אֹחַ
𐤀𐤇
ʼôach
H255 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A nocturnal, solitary wild animal, often associated with desolate or uninhabited places; term used in prophetic or poetic texts to denote a creature that inhabits ruins or wilderness, likely emphasizing its mournful cry or association with desolation. The specific species is uncertain, but possibilities include an owl, night bird, or a type of jackal. The word is used to evoke a sense of eerie abandonment and wildness.
Semantic Range
howling nocturnal animal, solitary wild creature of ruins, owl or owl-like bird, jackal or jackal-like animal, generic creature of desolation
Root / Etymology
From the root אָח (אָ+ח), probably imitative of a howling or crying sound, or possibly related to the root for 'brother' (אָח), but in this context, the derivation is onomatopoeic and refers to vocalization, not kinship. The exact species or precise zoological identification is unclear.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word appears only in poetic and prophetic passages—Isaiah 13:21 and 34:13—describing the aftermath of destruction, where desolate places are populated by haunting wildlife. Earlier interpreters, influenced by translation traditions (including LXX and Vulgate), variously understood the word as owl, jackal, or even mythological creatures. Modern scholarship generally treats it as either an owl (due to associations with nocturnal, mournful cries) or a jackal (based on regional fauna and similar vocalizations). English translations often diverge, rendering it 'owl', 'jackal', or undefined 'wild creature', reflecting the uncertainty. The term does not correspond to a later English category like 'howler' or 'doleful creature' but specifically carries the imagery of desolation in ancient Near Eastern contexts. It is distinct from other Hebrew nocturnal animals or birds such as יַנְשׁוּף (yanšûf, 'owl') or תַּן (tan, 'jackal').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from אָח; a howler or lonesome wild animal; doleful creature.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אח (ʾ-ḥ) — to cry out, to howl, to call
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H251 | אָח | brother |
| H252 | אַח | your brothers |
| H253 | אָח | brother |
| H254 | אָח | the firepot |
| H264 | אַחֲוָה | the brotherhood |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H255-01 |
אֹחִ֑ים | ochim | HNcmpa |
howling creatures | howling wild creatures | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H255-01 |
Isaiah 13:21 | אֹחִ֑ים | ochim | HNcmpa |
howling creatures | howling wild creatures |