edom, the presence of *qâʼath* signifies complete abandonment and the wild reclamation of once-inhabited lands.
* [[Zephaniah 2:14]]: "And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work." Here, the *qâʼath* is found in the ruins of Nineveh, similarly portraying the city's utter destruction and its transformation into a desolate wilderness.
* **Metaphor for Human Suffering:** In the Psalms, *qâʼath* serves as a powerful metaphor for profound loneliness and suffering.
* [[Psalm 102:6]]: "I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert." The psalmist uses the solitary and desolate nature of the *qâʼath* to express his own deep isolation, sorrow, and spiritual anguish, highlighting the bird's association with remote and barren places.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of קָאַת (qâʼath) is enriched by its relationship to other biblical terms and concepts:
* **Etymological Root:** The most direct linguistic connection is to the verb קוֹא (qôʼ, `{{H6958}}`), "to vomit" or "to spew out." This root provides the primary interpretive clue for identifying the bird as a pelican, due to its unique feeding habits.
* **Unclean Animals:** *Qâʼath* is consistently grouped with other birds and creatures deemed ritually unclean in the Levitical and Deuteronomic dietary laws. These include various birds of prey, scavengers, and water birds (e.g., נֶשֶׁר (nesher, eagle/vulture, `{{H5404}}`), עֹרֵב (ʻorev, raven, `{{H6158}}`), תִּנְשֶׁמֶת (tinshemeth, swan/water hen, `{{H8580}}`), שָׁלָךְ (shalak, cormorant/osprey, `{{H7994}}`)). This categorization reflects a broader theological principle of separation and holiness for Israel.
* **Imagery of Desolation:** In prophetic contexts, *qâʼath* is often paired with other animals associated with abandoned and ruined places, such as the קִפּוֹד (qippod, bittern/hedgehog, `{{H7090}}`) and יַנְשׁוֹף (yanshuph, great owl, `{{H3244}}`). This recurrent imagery underscores the theme of divine judgment leading to utter destruction and the return of human habitations to a wild state.
* **Metaphor for Isolation:** In Psalm 102, *qâʼath* is paralleled with כּוֹס (kôs, owl, `{{H3560}}`), another solitary bird of the desert, emphasizing the psalmist's profound sense of loneliness and spiritual distress. This demonstrates how the natural world provides powerful metaphors for human experience within biblical literature.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of קָאַת (qâʼath) unfolds primarily in three dimensions:
1. **Holiness and Separation:** As an "unclean" animal in the Mosaic Law, the *qâʼath* serves as a tangible marker in God's call for Israel's holiness. The dietary restrictions were not merely hygienic, but fundamentally pedagogical, teaching the Israelites about the nature of purity and the necessity of being set apart from the nations. The prohibition against consuming *qâʼath* reinforced the concept of a distinct people, whose very diet reflected their covenant relationship with a holy God. This distinction fostered a consciousness of ritual and moral purity, shaping their identity as a peculiar treasure.
2. **Divine Judgment and Desolation:** In the prophetic books, the *qâʼath* becomes a stark symbol of God's judgment and the resulting desolation. Its presence in the ruins of once-mighty cities like Edom and Nineveh signifies the irreversible consequences of human rebellion against God. The bird, thriving in abandoned and wild places, illustrates that God's judgment reduces human pride and power to nothingness, allowing the wild to reclaim what was once cultivated. This imagery powerfully conveys the totality and finality of divine wrath, where the land itself bears witness to the Lord's righteous indignation.
3. **Human Suffering and Lament:** Perhaps most profoundly, in Psalm 102, the *qâʼath* transcends its literal and symbolic roles to become a poignant metaphor for the depths of human suffering and spiritual anguish. The psalmist's identification with a "pelican of the wilderness" encapsulates a profound sense of isolation, abandonment, and lament. The bird's solitary nature, its dwelling in desolate places, and perhaps its mournful cries, mirror the psalmist's feeling of being cut off from God and community. This usage highlights the Bible's capacity to draw upon the natural world to express the raw and often painful realities of the human condition, underscoring the universal experience of sorrow and the yearning for divine comfort.
### Summary
The Hebrew word קָאַת (qâʼath), likely referring to the pelican or cormorant, is etymologically linked to the concept of "vomiting," possibly reflecting the bird's unique feeding habits. Its biblical occurrences reveal a multi-faceted theological significance. First, in the Torah's dietary laws ([[Leviticus 11:18]], [[Deuteronomy 14:17]]), *qâʼath* is listed as an unclean animal, symbolizing the call for Israel's ritual purity and distinctiveness as a holy people. Second, in prophetic texts ([[Isaiah 34:11]], [[Zephaniah 2:14]]), its presence in ruined cities serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment and utter desolation, illustrating the consequences of rebellion against God. Finally, in the Psalms ([[Psalm 102:6]]), the *qâʼath* transcends these roles to become a poignant metaphor for profound human suffering, isolation, and lament, embodying the psalmist's deep personal anguish. Thus, *qâʼath* functions as a rich biblical symbol, conveying principles of holiness, the finality of divine judgment, and the depths of the human experience of sorrow.
TRV