The heron is mentioned a few times in the Bible, primarily in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word translated as “heron” is “anaphah” which refers to a type of long-legged wading bird found in marshes and swamps. Herons are part of the family Ardeidae which includes egrets and bitterns. In the Bible, the heron is depicted as an unclean bird that was not to be eaten according to Levitical law. Beyond dietary restrictions, the heron is also used symbolically in a few passages.
The Heron in Levitical Law
In the book of Leviticus, the heron is listed among other birds that were considered ritually unclean and forbidden to eat under ancient Israelite dietary regulations:
“And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, the kite, the falcon of any kind, every raven of any kind, the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind, the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl, the barn owl, the tawny owl, the carrion vulture, the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe and the bat.” (Leviticus 11:13-19)
This prohibition against eating herons was due to the fact that herons were not considered kosher birds. The Mosaic Law made a distinction between clean and unclean animals, with only land animals that chewed their cud and had split hooves considered clean (sheep, cattle, goats etc). Birds were also classified – those that ate seeds and plants were clean, while birds of prey and carrion eaters were unclean. Wading birds like the heron were deemed unfit for consumption.
Reasons for the heron’s unclean status
Scholars have theorized several reasons why herons in particular may have been prohibited:
- Herons are wading birds that eat fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures. Under Levitical Law, anything living in the water that did not have fins and scales was considered an abomination (Leviticus 11:10-12).
- Herons are birds of marshy areas. The Israelites associated wetlands with death and chaos, as opposed to the order of the dry land. Creatures of the marsh like the heron were seen as unclean.
- As waders, herons exhibit characteristics of both land creatures and birds. This blurring of boundaries may have factored into their unclean status.
- Herons were perhaps prohibited due to association with pagan religions or folklore of neighboring cultures.
Regardless of the exact rationale, the dietary restrictions of the Mosaic Law put the heron firmly among the animals considered detestable for the Israelites. Eating heron meat would have been a clear violation.
The Heron as a Symbol
Beyond dietary law, the heron is referenced symbolically in a couple of poetic passages:
Job 39
The longest description of the heron in the Bible is found in Job 39, where God is questioning Job and describing various animals He created:
“Do you give the horse its might? Do you clothe its neck with a mane? Do you make it leap like the locust? Its majestic snorting is terrifying. It paws in the valley and exults in its strength; it goes out to meet the weapons. It laughs at fear and is not dismayed; it does not turn back from the sword. Upon it rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin. With fierceness and rage it swallows the ground; it cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, it says ‘Aha!’ From afar it smells the battle, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.” (Job 39:19-25)
This poetic description of the horse transitions into a description of a hawk and eagle soaring through the air. Verses 26-30 then turn to the heron:
“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away. His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.” (Job 39:26-30)
Here the heron is depicted as a predator, hunting prey from rocky cliffs and feeding its young with blood. This paints the heron as a ruthless hunter, in contrast to its more common image as an elegant, long-legged wader. While not zoologically accurate, the passage utilizes the heron to illustrate theuntamable majesty of God’s created world. Just as no man can command the eagle or hawk to soar, so too no man commands the heron to hunt skillfully.
Zephaniah 2:14
The heron is mentioned in another symbolic context in the minor prophet Zephaniah:
“Herds shall lie down in her midst, all kinds of beasts; even the owl and the hedgehog shall lodge in her capitals; a voice shall hoot in the window; devastation will be on the threshold; for her cedar work will be laid bare. This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else.’ What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.” (Zephaniah 2:14-15)
Here, the prophet Zephaniah describes the future destruction of the city of Nineveh. The once-powerful city will be reduced to ruins, inhabited only by wild animals like the owl, hedgehog, and heron. The heron seems symbolic of the desolation and abandonment of a city once brimming with people. The bird’s eerie call “hooting in the window” of an empty city reinforces this image of solitude and destruction.
So while the heron was considered an unclean animal for consumption, it served as an effective symbol for conveying images of predation and desolation in these poetic passages. The heron illustrated key spiritual themes, despite its low status under levitical dietary law.
The Heron in Ancient Egypt
While the heron held a negative place in ancient Israelite culture, it was revered in nearby Egypt. Egyptians considered the long-legged, elegant heron a noble animal:
- Herons were associated with the gods Isis and Osiris, two central deities in Egyptian mythology.
- The heron hieroglyph was used to represent the unified Upper and Lower Egypt under the pharaoh.
- Heron feathers were worn by pharaohs and priests as a symbol of high social status.
- Some ancient Egyptian creation myths centered around the heron, such as the cosmic egg being laid by a heron.
Given the heron’s exalted status among Israel’s powerful Egyptian neighbors, Biblical writers would have been familiar with positive meanings of the bird. Yet the authors chose to portray the heron from a Levitical perspective instead – as an unclean, eerie presence in deserted ruins. This highlights how differently various cultures can view the same animal.
The Heron in Modern Times
While no longer considered unclean, herons today face a different threat – habitat loss. Development, pollution, and climate change have destroyed many wetlands where herons nest and feed. Conservationists consider them an indicator species, with their health reflecting the overall health of fragile marsh ecosystems.
Some modern environmentalists have drawn parallels between the unclean status of herons in Biblical times and humanity’s exploitive relationship with nature in recent centuries. The early Israelites sought to separate themselves from the marsh and its creatures, just as modern societies have often drained and paved over wetlands for agriculture and cities. Reconciling contested boundaries between humanity and nature remains an ongoing spiritual challenge.
Conclusion
The heron plays a minor but meaningful symbolic role in the Bible. Under Levitical law, it was considered an unclean bird, unsuitable for eating. Yet despite this low status, the heron served as an vivid literary device in the books of Job and Zephaniah. Here the bird evoked attributes like ruthlessness and solitude in deserted ruins. For ancient Egyptians, the heron held an opposing position as a noble creature associated with divine myths and high social rank. While no longer considered unclean, the heron today faces threats from development and habitat loss. As an indicator species of wetland health, its vulnerability could mirror humanity’s strained relationship with nature. The heron’s complex status across different eras illustrates how diverse cultures assign meaning to the animals around them, whether positively or negatively.
