תַּחְמָס (tach.mas)
tach.mas
ostrich
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word tachmas refers to a large, flightless bird listed among the unclean creatures in the dietary laws. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within lists of forbidden animals in Leviticus 11:16 and Deuteronomy 14:15. While modern translations often identify it as an ostrich, the exact species remains uncertain to scholars.
Lexical sources suggest it likely denotes the male ostrich, though some propose it could refer to a great owl or even an extinct bird whose identity is now lost. The term’s precise meaning is difficult to pin down because the Hebrew Bible uses several different words for various birds of prey and scavengers, making exact classification challenging without more context.
This ambiguity reflects the broader challenge of translating ancient Near Eastern zoology into modern categories. Regardless of its specific identity, tachmas serves as a marker of ritual separation, reminding readers that certain creatures were set apart from common use in Israelite religious life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tachmas appears in two brief lists within the Old Testament, identifying a creature that ancient Israelites were not to eat. While modern readers often assume this refers to the ostrich, scholars note that the exact bird remains uncertain. It might have been a large owl or another flightless species known in the region but lost to precise identification today. This uncertainty is not a flaw in Scripture but a reminder of how ancient cultures described their world using the language and categories available to them.
For your faith, this ambiguity invites humility. The text does not demand we know every zoological detail to understand its spiritual point. Instead, it highlights the concept of ritual separation. By setting apart certain animals, including the tachmas, Israel was called to live distinctly from surrounding nations. This practice taught them that holiness involves careful attention to daily life, even in what they chose to consume.
When you encounter such specific laws today, you can see them as part of a broader narrative about belonging to God. The dietary restrictions were temporary signs pointing toward a deeper purity of heart and community. You do not need to resolve the scientific debate to appreciate the theological intent. The focus remains on God’s desire for His people to be set apart, reflecting His own holy character in their everyday choices.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ screech owl2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/תַּחְמָ֖ס2×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:16
the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,
This verse places the tachmas among other unclean birds, establishing it as part of the ritual boundary markers for Israelite dietary laws.
-
Deuteronomy 14:15
the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the hawk of any kind,
Here the word is repeated in a restatement of the law, reinforcing its status as a forbidden creature for the community entering the Promised Land.