A bird name, likely referring to a species of owl—possibly the great owl or Egyptian eagle-owl according to most scholars. Listed among unclean birds in Leviticus 11:17 and Deuteronomy 14:16, it also appears in Isaiah 34:11 as an inhabitant of desolate places, part of the prophet's vision of Edom's destruction. The etymology may connect to harsh, strident sounds (suggesting owl calls) or to twilight (נֶשֶׁף), as owls are crepuscular hunters. While the Septuagint and Vulgate suggest 'ibis,' most modern scholars favor an owl species based on the desert habitat and other contextual clues.