Owl

(1.) Heb. bath-haya’anah, “daughter of greediness” or of “shouting.” In the list of unclean birds (Lev. 11:16; Deut. 14:15); also mentioned in Job 30:29; Isa. 13:21; 34:13; 43:20; Jer. 50:39; Micah 1:8. In all these passages the Revised Version translates “ostrich” (q.v.), which is the correct rendering. (2.) Heb. yanshuph, rendered “great owl” in Lev. 11:17; Deut. 14:16, and “owl” in Isa. 34:11. This is supposed to be the Egyptian eagle-owl (Bubo ascalaphus), which takes the place of the eagle-owl (Bubo maximus) found in Southern Europe. It is found frequenting the ruins of Egypt and also of the Holy Land. “Its cry is a loud, prolonged, and very powerful hoot. I know nothing which more vividly brought to my mind the sense of desolation and loneliness than the re-echoing hoot of two or three of these great owls as I stood at midnight among the ruined temples of Baalbek” (Tristram). The LXX. and Vulgate render this word by “ibis”, i.e., the Egyptian heron. (3.) Heb. kos, rendered “little owl” in Lev. 11:17; Deut. 14:16, and “owl” in Ps. 102:6. The Arabs call this bird “the mother of ruins.” It is by far the most common of all the owls of Palestine. It is the Athene persica, the bird of Minerva, the symbol of ancient Athens. (4.) Heb. kippoz, the “great owl” (Isa. 34:15); Revised Version, “arrow-snake;” LXX. and Vulgate, “hedgehog,” reading in the text, kippod, instead of kippoz. There is no reason to doubt the correctness of the rendering of the Authorized Version. Tristram says: “The word [i.e., kippoz] is very possibly an imitation of the cry of the scops owl (Scops giu), which is very common among ruins, caves, and old walls of towns...It is a migrant, returning to Palestine in spring.” (5.) Heb. lilith, “screech owl” (Isa. 34:14, marg. and R.V., “night monster”). The Hebrew word is from a root signifying “night.” Some species of the owl is obviously intended by this word. It may be the hooting or tawny owl (Syrnium aluco), which is common in Egypt and in many parts of Palestine. This verse in Isaiah is “descriptive of utter and perpetual desolation, of a land that should be full of ruins, and inhabited by the animals that usually make such ruins their abode.”

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)

OWL. In Deut 14:16-17; Isa 34:11, 2 Sam 20:15; Ps 102:6 this word doubtless denotes some one or other of the five species of owl common in Egypt and Syria. The Hebrew word translated Eagle Owl (Bubo Maximus. After Houghton.) "owl" in eight other cases means the ostrich, as is often indicated in the margin. Some of these birds we know are very abundant in Palestine, especially among ruins, and their doleful hooting as they seek their prey by night intensities the present desolation of these former habitations of pride and glory. The prophecies of Isa 34 find a fulfilment in modern Petra - ancient Idumaea - as described by Irby and Mangles: "The screaming of eagles, hawks, and owls, which were soaring above our heads in considerable numbers, seemingly annoyed at any one approaching their lonely habitation, added much to the singularity of the scene." See Night-hawk, Ostrich.

OWL. In Deut 14:16-17; Isa 34:11, 2 Sam 20:15; Ps 102:6 this word doubtless denotes some one or other of the five species of owl common in Egypt and Syria. The Hebrew word translated Eagle Owl (Bubo Maximus. After Houghton.) "owl" in eight other cases means the ostrich, as is often indicated in the margin. Some of these birds we know

are very abundant in Palestine, especially among ruins, and their doleful hooting as they seek their prey by night intensities the present desolation of these former habitations of pride and glory. The prophecies of Isa 34 find a fulfilment in modern Petra - ancient Idumaea - as described by Irby and Mangles: "The screaming of eagles, hawks, and owls, which were soaring above our heads in considerable numbers, seemingly annoyed at any one approaching their lonely habitation, added much to the singularity of the scene." See Night-hawk, Ostrich.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. Any cpecies of raptorial birds of the family Strigidæ. They have large eyes and ears, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits.

2. A variety of the domestic pigeon. Owl monkey (Zoöl.), any one of several species of South American nocturnal monkeys of the genus Nyctipithecus. They have very large eyes. Called also durukuli. -- Owl moth ( (Zoöl.), a very large moth (Erebus strix). The expanse of its wings is over ten inches. -- Owl parrot (Zoöl.), the kakapo. -- Sea owl (Zoöl.), the lumpfish. -- Owl train, a cant name for certain railway trains whose run is in the nighttime.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To pry about; to prowl. [Prov. Eng.]

2. To carry wool or sheep out of England. [Obs.]

3. Hence, to carry on any contraband trade. [Eng.]