Camel: this animal is referred to many times in the Bible. If a language distinguishes between the two main types of camels, the one referred to here is the “dromedary,” which has only one hump on its back. Otherwise translators may borrow the general term “camel” and explain it in a footnote or glossary.

Hare: Good News Translation says “rabbit”; see Lev 11.6. Hares and rabbits don’t really chew the cud, but their jaws move in such a way that they appear to be doing this. But in any case they were considered unclean by the Hebrews because they do not have cloven hoofs, and thus were not to be eaten.

Rock badger: as noted above, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “damian”; New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible have “coney” (New International Version footnote, “hyrax or rock badger”). It appears also in Lev 11.5 (and see badger in Psa 104.18; Pro 30.26). This animal is about the same size as a rabbit and normally lives in rocky areas. It also does not chew the cud, but like the rabbit it appears to.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .