Owl

A small owl about 25 cm long, with a short tail, feeding mainly on insects at night, and is considered ceremonially unclean in the Bible.

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About Owl

Owls are birds that are active at night. They have large heads and big eyes that face forward. Their soft feathers help them fly without making noise. An owl’s body is small and light, about the size of a pigeon, but it looks bigger because of its thick feathers.

Owls live in quiet, dark places. In the Middle East, they often live in old temple ruins, pyramids, rock graves, and caves. These places include areas in Egypt and on both sides of the Jordan River in Israel. Owls usually stay away from places where people live.

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The little owl ( Athene noctua glaux ) is the smallest owl that hunts at night. It mostly eats insects but sometimes catches small birds. It is the most common owl in the Holy...

The animal itself Article

Habits, distribution, and how translators render the term across languages.

Key References

Leviticus 11:17

the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

Deuteronomy 14:16

the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,

Psalm 102:7

I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

All Scripture References (3)

Leviticus (1)
Leviticus 11:17

the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

Deuteronomy (1)
Deuteronomy 14:16

the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,

Psalms (1)
Psalm 102:7

I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.