The ibis is a bird that is mentioned in the context of the dietary laws given to the Israelites in the Old Testament. While the specific term "ibis" does not appear in most English translations of the Bible, it is often associated with the Hebrew word "אנפה" (anaphah), which is translated as "heron" in many versions, including the Berean Standard Bible. The ibis, known for its long legs and distinctive curved bill, is native to regions of Africa and the Middle East, including Egypt, where it was often venerated in ancient times.

Biblical References:

The ibis is indirectly referenced in the list of unclean birds in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. These passages outline the dietary restrictions given to the Israelites, specifying which birds are considered unclean and therefore not to be consumed.

· Leviticus 11:19 : "the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat."
· Deuteronomy 14:18 : "the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat."

In these passages, the term "heron" is used, which some scholars and translations associate with the ibis due to similarities in habitat and behavior. The ibis, like the heron, is a wading bird often found in marshy or wetland areas, which may have contributed to its classification among unclean birds.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Egyptian culture, the ibis was a symbol of the god Thoth, the deity of wisdom, writing, and knowledge. The reverence for the ibis in Egypt contrasts with its classification as unclean in the Hebrew dietary laws, highlighting the distinct cultural and religious practices of the Israelites compared to their neighbors.

The prohibition against eating the ibis and similar birds may have been due to their scavenging habits, as they often feed on carrion and other unclean substances, which would render them unsuitable for consumption according to the purity laws outlined in the Torah.

Theological Significance:

The inclusion of the ibis in the list of unclean birds underscores the broader biblical theme of holiness and separation. The dietary laws served as a constant reminder to the Israelites of their unique identity as God's chosen people, set apart from other nations. By adhering to these laws, the Israelites demonstrated their obedience and commitment to maintaining purity in their daily lives.

The classification of certain animals as unclean also reflects the biblical principle of discernment, teaching the Israelites to distinguish between what is holy and what is common. This principle extends beyond dietary practices to encompass all aspects of life, encouraging believers to live in a manner that honors God.

In summary, while the ibis itself is not explicitly named in the Bible, its association with the heron in the list of unclean birds provides insight into the cultural and religious context of the ancient Israelites and their commitment to living according to God's commandments.(n.) Any bird of the genus Ibis and several allied genera, of the family Ibidae, inhabiting both the Old World and the New. Numerous species are known. They are large, wading birds, having a long, curved beak, and feed largely on reptiles.IBIS

i'-bis. In Isaiah 34:11, yanshoph, which is rendered "owl," apparently indicates the sacred ibis (Ibis religiosa). The Septuagint gives eibis and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) ibis; the Revised Version, margin "bittern."

See OWL.

The Egyptian Symbols and Enigmas of Sacred Things.
... And in what is called among them the Komasi?? of the gods, they carry about golden
images"two dogs, one hawk, and one ibis; and the four figures of the ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii the egyptian symbols and.htm

The First-Born
... Below a fountain of running water, issuing from an ibis-bill of bronze, and falling
into a pool, purled and splashed and talked on and on to itself. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xl the first-born.htm

He Shows by Proofs Drawn from Nature Itself, that the Law which ...
... But still we will add something else. There is no doubt that basilisks are produced
from the eggs of the birds which in Egypt they call the Ibis. ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter v he shows by.htm

Evil of Two Kinds, Penal and Criminal it is not of the Latter Sort ...
... accumulated heavy burdens on His people, and (to sum up all) as an Egyptian, had
long been guilty before God of Gentile idolatry, worshipping the ibis and the ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xiv evil of two kinds.htm

Egyptian Idolatry.
... For some taught that their ox, which is called Apis, ought to be worshipped; others
taught that the he-goat, others that cats, the ibis, a fish also, a serpent ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xx egyptian idolatry.htm

Wherefore Christ Undertook a Method of Setting us Free So Painful ...
... or reconciled to God by the death of His Son, when He ought to have been the more
angry with man, as he sinned more deeply in crucifying Ibis Son, than in ...
/.../chapter viii wherefore christ undertook.htm

The Fruits of Grace
... If you go into the British Museum you will still see the cats, the crocodiles,
the scarlet ibis, which they were accustomed to worship. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/the fruits of grace.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... and thus gained for himself a reputation as the incarnation of wisdom, all his plans
and intentions appearing to have been conceived by Thot the Ibis himself. ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

There is a Popular Philosophical Joke Intended to Typify the ...
... The keeper of a restaurant would much prefer that each customer should give his
order smartly, though it were for stewed ibis or boiled elephant, rather than ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 2 there is a.htm

The Desolations of the Lord, the Consolation of his Saints
... down to infamy? Who is he that now bows before the god of Egypt? Hath the
sacred Ibis now a worshipper? Do any prostrate themselves ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the desolations of the lord.htm

Ibis (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Any bird of the genus Ibis and several allied genera,
of the family Ibidae, inhabiting both the Old World and the New. ...IBIS. ...
/i/ibis.htm - 7k

Liver (16 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The glossy ibis (Ibis falcinellus); -- said to have given its name to
the city of Liverpool. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LIVER. ...
/l/liver.htm - 16k

Heron (2 Occurrences)
... her'-un ('anaphah; charadrios; Latin Ardea cinerea): Herons are mentioned only in
the abomination lists of Leviticus 11:19 (margin "ibis") and Deuteronomy 14:18 ...
/h/heron.htm - 9k

Owl (11 Occurrences)
... temples of Baalbek" (Tristram). The LXX. and Vulgate render this word by
"ibis", ie, the Egyptian heron. (3.) Hebrews kos, rendered ...
/o/owl.htm - 18k

Gannet (2 Occurrences)
... pelicans. Multi-Version Concordance Gannet (2 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:17
and the owl, and the gannet, and the ibis, (DBY). Deuteronomy ...
/g/gannet.htm - 6k

Iblaim (1 Occurrence)

/i/iblaim.htm - 6k

Ibhar (3 Occurrences)

/i/ibhar.htm - 7k

Birds (125 Occurrences)
... These three were closely related to the ibis which was sacred in Egypt and it is
probable that they were protected by Moses for this reason, since they were ...
/b/birds.htm - 62k

Crane (2 Occurrences)
... They were close relatives of stork, heron and ibis; almost as numerous as any
of these, and residents of Palestine, except in migration. ...
/c/crane.htm - 12k

Sea-mew (2 Occurrences)
... History fails to record any instance of a man reared in Egypt who permitted
the killing of a gull, ibis, or hoopoe. Gene Stratton-Porter. ...
/s/sea-mew.htm - 8k

Ibis: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus