Anaphah (אֲנָפָה) refers to a large wading bird, most likely the heron or possibly the stork or a related species. It appears in the lists of unclean birds in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18. The root may relate to the idea of snorting or being quick-tempered, though the connection to the bird name is uncertain.
The dietary laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, including the prohibition of birds like the anaphah, served as ceremonial markers of holiness for Israel. While the New Testament declares all foods clean (Mark 7:19; Acts 10:15), these laws taught Israel to distinguish holy from common, clean from unclean — a spiritual discipline cultivating mindfulness of God's presence. Peter's vision overturning these distinctions signaled the inclusion of all nations into God's people.