יָעֵן (ya.en)
ya.en
ostrich
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ya’en refers specifically to the ostrich, a large flightless bird. In the Bible, it is categorized as an unclean animal, placing it within the list of creatures prohibited for consumption in Levitical law. This classification highlights its status outside the circle of ritual purity observed by ancient Israel.
Its most notable appearance occurs in Lamentations 4:3, where it serves as a stark image of desolation. The text notes that even wild donkeys stand in open places to seek food, yet they do not hide their young; in contrast, the daughter of God’s people has become cruel like the ostrich in the wilderness. This comparison emphasizes the depth of suffering and the breakdown of natural maternal instincts during the siege of Jerusalem.
The etymology of the word is uncertain, with some scholars suggesting a link to root meanings involving voracity or hunger, which aligns with the bird’s scavenging nature. However, the biblical usage focuses less on its diet and more on its symbolic role as a creature of the barren wilderness, far removed from the settled life of God’s people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The image of the ostrich in Lamentations 4:3 paints a picture of profound loss. In this verse, the bird represents a world turned upside down by siege and starvation. The text contrasts the natural instinct of wild animals to care for their young with the hardened heart of a people facing destruction. This stark imagery helps us understand the depth of grief that can strip away our usual comforts and instincts.
When we face seasons of hardship, it is easy to feel isolated or emotionally numb. The biblical use of this word reminds us that such feelings do not mean you have failed spiritually. Even in the darkest valleys, God sees your pain. You are not alone in your suffering, and His presence remains steady even when everything else feels broken.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like <the>/ ostriches1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כַּ/יְעֵנִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 4:3
Even the jackals offer their breast. They nurse their young ones. But the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
This verse uses the ostrich as a symbol of extreme desolation to highlight how the siege of Jerusalem caused people to lose their natural maternal instincts.