In the Bible, the rabbit is mentioned in the context of dietary laws given to the Israelites. The Hebrew word often translated as "rabbit" is "arnebet," which appears in the Old Testament. The rabbit is classified among the animals that are considered unclean for consumption according to the Mosaic Law.

Biblical References:

1. Leviticus 11:6 : "The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you." This verse is part of the dietary laws outlined in Leviticus, where God instructs the Israelites on which animals are permissible to eat. The rabbit is specifically mentioned as unclean because, although it appears to chew the cud, it does not have the divided hoof required for an animal to be considered clean.

2. Deuteronomy 14:7 : "But of those that chew the cud or have split hooves, you are not to eat the following: the camel, the rabbit, or the rock badger. Although they chew the cud, they do not have split hooves; they are unclean for you." This passage reiterates the dietary restrictions found in Leviticus, emphasizing the characteristics that determine an animal's cleanliness.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, dietary laws were a significant aspect of religious and cultural identity. The distinction between clean and unclean animals served not only as a health guideline but also as a means of setting the Israelites apart from surrounding nations. The classification of the rabbit as unclean is based on its physical characteristics, which do not meet the criteria set forth in the Law of Moses.

The mention of the rabbit in these dietary laws reflects the broader principle of holiness and separation that God required of His people. By adhering to these laws, the Israelites demonstrated obedience and commitment to the covenant relationship with God.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

From a symbolic perspective, the dietary laws, including the prohibition against eating rabbits, can be seen as a call to discernment and purity. The physical characteristics of animals were used as tangible examples to teach spiritual truths about holiness and the importance of distinguishing between what is acceptable and what is not in the sight of God.

In Christian theology, the dietary laws are often viewed as part of the Old Covenant, which was fulfilled in Christ. The New Testament teaches that believers are no longer bound by these specific dietary restrictions (see Acts 10:9-16 and Colossians 2:16-17). However, the principles of holiness and obedience to God remain central to Christian life.

Modern Considerations:

While the specific dietary laws regarding rabbits are not applicable to Christians today, they serve as a historical and theological reference point for understanding the nature of God's covenant with Israel. The emphasis on holiness, obedience, and separation from worldly practices continues to be relevant for believers seeking to live in accordance with biblical principles.(n.) Any of the smaller species of the genus Lepus, especially the common European species (Lepus cuniculus), which is often kept as a pet, and has been introduced into many countries. It is remarkably prolific, and has become a pest in some parts of Australia and New Zealand.8227. shaphan -- hyrax
... coney; a species of rock-rabbit From saphan; a species of rock-rabbit (from its
hiding), ie Probably the hyrax -- coney. see HEBREW saphan. 8226, 8227. ...
/hebrew/8227.htm - 5k

768. arnebeth -- a hare
... 767, 768. arnebeth. 769 . a hare. Transliteration: arnebeth Phonetic Spelling:
(ar-neh'-beth) Short Definition: rabbit. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/768.htm - 5k

Fun and Mischief. His Little Cousin and the "Gnats. " the Aurora ...
... Thus we escaped a well-merited whipping. About the same time in life my younger
brother and I caught a rabbit and dressed it for breakfast. ...
/.../chapter iv fun and mischief.htm

The Bad Squire
... She watched a long tuft of clover, Where rabbit or hare never ran; For its
black sour haulm covered over The blood of a murdered man. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the bad squire.htm

August 19, 1894
... rabbits; I do not want to do them any harm, but I tell them gently: "You must keep
your fur glossy, and must not look foolishly about as does a rabbit of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/xix august 19 1894.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... it. The man placed himself before my horse so as to bar the way, and said
Schophon, which in the Hebrew tongue signifies a rabbit. ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 51.htm

Natural Love.
... And when our small boys are furious when they see the male rabbit kill his young
while the female fights for them, there is in their boyish hearts a pure voice ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvii natural love.htm

Early School Days
... A rabbit, hopping boldly about in the neglected doorway, stopped suddenly as if
to ask why these people had come to a place that she had chosen for her home ...
/.../byrum/how john became a man/chapter iv early school days.htm

Lessons from Nature
... to human foot, the chamois leaps from ledge to ledge; and away, where human voice
was never heard, the marmot, the mouse, and the rabbit (whichever creature ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/lessons from nature.htm

'As Sodom'
... And, all the while, the monstrous serpent was slowly tightening its folds round
the struggling, helpless rabbit. We have to imagine all the misery. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/as sodom.htm

Wesley's Reasons for his Long Life
... compass. It contains a rabbit-warren, deer, swans, pheasants in abundance,
besides a fishpond and an elegant garden. Variety indeed! ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesleys reasons for his long.htm

On the Animals
... [Cant.2:9]. The antelope is the same as above. The rabbit is one who fears God;
in the psalm: the rocks are a refuges for the hares and the hedgehogs. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iv on the animals.htm

Rabbit (3 Occurrences)
...Rabbit (3 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:5 and the rabbit, though it is bringing up
the cud, yet the hoof it divideth not -- unclean it 'is' to you; (YLT). ...
/r/rabbit.htm - 7k

Coney (2 Occurrences)
... It is about the size and color of a rabbit, though clumsier in structure, and without
a tail. ... "Coney" is an obsolete English word for "rabbit.". ...
/c/coney.htm - 12k

Hare (2 Occurrences)
... Since the word "coney," which properly means "rabbit," has been applied to the hyrax,
so, in America at least, the word "rabbit" is widely used for various ...
/h/hare.htm - 12k

Rabbis (1 Occurrence)

/r/rabbis.htm - 6k

Rabbith (1 Occurrence)

/r/rabbith.htm - 7k

Doe (5 Occurrences)
... Also applied to the female of other animals, as the rabbit. See Buck. 2. (n.) A
feat. [Obs.] See Do, n. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DOE. do. See DEER. ...
/d/doe.htm - 8k

Dividing (23 Occurrences)
... 14:7 Only, this ye do not eat, of those bringing up the cud, and of those dividing
the cloven hoof: the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit, for they are ...
/d/dividing.htm - 13k

Deer (15 Occurrences)
... There are many examples of this in English, eg panther, coney, rabbit (in America),
locust, adder and many others. Ya`el (including ya`alah) occurs 4 times. ...
/d/deer.htm - 17k

Cud (9 Occurrences)
... 7 Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who
have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit; because they ...
/c/cud.htm - 11k

Chew (5 Occurrences)
... 7 Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who
have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit; because they ...
/c/chew.htm - 9k

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