Quick Definition
ostrich
Strong's Definition
a species of unclean bird (from its violence), perhaps an owl
Derivation: from H2554 (חָמַס);
KJV Usage: night hawk.
TWOT Reference: 678b
Outline of Biblical Usage
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
תַּחְמָס (tach.mas) — ostrich. 1) a ceremonially unclean bird 1a) a name of the male ostrich 1b) (CLBL) probably the great owl 1c) perhaps an extinct bird, exact meaning unknown
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
noun m
Birds
short-eared owl exact meaning unknown; possibly: = type of owl, medium-sized and with a brown color, but with a paler face and ear tufts that are not very prominent; it makes a strange sound like an animal or a person snoring; it lives in grassland and semi desert regions; ◄ Asio flammeus; ► unclean and therefore not to be eaten
Birds
nightjar, nighthawk exact meaning unknown; possibly: = speckled brown bird that is about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long, with a short beak that can open very wide; it flies by night and feeds on flying insects; during the day they roost on the ground or on thick branches; their presence in an area is known from their calls at night; ◄ Caprimulgus nubicus or Caprimulgus europaeus; ► unclean and therefore not to be eaten
1 LEV 11:16 · DEU 14:15 RSV NJPS NRSV "nighthawk" = [b]; NIV NJB "screech owl"; REB "short-eared owl" = [a]
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
תַּחְמָס n.[m.] name of male ostrich base