תַּחְמָס
𐤕𐤇𐤌𐤎
tachmâç
H8464 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A species of unclean bird delineated among prohibited animals in Israelite dietary law, likely denoting a specific nocturnal bird of prey. The precise identification is uncertain but has been variously proposed as a type of owl (such as the long-eared owl), the night hawk, or a kind of nightjar. The term appears in ritual and legal texts outlining purity and impurity.
Semantic Range
a species of unclean bird (night hawk, perhaps long-eared owl, or nightjar); used specifically for a type of predatory nocturnal bird listed among dietary prohibitions
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חָמַס (ḥ-m-s), meaning 'to be violent, act wrongfully, treat violently.' The noun תַּחְמָס likely forms with a prefixed ת-, a common way to indicate a derivative or species term. The connection to the root suggests a bird perceived as fierce, predatory, or rapacious.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The תַּחְמָס appears in the context of forbidden animals listed in Leviticus 11:16 and Deuteronomy 14:15. The exact species referenced is debated; traditional and some modern translations render it as 'night hawk,' while others prefer 'owl,' reflecting uncertainty in bird taxonomy between ancient and modern systems. The association with 'violence' may arise from observed hunting behaviors. Ancient Israelite identification likely differed from later Jewish or Christian tradition. The King James Version renders it 'night hawk,' but this is a translation guess based on presumed etymology, not ornithological certainty. The term does not overlap precisely with other Hebrew words for owls such as יַנְשׁוּף (yanshuf, typically 'owl') or קָאַת (qaat, 'pelican' or 'owl'), further complicating clear identification. In post-exilic or later rabbinic literature, the uncertainty persists, and the term generally remains associated with unclean, nocturnal, predatory birds.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָמַס; a species of unclean bird (from its violence), perhaps an owl; night hawk.
Bantu Hebrew
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חמס (ḥ-m-s) — violence, fierceness, wrongful force
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8464-01 |
הַ/תַּחְמָ֖ס | hatachemas | HTd/Ncmsa |
screech owl | the violent night-bird | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8464-01 |
Leviticus 11:16 | הַ/תַּחְמָ֖ס | hatachemas | HTd/Ncmsa |
the nightjar | the violent night-bird |
H8464-01 |
Deuteronomy 14:15 | הַ/תַּחְמָ֖ס | hatachemas | HTd/Ncmsa |
screech owl | the violent night-bird |