Bat

The bat (Hebrew ataleph) is listed among the unclean birds in the Mosaic food laws (Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18)—its classification with birds reflecting ancient taxonomy based on flight rather than modern zoology. Isaiah 2:20 uses the bat evocatively in the eschatological vision of the day of the LORD: idolaters will throw their silver and gold idols to the moles and bats when they flee in terror into caves and rocky crags before the divine majesty. The bat thus becomes an image of darkness, worthlessness, and the reversal of false worship.