נוֹצָה
𐤍𐤅𐤑𐤄
nôwtsâh
H5133 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A feather, particularly one of the large flight feathers (quill or pinion) of a bird's wing, and by extension, the plumage or collective feathers of a bird. The term can refer to both an individual feather and, in collective usage, all the wing feathers or plumage. In certain contexts, refers particularly to the wing or the structure that enables flight, emphasizing the capacity for flying.
Semantic Range
flight feather, wing feather, pinion, feather (collective: plumage), feathers of an ostrich, prominent feather for flying, ornamental feather
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נצה (n-ts-h), which means 'to fly' or 'to be conspicuous or prominent.' The form נוֹצָה is the feminine active participle, used substantively to mean 'that which is for flying,' i.e., a feather or pinion. The connection is with the element of flight and the prominent, visible aspect of the plumage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נוֹצָה appears primarily in poetic or descriptive contexts where the plumage, feathers, or wings of birds (especially the ostrich or eagle) are discussed. Its use evokes the visual splendor and functional aspect (flight) of a bird's wings. The word is distinct from אֵבֶר (ʾēver), another term for 'wing' or an entire wing structure; נוֹצָה focuses more upon the feathers or the particular pinion feathers associated with flight rather than the anatomical wing as a whole. English translations often use 'feather(s),' 'plumage,' or, occasionally, 'pinion,' but these may not always transmit the connotation of prominence or flying purpose implicit in the Hebrew. In later Hebrew and cognate Semitic languages, the term retains the sense of 'feather' or 'plumage,' though sometimes shifts toward more generalized or ornamental usage. There are no significant semantic shifts from early Israelites to later periods, though literary uses may emphasize metaphorical qualities (splendor, transience, protection) in Wisdom and poetic literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or נֹצָה; feminine active participle of נָצָה in the sense of flying; a pinion (or wing feather); often (collectively) plumage; feather(-s), ostrich.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נצה (n-ts-h) — to fly, be prominent, be conspicuous
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4683 | מַצָּה | quarrel |
| H4695 | מַצּוּת | your contention |
| H5323 | נָצָא | to depart |
| H5327 | נָצָה | in their laying-waste |
| H5328 | נִצָּה | her blossom |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5133-04 |
וְ/נֹצָֽה | venotsah | HC/Ncfsa |
and-plumage | and flight-feather | 1 |
H5133-01 |
בְּ/נֹצָתָ֑/הּ | benotsatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
with its feathers | with her flight-feather | 1 |
H5133-02 |
הַ/נּוֹצָ֔ה | hanotsah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-plumage | the flight-feather | 1 |
H5133-03 |
נוֹצָ֑ה | notsah | HNcfsa |
feathers | flight-feather | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5133-01 |
Leviticus 1:16 | בְּ/נֹצָתָ֑/הּ | benotsatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
with its feathers | with her flight-feather |
H5133-02 |
Ezekiel 17:3 | הַ/נּוֹצָ֔ה | hanotsah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-plumage | the flight-feather |
H5133-03 |
Ezekiel 17:7 | נוֹצָ֑ה | notsah | HNcfsa |
feathers | flight-feather |
H5133-04 |
Job 39:13 | וְ/נֹצָֽה | venotsah | HC/Ncfsa |
and-plumage | and flight-feather |