Owls in the Bible: Discover the Meaning and Symbolism

Owls are some of the most famous birds of prey around. Since they live all over the world, they have developed cultural significance in most places, and they are known by pretty much everyone! Going back thousands of years, owls have held certain meanings and omens, and have had certain rules surrounding them, even in the Bible. Today, we are going to look at owls in the Bible and learn what they meant and why people were talking about them! Let’s discover: the meaning of owls and their symbolism in the Bible!

Where Are Owls Mentioned in the Bible?

Owls are exclusively mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, before the time of Jesus in the New Testament. Let’s go through the places where owls are mentioned and see the context.

Leviticus 11:16-18 and Deuteronomy 14:15-17

16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

 NIV

These passages list the birds that are considered unclean and forbidden to eat by the Israelites in a section of scripture known as the Pentateuch. The list of barred birds includes the owl, the little owl, the great owl, and the white owl, which as we can see, goes into detail not just about banning owls, but even granular details about the species that are not allowed. Leviticus and Deuteronomy are part of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible that contain the laws and history of Israel. Most scholars recognize that the final form of the Torah was completed between 539-333 BCE, although some claim it’s a touch earlier, as recent as 164 BCE.

Psalm 102:6

6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

 NIV

This verse describes the psalmist’s (the writer of the psalm) loneliness and misery as he compares himself to a pelican of the wilderness (the previous verse) and an owl of the waste places. Psalms is a collection of 150 songs and prayers that convey the vast array of human emotions as they are expressed to God. They were written by different authors over a span of several centuries, from around 1000 BC to 400 BC.

Isaiah 13:21; 34:11,14; 38:14

• 13:21 But desert creatures will lie there,

  jackals will fill her houses;

  there the owls will dwell,

  and there the wild goats will leap about.

• 34:11 The desert owl and screech owl will possess it;

  the great owl and the raven will nest there.

  God will stretch out over Edom

  the measuring line of chaos

  and the plumb line of desolation.

• Verses 34:14 and 38:14 don’t contain direct references to owls in the NIV, although certain translations may. (ie, “creatures of the night”)

There are a few verses that use owls as symbols of desolation, ruin, and judgment across Isaiah. They depict owls dwelling in places that were once inhabited by people or animals, but are now deserted and cursed by God. We’re seeing a trend develop here, as being alone or isolated is often accompanied by visual images of an owl! Isaiah is a prophetic book that details God’s messages to Israel and other nations through a “prophet” or speaker on behalf of God. It was likely written around 700 BC (although some textual critics have a theory involving split writings that date as recent as the end of the Babylonian exile) and came during a period when there was incredible upheaval in the nation of Israel.

Jeremiah 50:39

“So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,

and there the owl will dwell.

It will never again be inhabited

or lived in from generation to generation.

 NIV

Again, this verse is similar to Isaiah’s prophecies in it’s reference to something as barren, lonely, and deserted. This section is foretelling the destruction of Babylon by God’s wrath, bringing in the owl to explain just how deserted the cities will be. It says that desert creatures, jackals, and owls will live in Babylon after its fall. Jeremiah is another prophetic book that records God’s warnings and promises to Israel through his prophet Jeremiah. It was written around 600 BC, when Babylon invaded and exiled Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel.

Micah 1:8

8 Because of this I will weep and wail;

I will go about barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

 NIV

For a little context, this verse is showing Micah’s grief and lamentation (a very biblical word for immense sadness) over the sins and judgments of Israel and Judah (the two kingdoms that made up greater Israel). He says that he will wail like jackals and mourn like owls, once again using these desert animals to reference sadness and loss at the desertion/destruction of cities of importance. Also, the sound of an owl at night has a sad call, and Micah is saying that’s how he will sound as he laments. Micah is a minor prophetic book that contains God’s messages to his people, similar to Isaiah and Jeremiah. It was written around 700 BC, during the same period as Isaiah.

Zephaniah 2:14

14 Flocks and herds will lie down there,

creatures of every kind.

The desert owl and the screech owl

will roost on her columns.

Their hooting will echo through the windows,

rubble will fill the doorways,

the beams of cedar will be exposed.

 NIV

This verse is also similar to Isaiah’s prophecies, as it predicts the desolation of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, by God’s judgment. It says that flocks of birds, including owls, will nest in its ruins. For the final mention of owls in the Bible, we see that, once again, this is a reference to desolation and the destruction of a city left to abandonment. Zephaniah is a minor prophetic book that contains God’s messages to Judah and other nations through his prophet Zephaniah. It was written around 620 BC, before the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC.

What Do Owls Symbolize in the Bible?

There are two main ways that we see owls show up in the bible: once as a dietary reference, and a few times as a way to express grief, loneliness, or desolation.

First mentioned, they are among the birds that are considered “unclean” and forbidden to eat by the Israelites. This means that owls were regarded as impure, detestable, and abominable animals that could defile the people and make them unfit for worshiping God. The reason why owls and other birds were classified as unclean is not explicitly stated in the Bible, but scholars have some ideas that it may have to do with their diet, behavior, or association with pagan cultures. Many things associated with pagan cultures are outright rejected by the Israelites and was intended to show separation from these cultures.

Second, owls are used as symbols of desolation, ruin, and judgment in the prophetic books of the Bible. They are written to be living in places that were once inhabited by people but are now deserted and cursed by God because of sin. Owls represent the emptiness, darkness, and loneliness that result from God’s wrath and abandonment. They also signify the futility and hopelessness of those who oppose God and his people. Plainly, you don’t want a prophet to reference an owl when they’re talking about your city if you lived in Biblical times!

Why Are There No Owls in the New Testament?

Looking at the list, it’s easy to notice a trend: none of our verses are from the New Testament! Why is that? Well, it has to do with the different focus and genres of the two parts of the Bible.

The Old Testament is mostly about the history and laws of Israel, and the prophecies of God’s judgment on them and other nations. The New Testament is mostly about the life and teachings of Jesus, and the creation and attempted direction of the budding church.

Essentially, the New Testament doesn’t have as much prophetic or legal literature as the Old Testament, which is where owls usually appear. The only book in the New Testament that might have had owls is Revelation, mostly because it uses a lot of images and symbols to describe what will happen in the future. Still, they aren’t mentioned, but other animals are, including horses, lions, eagles, locusts, scorpions, frogs, and dragons.