Bible Dictionary
Nighthawk
The Nile is the great river of Egypt, referred to in Scripture as the River, the Sihor, or the flood of Egypt. Its annual flooding sustained Egyptian agriculture.
Definition
The nighthawk is a bird name used in the traditional rendering of the biblical list of unclean birds. The supplied material identifies it generally with some kind of owl.
Biblical Usage
The Hebrew word occurs in the passages listing birds that were not to be eaten under the Law.
Historical Background
The precise species represented by the Hebrew term is uncertain.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The Hebrew word so translated, (Leviticus 11:10; 14:15) probably denotes some kind of owl.