Lexical Summary anaqah: gecko Original Word: אֲנָקָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ferret The same as 'anaqah; some kind of lizard, probably the gecko (from its wail) -- ferret. see HEBREW 'anaqah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anaq Definition a ferret, shrewmouse NASB Translation gecko (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. אֲנָקָה noun feminine ferret, or shrew-mouse, unclean animal Leviticus 11:30 (TristrFFP 24;  ᵑ7 אקמתא). Topical Lexicon Entry Overview אֲנָקָה designates a small reptile—commonly rendered “gecko” in modern English versions. It is listed among the “creatures that crawl on the ground” declared ceremonially unclean under the Law of Moses. Though mentioned only once, the term contributes to the broader biblical vocabulary that delineates Israel’s distinctive holiness code. Scriptural Occurrence Leviticus 11:30 ranks the אֲנָקָה with seven other ground-dwelling animals: “the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the skink, and the chameleon”. Contact with the carcass of any of these required purification rites (Leviticus 11:31-40). Taxonomical Identification Most scholars identify the creature as a gecko—a nocturnal lizard noted for its adhesive toe pads and vocal chirps. Indigenous to the Near East, geckos inhabit walls and crevices, thriving in human dwellings. Their furtive movement and association with dark recesses likely influenced their inclusion among unclean “crawlers.” Symbolic and Theological Implications 1. Holiness through Separation. The clean/unclean distinctions in Leviticus are pedagogical, training Israel to discern between the holy and the common (Leviticus 10:10). By abstaining from contact with the אֲנָקָה, Israelites rehearsed daily the call to be “holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45; cf. 1 Peter 1:15-16). Historical and Cultural Context Archaeological evidence from Canaanite dwellings confirms the prevalence of small lizards indoors. Ancient Near Eastern cultures sometimes ascribed magical or medicinal properties to reptiles, but Israel’s law dissociated the covenant people from such practices. By labeling the אֲנָקָה unclean, the Torah opposed superstitious veneration and maintained theological purity. Lessons for Ministry Today • Teach Discernment: As Israel distinguished between clean and unclean, believers must “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Related Biblical Themes Holiness (Exodus 19:6; 2 Corinthians 6:17) Ceremonial Law (Leviticus 11; Hebrews 9) Creation’s Diversity (Genesis 1:24-25; Job 12:7-10) Thus, the אֲנָקָה—though a minor creature—serves the major biblical purpose of magnifying God’s holiness and directing His people toward ultimate purification in Christ. Forms and Transliterations וְהָאֲנָקָ֥ה והאנקה vehaanaKah wə·hā·’ă·nā·qāh wəhā’ănāqāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 11:30 HEB: וְהָאֲנָקָ֥ה וְהַכֹּ֖חַ וְהַלְּטָאָ֑ה NAS: and the gecko, and the crocodile, KJV: And the ferret, and the chameleon, INT: and the gecko and the crocodile and the lizard 1 Occurrence |
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