Bible Dictionary
LAND-CROCODILE
Land-crocodile is a traditional rendering of an uncertain animal listed among the unclean creeping things in Leviticus 11:30. It may refer to the desert monitor lizard rather than an actual crocodile.
Definition
Land-crocodile is a traditional rendering of an uncertain animal listed among the unclean creeping things in Leviticus 11:30. The term may refer to the desert monitor, a large lizard found in Egypt and Palestine, rather than to an actual crocodile.
Biblical Usage
The animal appears in the list of creeping things declared unclean under the Mosaic law.
Historical Background
The source considers “land-crocodile” objectionable because it is not a recognized animal name. “Monitor” or “desert monitor” is regarded as possible, though the identification is not certain.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(Revised Version (British and American))</p><p>land-crok'-o-dil (koach; Septuagint chamaileon, Le 11:30; the King James Version Chameleon): Koach is found only here, meaning an animal, the fifth in the list of unclean "creeping things." Elsewhere is it translated "strength" or "power," and it has been thought that here is meant the desert monitor, Varanus griseus, a gigantic lizard, which is common in Egypt and Palestine, and which attains the length of 4 ft. "Chameleon," which the King James Version has here, is used by the Revised Version (British and American) for tinshemeth (the King James Version "mole"), the eighth in the list of unclean "creeping things" (compare nasham, "to breathe"; translated "swan" in Le 11:18 margin). While it is by no means certain what animal is meant, there could be no objection to "monitor" or "desert monitor." "Land-crocodile" is objectionable because it is not a recognized name of any animal.</p><p>See CHAMELEON; LIZARD.</p><p>Alfred Ely Day</p>