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Read the Verse of the Day – Deuteronomy 14:17 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
The Bible is filled with both spiritual truths and practical instructions. Some verses may seem small or technical, like lists of animals or commands. But when we take time to study them carefully, we find that every word has meaning. One such verse is Deuteronomy 14:17.
The Context of Deuteronomy 14:17 KJV
The Book of Deuteronomy
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. It is part of the Law of Moses, also known as the Torah. The name “Deuteronomy” means “second law,” but it’s not a new law. Instead, Moses is reminding the Israelites of the commands God gave them earlier in their journey from Egypt.
Deuteronomy was given just before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. Moses was preparing them to live in the land as God’s holy people. He reminded them of their identity and of their need to obey God’s commands.
In Deuteronomy 14, God gives instructions about clean and unclean animals. These were laws about what the Israelites could eat. These food laws helped set them apart from the surrounding nations. God wanted His people to live differently, even in their eating habits.
Clean and Unclean Animals
Deuteronomy 14 begins by reminding the Israelites that they are children of the Lord (verse 1). Because of this, they were to avoid the practices of the pagans. That included mourning rituals and eating certain animals. God gave them a list of clean and unclean animals.
Verses 3–20 deal specifically with the types of animals that were clean (they could eat) and unclean (they must avoid). These animals are grouped by type—land animals, sea creatures, birds, and flying insects.
Verses 12–18 list the birds that were considered unclean. Most of these birds are predators or scavengers—birds that eat flesh or dead animals. This is where we find Deuteronomy 14:17.
Deuteronomy 14:17 (KJV)
Here is the verse from the King James Version:
“And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,” — Deuteronomy 14:17 (KJV)
This is part of the list of unclean birds. God told His people not to eat these birds. These birds were considered unclean, and they were to be avoided by the Israelites.
The three birds listed in this verse are:
- The little owl
- The cormorant
- The great owl
These birds may seem like a small detail, but each one has spiritual meaning. Let’s look more closely.
Deuteronomy 14:17 Meaning
Understanding the Birds Listed
1. The Little Owl
The little owl is a small, nocturnal bird. It is active at night and is known for its mournful sound. In Scripture, the owl is often connected with places of ruin and sorrow. In fact, in Psalm 102:6, the psalmist says:
“I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.”
The little owl was considered unclean, not because it is evil, but because of what it represents. It lives in the dark. It feeds on dead or unclean animals. It makes its home in lonely and ruined places.
These qualities symbolize spiritual darkness, loneliness, and death—things that are opposite of God’s holiness and life.
2. The Cormorant
The cormorant is a sea bird that dives under the water to catch fish. It is an excellent hunter, but it is also known for its greedy appetite. The name “cormorant” actually comes from Latin words that mean “sea raven.”
The cormorant is seen as an unclean bird because it is a predator. It lives by hunting and killing. In some cultures, it was associated with greed or gluttony.
While there is nothing sinful about the bird itself, it served as a picture of something unclean in God’s law. God was teaching His people to avoid things that represent selfishness, destruction, or uncontrolled desire.
3. The Great Owl
The great owl, like the little owl, is a night-dwelling bird. It may refer to a larger species of owl that also lives in desolate areas. In Isaiah 34:13–15, the owl is mentioned in a prophecy of judgment, where God says that wild animals and unclean birds will live in the ruins of Edom.
This shows us that the owl became a symbol of God’s judgment and of spiritual emptiness.
Why Were These Birds Unclean?
God did not randomly choose animals to be clean or unclean. There were reasons behind His choices. In most cases, the unclean birds had characteristics that reflected impurity or destruction.
- They were scavengers or hunters.
- They ate dead animals or blood.
- They lived in dark or lonely places.
- They symbolized sorrow, judgment, and death.
God’s people were called to be holy. He did not want them to eat animals that represented spiritual corruption or darkness. Even in their eating habits, the Israelites were to be reminded that they were set apart.
This verse teaches us about God’s holiness and the importance of avoiding things that bring spiritual death.
Deuteronomy 14:17 Application in Life
1. God Cares About All Areas of Life
Deuteronomy 14:17 may seem small, but it reminds us that God cares about every detail of our lives. The food laws were not just about health—they were about holiness. God used everyday things, like eating, to teach His people to think about Him and His ways.
As Christians, we are no longer under the Old Testament food laws (see Acts 10:15 and Colossians 2:16), but the principle still stands. God cares about how we live—our words, actions, habits, and choices.
Are we honoring Him in the small areas of life?
2. Avoiding Spiritual Darkness
The birds in this verse are linked to darkness, loneliness, and death. This is a picture of what we should avoid as believers.
We are called to walk in the light:
“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” — 1 John 1:5
We must avoid spiritual darkness. That includes:
- Sinful thoughts
- Secret sins
- Unhealthy media
- Compromising friendships
- Deceptive speech
Instead, we are called to live in the light, telling the truth, walking in purity, and loving others openly.
3. Choosing What Feeds Our Souls
The unclean birds often fed on dead things. This is a warning to us about what we “feed on” spiritually.
Are we filling our minds with life-giving truth, or with dead things?
- The Word of God gives life.
- Prayer strengthens our spirit.
- Worship renews our minds.
- But gossip, violence, lust, and lies bring spiritual death.
Just as the Israelites were told not to eat unclean animals, we must not feed our hearts with sinful content.
4. Separation from the World
These food laws reminded Israel that they were different. They were God’s holy people. They were not to live like the nations around them.
Today, as Christians, we are also called to be separate:
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2
We are not to blend in with the darkness. We are to stand out as people of light, grace, and truth.
This doesn’t mean we isolate ourselves, but we live in a way that honors Christ, even if the world does not understand.
5. Seeing Christ in the Clean and Unclean
In the New Testament, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). The ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Him. But the spiritual lessons remain.
The clean animals pointed to purity and the life God wants us to have.
The unclean animals pointed to sin, impurity, and death.
Jesus is the One who makes us clean. He takes away our sin. He gives us new life. He is the Bread of Life and the Light of the World.
Even in verses like Deuteronomy 14:17, we are pointed toward Jesus.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 14:17 lists three unclean birds—the little owl, the cormorant, and the great owl. At first, this may seem like a simple part of a dietary law. But when we study it more deeply, we find rich spiritual meaning.
These birds represent:
- Darkness
- Death
- Spiritual desolation
- Greed
- Separation from God
God used these animals to teach His people about holiness. He wanted them to avoid things that symbolized sin, sorrow, and judgment.
Today, we are no longer under these food laws. But the lessons still apply:
- God wants us to walk in the light.
- He wants us to feed on truth, not on spiritual death.
- He calls us to be holy and separate from the world.
- He cares about every part of our lives.
- He teaches us—even through small verses like this one.
May we take this simple verse to heart and let it draw us closer to God. Let us reject spiritual darkness and walk in the light of Christ, who has made us clean and holy.
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