What does an owl symbolize in the Bible?

The owl, as described in the Bible symbolizes an “unclean” and “abominable” creature that is compared to creatures such as “dragons,” (giant squids, crocodiles, etc…) bats, and ravens. These creatures were animals that the Israelites were commanded by Moses not to consume as food (Leviticus 11:13–19). Furthermore, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 34 verse 13, we see where the Kingdom of Edom’s eventual vassalship to Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonians, would see days that would be comparable to a land filled with dragons, owls, unicorns (aurochs), vultures, and cormorants. All of these creatures while beautiful in their own rights, represent desolation and disobedience in the narrative of the Bible. It should be noted that Edom was a habitual enemy of the Israelites, and even assisted the Babylonians in the siege of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. Another interesting fact about Edom is the that the Egyptian hieroglyph for Edom contains an owl(The Edomites dwelt in the land of Egypt in the 1400’s B.C.).