Bible Dictionary
Lapwing
“Lapwing” is an older English rendering of the unclean bird now generally identified as the hoopoe. It appears in the dietary lists of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
Definition
Lapwing is an older English rendering of the bird named in the dietary lists of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The identification is now generally given as the hoopoe, Upupa epops, rather than the lapwing or peewit.
Biblical Usage
The bird appears only among the birds forbidden as food under the law of Moses.
Historical Background
The Hebrew name is dukiphath. The hoopoe has an elegant crest and was not uncommon in Palestine; the older rendering “lapwing” is regarded as incorrect in the supplied material.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The name of an unclean bird, mentioned only in Lev. 11:19 and Deut. 14:18. The Hebrew name of this bird, dukiphath, has been generally regarded as denoting the hoope (Upupa epops), an onomatopoetic word derived from the cry of the bird, which resembles the word “hoop;” a bird not uncommon in Palestine. Others identify it with the English peewit.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. duciphath) occurs only in (Leviticus 11:19) and in the parallel passage of (14:18) amongst the list of those birds which were forbidden by the law of Moses to be eaten by the Israelites. Commentators generally agree that the hoopoe is the bird intended. The hoopoe is an occasional visitor to England, arriving for the most part in the autumn. Its crest is very elegant; each of the long feathers forming it is tipped with black.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>lap'-wing (dukhiphath; epops): A translation used in early VSS, now universally admitted to be incorrect. The lapwing had a crest, and resembled in size and color the hoopoe (Upupa epops). It appears in the lists of abominations only (Le 11:19 the King James Version and De 14:18 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) HOOPOE, which see). The lapwing is a plover, and its flesh and eggs are delicious food.</p>