Biblica Analytica

תַּחְמָס

tach.mas (H8464)

ostrich

2 verses 2 books OT 2 / NT 0
AI Word Study

# Tachmas: The Biblical Ostrich The Hebrew word *tachmas* (H8464) denotes the ostrich, a large flightless bird. This term appears only twice in the biblical text, making it a relatively rare animal designation. The word's limited frequency suggests that while ostriches were known to ancient Hebrew speakers, they were not central to everyday vocabulary or experience. The scarcity of *tachmas* in biblical literature indicates that ostriches held minimal practical or symbolic importance in ancient Israelite life. Unlike domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, or cattle—which appear frequently throughout scripture—the ostrich appears to have been peripheral to the concerns of biblical authors. Its mention in just two occurrences leaves little basis for understanding its cultural significance or the specific contexts in which it was referenced, beyond the simple fact that biblical writers recognized it as a distinct creature worthy of naming.

AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.

Leviticus 11:16

the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,

Deuteronomy 14:15

the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the hawk after its kind,