דּוּכִיפַת
𐤃𐤅𐤊𐤉𐤐𐤕
dûwkîyphath
H1744 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A bird mentioned among the birds considered unclean for consumption in biblical Israelite dietary laws; usually identified as the hoopoe (Upupa epops), a crested, insectivorous bird characterized by its distinctive crown of feathers. However, alternative identifications (such as grouse or lapwing) have been proposed due to uncertainties in ornithological correspondence. The primary meaning is a specific bird species designated as prohibited in the dietary lists.
Semantic Range
a species of bird considered unclean in biblical dietary law, usually the hoopoe (Upupa epops); by extension, possible alternate identifications such as lapwing or grouse, but primarily understood as hoopoe
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The word דּוּכִיפַת does not correspond to a clear Hebrew root of known meaning. Some scholars propose an onomatopoeic origin, imitating the call of the bird; others suggest foreign origin, possibly Egyptian or related to cognate terms in other ancient Semitic languages, but none of these proposals have been definitively established.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דּוּכִיפַת occurs in the context of unclean birds in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18. Tradition, beginning with ancient translations such as the Syriac and later rabbinic literature, commonly identifies the bird as the hoopoe, supported by its prominent appearance in the Mediterranean and Near Eastern fauna. The distinctive appearance and behavior of the hoopoe—most notably its striking crest and foraging habits—likely informed its identification by later interpreters. The Septuagint renders the term as ἐποψ (epops, hoopoe), while the Vulgate and later translations follow suit in various forms. While some older sources (including some English translations) assigned the word to other, less likely birds such as lapwing or grouse, modern ornithological consensus, supported by the hoopoe's distribution and characteristics, favors the identification as the hoopoe. Culturally, in later Rabbinic tradition, the hoopoe was associated with wisdom, but there is no evidence for such associations in biblical periods. The prescribed avoidance is based solely on ritual purity legislation, not on symbolic attributes.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; the hoopoe or else the grouse; lapwing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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דוכיפת (uncertain) (d-w-k-y-p-t (uncertain)) — uncertain; specific crested bird (onomatopoeic or foreign origin)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1744-01 |
הַ/דּוּכִיפַ֖ת | hadukhifat | HTd/Ncfsa |
hoopoe | the hoopoe | 1 |
H1744-02 |
וְ/הַ/דּוּכִיפַ֖ת | vehadukhifat | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the hoopoe | the hoopoe | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1744-01 |
Leviticus 11:19 | הַ/דּוּכִיפַ֖ת | hadukhifat | HTd/Ncfsa |
hoopoe | the hoopoe |
H1744-02 |
Deuteronomy 14:18 | וְ/הַ/דּוּכִיפַ֖ת | vehadukhifat | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the hoopoe | the hoopoe |