The owl, the owl and the little owl are nocturnal birds of prey that the biblical account mentions several times. They were once believed to be related to the falcon family, but today they are often associated with other nocturnal birds, such as the nightjar.
The beak of these birds is short and hooked and they have powerful talons similar to those of the falcon, but they are distinguished from the falcon by their broad head and their large eyes and “ears” (groups of feathers or ear tufts), as well as by having a reversible outer toe on each foot, so that while the other toes are turned forward, this one can be turned to the side or even backwards, allowing them to get a firm grip on a variety of objects. Their large eyes have expandable irises, and so they take full advantage of the pale night light; furthermore, because they are frontally arranged, unlike most other birds, they can look at things with both eyes at the same time. Its soft plumage is shaded with shades of brown, gray, black and white, and often gives the impression that the bird has a very bulky body. According to a magazine article Scientific American (April 1962, p. 78), the wings of nocturnal raptors are ultrasonically silent; apparently their feathery edges and soft down on the upper surface serve to reduce air turbulence. So they pounce silently in the dark on their unsuspecting prey, mostly rodents, though some also feed on birds and insects. The range of sounds they emit ranges from a high-pitched screech to a resonant ululation.
The Hebrew term taj more it is included in the list of ‘unclean’ birds. (Le 11:13, 16; De 14:15) This Hebrew word has been associated with a verb meaning “do violence,” fittingly with the owl, which feeds on small rodents and birds. Most Spanish translations have opted for this identification, although it has also been identified with bruce’s scops owl (otus brucei).
The ‘unclean’ birds also include the voice kohs, which has been translated “little owl” (athene nocturne). (Deut 14:16, MK, NM; Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, from L. Koehler and W. Baumgartner, Leiden, 1958, p. 428.) The little owl is one of the most widespread nocturnal birds of prey in Palestine. It is about 25 cm. in length and can be found in thickets, olive groves and desolate ruins. The psalmist’s lonely affliction made him feel like “an owl of desolate places.” (Ps 102:6) The Arabic name for this nocturnal raptor is significant: “Mother of Ruins.”
In the Mosaic law the bird called in Hebrew also appears as ‘unclean’ yan schuf, name that according to some opinions indicates a sound like “snorting” or “snorting” (the Hebrew word for “blowing” is na schaf). Others relate it to “twilight” (Heb.ne chef), due to being a nocturnal bird. (Le 11:17; De 14:16) He Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Books (p. 386) translates it “long-eared owl” (asio otus). This is a bird of about 38 cm. in length that is characterized by the long ear tufts on the sides of its broad head. It frequents forests and desolate areas, and it is said that it would be one of the creatures that would inhabit the ruins of Edom. (Isaiah 34:11.)
Abandoned houses in the ruins of Babylon were predicted to be “full of eagle owls”. (Isa 13:21) Both this fact and its Hebrew name—apparently denoting a creature that “howls” with a plaintive cry—fit well with the eagle-owl. Some identify ʼo·aj with the bubo bubo aharonii, a subspecies of the eagle owl that inhabits the desert regions of Palestine. However the bubo bubo ascalaphus, found from Morocco to Iraq, it fits better with the geographical context of the prophecy of Isaiah 13. The eagle owl is the largest and strongest of the nocturnal birds of prey in these regions. It emits a loud, prolonged and intense whistle. Like other owls, at night its eyes reflect light with a reddish-yellow luminescent glow, which, together with its also characteristic mournful cry, contributed to superstitious pagan peoples considering it a symbol of ill omen.
Some scholars believe that the term li lith, which appears in Isaiah 34:14 as one of the creatures that would inhabit the ruins of Edom, applies to some kind of night bird. This word is used today with reference to “the Strix, the common tawny owl”. (The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, G. A. Buttrick edition, 1962, vol. 2, p. 252.) However, see the article Nightjars.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
Owl (Heb. yanshôf and yanshûf, “he who cries”). Night bird of dirty habits (Lev 11:17; Deu 14:16). The Hebrew words can represent different species of owls: the small one of the south, which inhabits wooded areas, in crevices of the tops of the mountains, in mounds of ruins, in olive groves throughout Palestine and in desolate places (Psa 102:6); the ibis (Lev 11:17); or the Egyptian eagle-owl, also unclean and a symbol of desolation (Isa 34:11; others suggest the owl* Asio otus; both species live in caves and among ruins in the Beersheba and Petra regions). Driver suggests that yanshûf represents a variety of owl (Strix flammea); in any case, he is a creature of desolate places (v 15). Bib.: SR Driver, PEQ 87 (1955):20. Vulture. Translation of the: 1. Heb. ‘ayyâh, perhaps the falcon (Job 28:7), since the context suggests a bird with keen eyesight, typical of the falconids_2 Heb. dâ’âh or dayyâh, probably a falcon (Lev 11:14, DHH; Deu 14:13, DHH; Isa 34:15). 3. Heb. nesher, usually translated as “eagle”* (Pro 30:17; Lam 4:19; Hos 8:1), but perhaps sometimes referring to birds of prey such as the vulture. 4. Heb. râjâm and râjâmzâh, terms that only appear in Lev 1:18 and Deu 14:17, and which are indistinctly identified with the pelican, the sea eagle, the purple swamp, the bearded vulture or the vulture. Râjâm (from a verbal root meaning “to love”) may be the vulture Vultur percnopterus or Neophron percnopterus, because it lavishes tender care on its chicks or because pairs stay together. 5. Heb. peres (Lev 11:13; Deu 14:12), a bird of unknown species, perhaps a vulture like the bearded vulture.* Driver studied these birds and identified the terms for vulture as follows: 1. Common vulture or hawk. 2. Black kite_3 Griffon vulture or eagle (golden). 4. Bearded vultureHos_5 Black vulture. The vulture, widespread in Palestine and with filthy and disgusting habits, appears on the list of some 20 species of birds that are not suitable for human consumption. Bib.: GR Driver, PEQ 87 (1955):8-20.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Nocturnal bird of prey, considered by Moses as an impure animal, Lv 11, 17; Dt 14, 16. In Ps 102 (101), 7, the psalmist mourns in his affliction and is compared to b. of the wasteland; the prophet Zephaniah, in the oracle against Syria, says that it will be destroyed and “the b. will howl at the window† So 2, 14.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
Predatory bird that hunts mostly at night. It has abundant plumage and can fly silently to take its prey. For this, his magnificent night vision and his great hearing capacity help him. Its eyes are set forward on its face, which is round and its beak is curved. It feeds on insects and small mammals, rats, lizards and other reptiles. It appears in the list of animals forbidden to eat (Lev 11:17; Deu 14:16). Many times they live in ruins (Isa 34:15), in holes in rocks or trees. The reference to the “owl of the wilderness” in Ps 102:6 points to a species that abounds in the deserts of Israel. It is usually found alone or in pairs. There are many kinds of b. Among others, the Athene noctua glaux, the Athene noctua saharae and the Asio flammeus are mentioned. †¢Bible animals.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
birds in the bible