Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, April 1st, 2025
the Fourth Week of Lent
There are 19 days til Easter!
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Bible Encyclopedias
Ostrich

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Ostrau
Next Entry
Ostrog
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

The Hebrew term for this bird occurring most frequently in the Bible is "bat ha-ya 'anah"; the plural form "ye'enim" occurs in Lamentations 4:3, and "renanim" in Job 39:13 (A. V. "peacocks"). The Authorized Version renders also "ḥasidah" (ib.) by "ostrich" (see STORK).

The ostrich is an unclean bird (Leviticus 11:16; Deuteronomy 14:15). Allusions are made to its living in deserted and lonely places (Isaiah 13:21, 34:13, 43:20; Jer. 39; Job 30:29), to its melancholy cry (Micah 1:8), and to its speed in running (Job 39:18). The idea of its being pitiless toward its young (Job 39:16; Lamentations 4:3) has, as Tristram says, some foundation in fact, because "when surprised by man with the young before they are able to run, the parent bird scuds off alone and leaves its offspring to their fate." So also with regard to its stupidity (Job 39:17): "When surprised it will often take the very course that insures its capture." These two characteristics are ascribed to it by the Arabs also. On the other hand, the belief that the ostrich leaves its eggs to be hatched by the sand (ib. 14 et seq.) may have arisen from its habit of scattering some unincubated eggs around its nest to serve as food for the young when hatched.

In the Mishnah "na'amit," in the Talmud "na'amita," is used besides "bat ha-ya'anah" for the ostrich (Shab. 110b; M. Ḳ. 26a). The voraciousness of the bird is illustrated by its devouring a pair of phylacteries (Yer. M. Ḳ. 83b), and it is also related (Yer. Yoma 4:4) that an ostrich swallowed gold pieces of the size of an olive and ejected them in a polished condition. It does not even disdain broken glass as food (Shab. 128a). Yalḳ. Shim'oni 2:17a makes the ostrich consume the flesh of the slain Agag. In Kelim 17:14 is mentioned a vessel made of a glazed ostrich-eggshell, having a capacity of twenty-four hen eggs. The egg of the ostrich was used for medicinal purposes (Shab. 110b).

Bibliography:
  • Tristram, Nat. Hist. p. 233;
  • Lewysohn, Z. T. p. 188.
E. G. H.
I. M. C.
Bibliography Information
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Ostrich'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tje/​o/ostrich.html. 1901.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile
Logo

It appears that your ad blocker is enabled.

×

Our ministry depends on ad revenue to keep delivering high-quality content that you can enjoy for FREE. Your support through viewing ads helps us sustain and expand our efforts around the globe.

Please support our ministry by disabling your ad blocker.

Continue without supporting us

Choose your Ad Blocker

  • Adblock Plus
  • Adblock
  • Adguard
  • Ad Remover
  • Brave
  • Ghostery
  • uBlock Origin
  • uBlock
  • UltraBlock
  • Other
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock Plus icon
  2. Click the large blue toggle for this website
  3. Click refresh
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock icon
  2. Under "Pause on this site" click "Always"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Adguard icon
  2. Click on the large green toggle for this website
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ad Remover icon
  2. Click "Disable on This Website"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the orange lion icon
  2. Click the toggle on the top right, shifting from "Up" to "Down"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ghostery icon
  2. Click the "Anti-Tracking" shield so it says "Off"
  3. Click the "Ad-Blocking" stop sign so it says "Off"
  4. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock Origin icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the UltraBlock icon
  2. Check the "Disable UltraBlock" checkbox
  3. Marque la casilla de verificación "Desactivar UltraBlock"
  1. Please disable your Ad Blocker
  2. Disable any DNS blocking tools such as AdGuardDNS or NextDNS

If the prompt is still appearing, please disable any tools or services you are using that block internet ads (e.g. DNS Servers).