גּוֹזָל (go.zal)
go.zal
young bird
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gozal refers to a young bird, specifically one that is still in the nest or recently fledged. It describes an animal in its earliest stage of life, dependent on care and not yet fully independent. This term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, making it a rare word with a very specific focus.
The two occurrences are found in Deuteronomy 22:6-7, which commands that when someone finds a bird’s nest with eggs or young birds (gozal), they may take the mother but must let the young go. This law highlights a balance between human need and respect for creation. The word emphasizes the vulnerability of the offspring, reinforcing the ethical weight of the command to preserve the next generation even while taking what is permitted.
Because gozal appears so infrequently, it carries a distinct image: not just any bird, but one still closely tied to its nest. This specificity adds depth to the legal text, drawing attention to the innocence and potential of the young creature. The term reminds readers that biblical law often considers the lifecycle of animals, valuing their role in God’s created order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gozal describes a young bird still in the nest, dependent on its parent for survival. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within the context of Deuteronomy 22:6-7. This law instructs that if you find a nest with eggs or gozal, you may take the mother but must let the young birds go free.
This command balances human need with respect for creation. It teaches us to value the potential of the next generation. Even when taking what is permitted, we are called to preserve life and show mercy to the vulnerable. This small detail in biblical law reminds us that God cares about the lifecycle of all creatures.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- young ones/ its1×
- and/ a young pigeon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/גוֹזָֽל\׃1×
- גּוֹזָלָ֖י/ו1×