ὄρνις
órnis
G3733 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A bird, especially a domesticated fowl or hen; in general contexts, any bird, but particularly used for a female bird or domestic hen. The term is not restricted to chickens, though in some contexts (such as in the New Testament) it often refers specifically to a hen or mother bird and her chicks. The core meaning is a generic word for a bird, with focus or specification derived from context.
Semantic Range
bird (generic term), fowl, domesticated hen, female bird, mother bird (especially one caring for young), metaphor for nurturing or protective action
Root / Etymology
From Greek ὄρνις (órnis), with uncertain etymology—possibly related to ὄρος ('mountain'), but this association is debated. The relationship is possibly through an older pre-Greek root, but this is unconfirmed.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ὄρνις refers broadly to any bird, both wild and domestic, of either gender, though sometimes with a feminine specification, corresponding to the general gender of the noun. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, ὄρνις is often employed in contexts describing domesticated fowl—especially hens (female chickens) as in Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34, where a mother hen gathers her chicks. While some English translations render ὄρνις as 'hen' in those passages, the Greek covers a broader generic sense ('bird') with contextual narrowing to a hen in maternal imagery. The term is distinct from πτηνόν (ptēnón, 'flying creature') and ὄρνεον (órneon, often used for 'large bird' or generic 'bird') found elsewhere in Greek. The use of ὄρνις in metaphorical or illustrative statements is especially significant in Judean and early Christian texts, highlighting protection and care rather than specifying species. Later translation tradition has often rendered the term strictly as 'hen' in passages referencing maternal behavior, but this can obscure its broader sense in Greek usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from a prolonged form of the base of ὄρος; a bird (as rising in the air), i.e. (specially), a hen (or female domestic fowl):--hen.
Root Family
ὄρνις (ornis) — bird, fowl
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3733-01 |
ὄρνις | ornis | N NOM F SG |
hen | a bird | a bird | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3733-01 |
Matthew 23:37 | ὄρνις | ornis | N NOM F SG |
hen | a bird | a bird |
G3733-01 |
Luke 13:34 | ὄρνις | ornis | N NOM F SG |
hen | a bird | hen |