רְנָנִים (re.nen)
re.nen
ostrich
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word renanim refers to a bird characterized by its loud, piercing cry. While modern translators typically identify this creature as the ostrich, the term itself does not name the animal directly but describes its most notable feature: a shrill, resonant sound. This linguistic choice highlights how ancient observers often classified creatures by their distinctive behaviors or sounds rather than by biological taxonomy.
This single occurrence in Job 39:13 places the renanim in a poetic discussion about God’s wisdom in creation. The text notes that the bird shakes her feathers mockingly, using the word to underscore the creature’s wild, untamed nature. By focusing on the sound, the passage emphasizes the ostrich’s unique place in the natural order, distinct from domesticated birds that serve human needs.
The root of renanim relates to shouting or singing loudly, suggesting a voice that cuts through the silence of the desert. This etymology provides insight into how the Hebrew mind perceived the natural world: not as a static collection of objects, but as a dynamic landscape filled with voices and actions that reveal divine design.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word renanim appears only once in Scripture, found in Job 39:13. It describes the ostrich not by its biology, but by its loud, piercing cry. This single usage highlights how ancient observers classified creatures by their distinctive behaviors rather than modern taxonomy. The text uses this sound to underscore the bird's wild, untamed nature, distinct from domesticated animals that serve human needs.
This passage invites us to see God’s wisdom in creation beyond what is useful to us. The ostrich does not conform to human expectations of utility or gentle behavior. Yet, its unique place in the natural order reveals divine design. We are reminded that God’s creative purposes extend to all life, even that which seems chaotic or indifferent to human concerns.
When we encounter things in life that do not fit our plans or understanding, this verse offers a quiet perspective. The ostrich shakes its feathers proudly, living according to its own design. Similarly, God’s wisdom encompasses mysteries that may elude our full comprehension. This truth can bring comfort when we feel overwhelmed by the complexities of the world around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ostriches1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רְנָנִ֥ים1×
Key Verses
-
Job 39:13
“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the feathers and plumage of love?
This verse identifies the ostrich as a creature whose loud cry and proud wing movements reveal God's sovereign design for wild, untamed life.