[B-Greek] question about chickens in the NT

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Sun Mar 21 08:43:04 EST 2004


In a message dated 3/21/2004 6:45:45 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
krooger at debian.org writes:
My KJV uses the word hen twice (Mt23:37, Lu13:34), and the word cock
eleven times (Mt26:34, Mt26:74, Mt26:75, Mk14:30, Mk14:68, Mk14:72, Lu22:34,
Lu22:60, Lu22:61, Jn13:38, Jn18:27)

Do the Greek words in those verses definately refer to chickens as we
know them today, or could they refer to any member of the order
Galliformes, such as turkeys, pheasants, and quail?

I'm trying to find out if the ancient category of "quail" could have
included todays galliformes.  So far, the only birds I can find
confirmed as clean are doves (including pigeons) and quail.  Today
chickens are classed in the same order as quail, but I am interested in
how the ancient Hebrews saw the relationship.
_______

>From Spanish I understand galliform (gallo and gallina) to refer to chickens. 
 I assume the word is used in biology or zoology.  Whether the chickens of 
biblical times refer precisely what we are used to today is highly doubtful 
though today's chickens are probably decended from them. 

The word translated "hen" is ORNIS and can refer to any bird (The prefix 
"orni-" derives therefrom).  It is likely that "hen" was chosen due to the 
reference to the "chicks" (The two instances are parallel passages).  The word also 
occurs 10 times in the LXX.

"Cock" is ALEKTWR.  I see no evidence that this specifically refers to the 
"galliform" species and might refer to the male of any ornithologic species.  
Interestingly, in Homer the father-in-law of Megapenthes was named ALEKTWR.

Here is some information from the _Anchor Bible Dictionary_ which deal with 
why chickens would be included among the "clean" animals and a note regarding 
their history.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
By inference, pigeons and doves, which are included among possible 
sacrificial offerings, are permitted foods. Among the other permitted flying things are 
locusts, which have segmented legs, and those birds not specifically forbidden 
by list (Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14). Thus, the chicken, duck, goose, 
and turkey, which are not specifically mentioned at all in biblical literature, 
are held to be permissible by common tradition.

Meal Customs (Jewish Dietary Laws)  vol. 4, p. 649

_______

 Whether the use of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and milk products also 
implies the use of domesticated microorganisms to produce such foods as yogurt, 
cheeses, and beer is another possibility which has not yet been demonstrated. 
However, the documented changes alone indicate that food production had been 
fundamentally transformed, establishing patterns of diet which would 
predominate until rice, chickens, and water buffalo were introduced around the 1st 
millennium b.c.

Mesopotamia, History of (Prehistory of Mesopotamia) vol. 4, p. 721
++++++++++++++
gfsomsel



More information about the B-Greek mailing list