H3284 H3284
Ostrich; a large flightless bird associated in Scripture with mourning, desolation, and ritual uncleanness.
This feminine noun denotes the ostrich, appearing exclusively in the compound phrases bat hayya'anah ('daughter of the ostrich') and benot ya'anah ('daughters of the ostrich'). The ostrich serves as a powerful literary symbol: its eerie wailing cry makes it a simile for mourning in Micah 1:8, its preference for desolate terrain marks ruined cities in Isaiah 13:21 and 34:13, and its habitat in the wild makes it a companion of jackals in Job 30:29. Leviticus 11:16 and Deuteronomy 14:15 list it among unclean birds. Every major translation tradition recognizes the bird — English 'ostrich,' Spanish 'avestruz,' French 'autruche,' German 'Strauss.'
Senses
1. the ostrich — The ostrich, a large desert-dwelling bird known for its haunting cry and association with desolate places. Used as a symbol of mourning (Mic 1:8, paired with jackals), loneliness (Job 30:29), and devastation among ruins (Isa 13:21; 34:13; Jer 50:39). Listed as ritually unclean in Lev 11:16 and Deut 14:15. The consistent rendering across languages — Spanish 'avestruz,' French 'autruche,' German 'Strauss' — confirms universal identification of this creature. 8×
AR["النَّعامِ", "النَّعَامَةِ", "النَّعَامِ"]·ben["-উটপাখির", "উটপাখি", "উটপাখিদের", "উটপাখির", "এবং-গাংচিল"]·DE["Strauss", "[יענה]", "der-ostrich"]·EN["ostrich", "ostriches", "the-ostrich"]·FR["autruche", "le-ostrich", "יענה"]·heb["ה-יענה", "יענה"]·HI["और-को", "शुतरमुर्ग-की", "शुतरमुर्ग-के", "शुतुरमुर्ग-का", "शुतुरमुर्ग-की"]·ID["burung unta", "burung-unta"]·IT["[יענה]", "il-ostrich", "ostrich", "struzzo"]·jav["burung-unta", "manuk-unta", "unta", "unta-peksi"]·KO["그-타조의", "타조", "타조의"]·PT["a-avestruz", "avestruz", "o-avestruz"]·RU["-страуса", "страуса", "страусы"]·ES["avestruz", "de-avestruz", "el-avestruz"]·SW["mbuni", "wa-mbuni", "ya-mbuni", "za-mbuni"]·TR["deve-kuşunun", "devekusunun", "devekuşunun", "kuşlarıın"]·urd["-شترمرغ-کی", "بچیوں-کے", "بیٹیوں-کی", "شتر-مرغ-کی", "شترمرغ-کی"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† יַעֲנָה n.f. greed(?);—only in בַּת־הַיַּעֲנָה Lv 11:16 Dt 14:15; בְּנוֹת־יַעֲנָה Mi 1:8 + 5 times;—ostrich, (vid. √ יען supra); as wailing (sim. of mourning) Mi 1:8 (‖ תַּנִּים); symbol. of loneliness Jb 30:29 (אָח הָיִיתִי לְתַנִּים וְרֵעַ לב׳ יַעֲ׳); of desolation, as dwelling among ruins Is 13:21; 34:13 (‖ תַּנִּים), Je 50:39; living in desert Is 43:20 (‖ תַּנִּים); unclean Lv 11:16 Dt 14:15.