עֲטַלֵּף
𐤏𐤈𐤋𐤐
ʻăṭallêph
H5847 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A nocturnal, winged, flying mammal (bat), used in the Hebrew Bible in the context of ritual purity regulations. Refers specifically to the animal known for its leathery wings and nocturnal habits, classified as unclean among flying creatures in Levitical law. The term is not a broad zoological category, but designates the specific animal now commonly called a bat.
Semantic Range
bat, nocturnal flying mammal, unclean flying creature (in ritual law)
Root / Etymology
uncertain. The word is a nominal form, and does not appear to be directly derived from a known Hebrew root. No clear Semitic cognates in related languages are attested. Some have attempted to link it to roots connoting shading, darkness, or enclosure, but these are speculative and not linguistically substantiated.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֲטַלֵּף (ʻăṭallêph) occurs only in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18 among the lists of animals forbidden for consumption, where it is categorized among "all winged swarming things" or "winged creatures." In the Israelite context, the עֲטַלֵּף is distinctly identified as a flying, nocturnal mammal, rather than a bird. Its role in the purity laws underscores how ancient taxonomies did not align with modern zoological classifications; the Hebrew term groups together animals based on observable features (flight, wings), regardless of modern distinctions (birds vs. mammals). The traditional rendering as "bat" is corroborated by ancient translations (Greek: νυκτερίς, Latin: vespertilio) and is nearly universally accepted by commentators. English Bibles consistently render the term as "bat," but awareness of these ancient categorization differences helps illuminate Israelite notions of purity, taxonomy, and the symbolic associations of darkness and night creatures. The term does not carry pejorative or mythological meanings found in other ancient Near Eastern cultures. Usage is restricted to ritual-legal contexts, and it does not appear elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible or known inscriptions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; a bat; bat.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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עטלף (ʿ-ṭ-l-p̄) — uncertain; specific nocturnal flying mammal
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5847-02 |
וְ/הָ/עֲטַלֵּֽף | vehaatalef | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the bat | bat | and the bat | 1 |
H5847-03 |
וְ/לָ/עֲטַלֵּפִֽים | velaatalefim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and-to-bats | bats | and to bats | 1 |
H5847-01 |
הָ/עֲטַלֵּֽף | haatalef | HTd/Ncmsa |
bat | the bat | the bat | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5847-01 |
Leviticus 11:19 | הָ/עֲטַלֵּֽף | haatalef | HTd/Ncmsa |
bat | the bat | the bat |
H5847-02 |
Deuteronomy 14:18 | וְ/הָ/עֲטַלֵּֽף | vehaatalef | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the bat | bat | and the bat |
H5847-03 |
Isaiah 2:20 | וְ/לָ/עֲטַלֵּפִֽים | velaatalefim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and-to-bats | bats | and to bats |