The term "gull" refers to a type of seabird commonly found in coastal regions. In the context of the Bible, the gull is mentioned among the list of unclean birds that the Israelites were forbidden to eat. The specific reference to gulls can be found in the book of Leviticus, which outlines dietary laws for the Israelites.

Biblical References:

· Leviticus 11:16-17 : "the ostrich, the owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl." This passage is part of the larger section in Leviticus 11 that details the clean and unclean animals. The inclusion of the gull among the unclean birds indicates that it was not to be consumed by the Israelites, in accordance with the dietary laws given by God through Moses.

· Deuteronomy 14:15 : "the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk." This verse reiterates the prohibition found in Leviticus, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the dietary restrictions as a sign of obedience and holiness.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, birds often held symbolic meanings, and their classification as clean or unclean could reflect broader spiritual principles. The gull, as a scavenger bird often associated with the sea, may have been considered unclean due to its feeding habits and habitat, which were seen as contrary to the purity laws that governed the Israelites' diet and lifestyle.

The dietary laws, including the prohibition against eating gulls, served to set the Israelites apart from surrounding nations, reinforcing their identity as God's chosen people. These laws were not only about physical health but also about spiritual discipline and obedience to God's commands.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the classification of certain animals as unclean can be seen as a foreshadowing of the need for spiritual purity and separation from sin. The laws concerning clean and unclean animals pointed to the holiness required by God and the need for His people to live in a manner that reflects His character.

In the New Testament, the dietary laws are fulfilled in Christ, who declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). This shift underscores the transition from the Old Covenant, with its emphasis on external regulations, to the New Covenant, which focuses on the internal transformation of the heart through faith in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

While the specific mention of gulls in the Bible is limited, their inclusion in the list of unclean birds highlights the broader biblical themes of holiness, obedience, and the distinct identity of God's people. The dietary laws, including the prohibition against eating gulls, served as a tangible expression of the Israelites' covenant relationship with God and their call to be a holy nation.1. (v. t.) To deceive; to cheat; to mislead; to trick; to defraud.

2. (n.) A cheating or cheat; trick; fraud.

3. (n.) One easily cheated; a dupe.

4. (n.) One of many species of long-winged sea birds of the genus Larus and allied genera.

7828. shachaph -- a sea mew, gull
... 7827, 7828. shachaph. 7829 . a sea mew, gull. Transliteration: shachaph
Phonetic Spelling: (shakh'-af) Short Definition: gull. Word ...
/hebrew/7828.htm - 5k

The Last Two Verses of Chapterviii. ...
... are looking at, and the wild, despairing, yet sad counsel, to "live merrily" is
in strict harmony with the wild, awful darkness, like the sea-gull's scream in ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter ix the last two.htm

Environment.
... Hunter, for example, in a classical experiment, so changed the Environment of a
sea-gull by keeping it in captivity that it could only secure a grain diet. ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/environment.htm

Modern Library of the World's Best Books
... Poems 23 SYMONDS, JOHN A. The Life of Michelangelo 49 TACITUS The Complete Works
of 222 TCHEKOV, ANTON Short Stories 50 TCHEKOV, ANTON Sea Gull, Cherry Orchard ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/modern library of the worlds.htm

Christian Morals. Part ii.
... Surely, such confident tempers do pass their days in best tranquillity, who, resting
in the opinion of their own abilities, are happily gull'd by such ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/christian morals/christian morals part ii.htm

The Mysteries of the Brazen Serpent
... In upper chambers, where mourning relatives are pouring floods of tears upon their
burning brows; far away on the wild sea, where the sea-gull utters the only ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the mysteries of the brazen.htm

Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ...
... The gull, which flies both in the air and swims in the water, signifies those who
are partial both to Circumcision and to Baptism: or else it denotes those who ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any reasonable.htm

Andromeda
... Living, a wonder, outgrown from the tight-laced gold of his sandals; Bounding from
billow to billow, and sweeping the crests like a sea-gull; Leaping the gulfs ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm

Of Flattery.
... with the Dilemma, Either they have those excellencies they are praised for, or they
have not: if they have not, tis an apparent cheat and gull, and he is of a ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section viii of flattery.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

Gull (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gull (2 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:16 the horned owl,
the screech owl, and the gull, any kind of hawk, (WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/gull.htm - 7k

Sea-gull (2 Occurrences)
Sea-gull. Seagull, Sea-gull. Seah . Multi-Version Concordance
Sea-gull (2 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:16 and the female ...
/s/sea-gull.htm - 6k

Sea-mew (2 Occurrences)
... SEA-MEW. se'-mu (shachaph; laros; Latin, Larus canus): The sea-gull. ... The sea-gull
is a "slender" bird, but not "lean" as the root shachaph implies. ...
/s/sea-mew.htm - 8k

Seamew (1 Occurrence)
... SEA-MEW. se'-mu (shachaph; laros; Latin, Larus canus): The sea-gull. ... The sea-gull
is a "slender" bird, but not "lean" as the root shachaph implies. ...
/s/seamew.htm - 8k

Gulf (3 Occurrences)

/g/gulf.htm - 9k

Female (95 Occurrences)
... NIV). Leviticus 11:16 and the female ostrich and the male ostrich, and the
sea-gull, and the hawk, after its kind; (DBY). Leviticus ...
/f/female.htm - 38k

Victim (3 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Hence, one who is duped, or cheated; a dupe; a gull. Multi-Version Concordance
Victim (3 Occurrences). Psalms 10:14 But you do see trouble and grief. ...
/v/victim.htm - 7k

Gullible (1 Occurrence)

/g/gullible.htm - 6k

Do (21637 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt / auxiliary) To cheat; to gull; to overreach. 10. (vt / auxiliary) To see
or inspect; to explore; as, to do all the points of interest. 11. ...
/d/do.htm - 8k

Maw (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A gull. 2. (n.) A stomach; the receptacle
into which food is taken by swallowing; in birds, the ...
/m/maw.htm - 8k

Is there any special meaning/symbolism to owls in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Gull: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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