chameleon
Hebrew: תַּנְשֶׁמֶת —transliteration: tinshemeth —meaning: a hard breather
This is a species of lizard which has the faculty of changing the color of its skin. It is mentioned only once in Scripture.
It is listed among the unclean animals in Leviticus 11:30, where the Hebrew word so translated is coah (Revised King James Version, “land crocodile”).
and the gecko and the crocodile and the lizard and the sand reptile and the chameleon. —Leviticus 11:30
In the same verse, the Hebrew tinshemeth, rendered in King James Version “mole,” is in Revised King James Version “chameleon,” which is the correct rendering.
This animal is very common in Egypt and in the Holy Land, especially in the Jordan valley.
More information
Animals of the BibleArticle Version: January 31, 2026