Problem: The Bible says bats are birds
Verses: Leviticus 11:13-19; Status: Weak

Leviticus 11:13-19 appears to say that bats are a type of bird, when modern science knows them to be a type of mammal:

And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, the kite, the falcon of any kind, every raven of any kind, the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind, the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl, the barn owl, the tawny owl, the carrion vulture, the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. (ESV)

This would appear to be just a translation issue. Since the ancient Hebrew word ('owph) apparently included bats, "birds" is not really an accurate translation. The ESV gives "things that fly" as a suggested alternate translation.

Updated: Summer 2008

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