Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Leviticus

[Butterfly]

Does the Bible teach that Rabbits chew their cud?

[jimwalton]

No. Remember this was before the days of our taxonomy classifications. Animals were sometimes grouped according to behavioral attributes rather than our scientific divisions. The rabbit masticates with a side-to-side mandible action, just like a cow or sheep. Though it doesn't have multiple stomachs and doesn’t regurgitate its food into its mouth for repetitious chewing, it can easily be observing chewing side to side, and therefore the Bible makes that observation. It is not to be taken as a scientific statement, but as an observational one.

See also https://answersingenesis.org/contradictions-in-the-bible/do-rabbits-really-chew-the-cud/