Ostrich Mention Frequency in the Bible
The ostrich is mentioned in several biblical passages, though sometimes the Hebrew word translated as "owl" in some contexts is rendered as "ostrich" in others [1]. This large bird, native to Africa and Arabia, is characterized by its significant height (nearly ten feet), long neck, and short wings [3].
Biblical references highlight specific characteristics and behaviors of the ostrich:
- Physical Description: The ostrich is noted for its "goodly feathers" and "proud wings," though it does not fly [6]. Job 39:13 describes its wings as vibrating joyously [7].
- Habitat and Sound: Ostriches seek retired places [3], such as desolate areas [4]. Their mournful cry is sometimes mistaken for that of a lion [3].
- Reproductive Habits: The Bible describes the ostrich as laying its eggs in the sand, often poorly covered, making them vulnerable to predators or human collection [2, 3]. Job 39:14-15 states that the ostrich "leaveth her eggs in the earth and broodeth over the dust, forgetting that a foot may crush them, and the beast of the field trample them" [7]. This behavior is seen as a lack of wisdom or prudence [4, 5].
- Parental Care: The ostrich is depicted as treating its young harshly, as if they were not its own, and laboring in vain without distress [7]. Lamentations 4:3 alludes to the ostrich's habit regarding its eggs, noting that the outer layer is often ill-covered, leading to destruction by jackals, wild-cats, or humans [2]. This passage uses the ostrich to illustrate the "unnatural cruelty of the Jews in their calamities" [4].
- Speed: Despite its inability to fly, the ostrich is known for its rapid movement [4]. Job 39:18 notes that "at the time when she lasheth herself aloft, she derideth the horse and horseman" [7].
- Wisdom and Understanding: A recurring theme in the biblical description of the ostrich is its perceived lack of wisdom. Job 39:17 states that "Eloah hath caused her to forget wisdom, and gave her no share of understanding" [7]. This reputation for being deprived of wisdom was common in the ancient Near East [5].
- Dietary Laws: The ostrich was considered unclean and unfit for food under the Levitical law [4].
The Hebrew plural renanim is translated as "ostrich" in Lamentations 4:3, referring to its greediness and gluttony [2]. Other passages, such as Job 30:29 and Jeremiah 50:39, also use a Hebrew word that is sometimes translated as "ostrich" where it might otherwise be rendered "owl" [1]. The ostrich's companionship with extreme desolation is noted in Job 30:29 [4]. Matthew Henry describes the ostrich as a "wonderful animal" and a "very large bird," sometimes called a "winged camel" [6]. He contrasts its "goodly feathers" with its foolishness, noting that wisdom does not always accompany beauty [6].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Owl — A number of species of the owl are mentioned in the Bible, (Leviticus 11:17; 14:16; Isaiah 14:23; 34:15; Zephaniah 2:14) and in several other places the same Hebrew word is used where it is translated ostrich. (Job 30:29; Jeremiah 50:39) Some of these species were common in Palestine, and, as is well known, were often found inhabiting ruins. (Isaiah 34:11,13-15)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ostrich — (Lam. 4:3), the rendering of Hebrew pl. enim; so called from its greediness and gluttony. The allusion here is to the habit of the ostrich with reference to its eggs, which is thus described: "The outer layer of eggs is generally so ill covered that they are destroyed in quantities by jackals, wild-cats, etc., and that the natives carry them away, only taking care not to leave the marks of their footsteps, since, when the ostrich comes and finds that her nest is discovered, she crushes the whole brood, and builds a nest elsewhere." In Job 39:13 this word in”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ostrich — a large bird, native of African and Arabia, nearly ten feet high, having s long neck and short wings. It seeks retired places, (Job 30:29; Lamentations 4:13) and has a peculiar mournful cry that is sometimes mistaken by the Arabs for that of the lion. (Micah 1:8) In (Job 39:13-18) will be found a description of the bird's habits. Ostriches are polygamous; the hens lay their eggs promiscuously in one nest, which is merely a hole scratched in the sand; the eggs are then covered over to the depth of about a foot, and are, in the case of those birds which are fo”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ostrich, The — Unclean and unfit for food -- Le 11:13. Furnished with wings and feathers -- Job 39:13. Lays her eggs in the sand -- Job 39:14. Described as Void of wisdom. -- Job 39:17. Imprudent. -- Job 39:15. Cruel to her young. -- Job 39:16. Rapid in movement. -- Job 39:18. Illustrative Of the unnatural cruelty of the Jews in their calamities. -- La 4:3. (Companionship with,) of extreme desolation. -- Job 30:29.”
- Job (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Job 39:13: 39:13-18 In the ancient Near East, the ostrich had a reputation as a bird that God had deprived of wisdom.”
- Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 39:13: The ostrich is a wonderful animal, a very large bird, but it never flies. Some have called it a winged camel. God here gives an account of it, and observes, I. Something that it has in common with the peacock, that is, beautiful feathers (Job 39:13): Gavest thou proud wings unto the peacocks? so some read it. Fine feathers make proud birds. The peacock is an emblem of pride; when he struts, and shows his fine feathers, Solomon in all his glory is not arrayed like him. The ostrich too has goodly feathers, and yet is a foolish bird; for wisdom does not always go along”
- Job (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Job 39:13: 13 The wing of the ostrich vibrates joyously, Is she pious, wing and feather? 14 No, she leaveth her eggs in the earth And broodeth over the dust, 15 Forgetting that a foot may crush them, And the beast of the field trample them. 16 She treateth her young ones harshly as if they were not hers; In vain is her labour, without her being distressed. 17 For Eloah hath caused her to forget wisdom, And gave her no share of understanding. 18 At the time when she lasheth herself aloft, She derideth the horse and horseman. As the wild ass and the ox-like oryx cannot be tam”