דָּאָה
𐤃𐤀𐤄
dâʼâh
H1676 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A species of large bird of prey, likely referring to a type of kite or vulture, characterized by its soaring or gliding flight. Used as an unclean bird in the Israelite dietary code. The word is applied to certain carrion-eating birds noted for their distinctive circling flight patterns, frequently associated with desolation or wilderness settings. The precise ornithological identification is uncertain, but the term denotes a raptor, possibly of genus Milvus (kite) or Gyps (vulture), depending on local fauna at the time.
Semantic Range
kite (bird of prey), vulture (scavenging raptor), large gliding bird, unclean carrion-eating bird
Root / Etymology
From the root דָּאָה, meaning 'to fly swiftly,' 'soar,' or 'glide.' The noun is a designation for a bird known for its soaring flight. Root meaning ('to fly swiftly') underpins the association with birds that glide or circle high in the air rather than birds that flap their wings continuously.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Across Israelite law, דָּאָה denotes a bird classified among the prohibited (ritually unclean) animals in Leviticus 11:14 and Deuteronomy 14:13, together with other large raptors. The term is distinct from other biblical terms for raptors (e.g., nesher 'vulture/eagle,' ayyah 'kite'), but ancient translation traditions (including LXX and Vulgate) varied in their identification, at times overlapping with both kites and vultures. The biblical context often places such birds in wilderness or scenes of devastation, likely reflecting their scavenging habits. The precise species intended is debated among scholars, as avifauna has shifted over millennia and common names have changed. Modern English versions variously render דָּאָה as 'kite' or 'vulture,' reflecting continued uncertainty in its precise meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּאָה; the kite (from its rapid flight); vulture. See רָאָה.
Bantu Hebrew
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דאה (d-ʾ-h) — to fly swiftly, to soar, to glide
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1676-01 |
הַ֨/דָּאָ֔ה | hadaah | HTd/Ncfsa |
kite | the soaring raptor | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1676-01 |
Leviticus 11:14 | הַ֨/דָּאָ֔ה | hadaah | HTd/Ncfsa |
kite | the soaring raptor |