H8377 H8377
Antelope, oryx, wild ox (a clean wild animal, possibly the Arabian oryx or similar species)
This noun designates a type of antelope or wild ox, listed among clean animals permitted for food. Deuteronomy 14:5 includes it in the catalog of edible wild game. Isaiah 51:20 uses it in simile: 'your sons lie helpless like an antelope in a net'—a wild animal trapped and unable to escape, depicting Jerusalem's helpless state. Scholars debate the precise species: possibly the Arabian oryx (oryx leucoryx) or another antelope species. The name may relate to a root suggesting strength or wildness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A wild bovine or antelope species, clean for consumption and known for strength or beauty. The Deuteronomy passage is taxonomic (listing permitted animals), while Isaiah's usage is metaphorical (sons helpless as trapped game). Spanish distinguishes 'antílope' and 'oryx,' reflecting scholarly uncertainty about species identification. The prepositional construction 'like an antelope' in Isaiah shows typical simile usage. The animal's wildness makes it effective for depicting both providential provision (clean food) and tragic helplessness (trapped despite natural strength). 2×
AR["كَـ-مَهَاةٍ", "وَ-التَّأْوُ"]·ben["এবং-বন্য-ষাঁড়", "হরিণের-মতো"]·DE["[כתוא]", "und-oryx"]·EN["and-oryx", "like-antelope"]·FR["[כתוא]", "et-oryx"]·heb["ו-תאו", "כ-תוא"]·HI["और-जंगली-बैल", "जंगली-बैल-की-तरह"]·ID["dan-lembu-liar", "seperti-rusa"]·IT["[כתוא]", "e-oryx"]·jav["kados-kidang", "lan-lembu-liar"]·KO["그리고-야산-소과", "사슴같이-"]·PT["como-antílope", "e-antílope"]·RU["и-антилопа", "как-антилопа"]·ES["como-antílope", "y-antilope"]·SW["kama-paa", "na-nyumbu-wa-mwitu"]·TR["ceylan-gibi-", "ve-yaban-öküzü"]·urd["اور-جنگلی-بیل", "نیلگائے-کی-طرح"]
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
† תְּאוֹ n.m. antelope (whether antilope leucoryx TrNHB> 59; FFP 5, or oryx beatrix PostHast.DB Ox; on form v. Ol§ 173 g);—abs. ת׳ Dt 14:5 (clean animal, cf. Dr); cstr. תּוֹא Is 51:20.