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חֲסִידָה

𐤇𐤎𐤉𐤃𐤄

chăçîydâh

H2624 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חסד to be kind, to show loyal love

Definition

A long-legged wading bird, specifically the stork, noted in ancient Israelite fauna. The term refers to the stork as a species and does not denote a symbolic quality, although the association with the root conveys possible connotations of 'kindness' or 'loyalty' due to observed bird behavior. The word is concrete, referring to the bird itself, rather than to a feather or other part, though later interpretive glosses (e.g., 'feather') arise from translation traditions.

Semantic Range

stork (the bird species Ciconia ciconia or similar), possibly inferred notions of loyalty or devotion due to root association; (incorrectly in later texts or interpretations: feather)

Root / Etymology

Root: חָסַד (ḥsd), meaning 'to be kind, to show loyal love.' חֲסִידָה is a feminine noun form derived from this root but has become a zoological term without retaining the abstract meaning of the root. The connection may reflect perceived characteristics of the bird, such as devotion to its young.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲסִידָה appears in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18 as one of the forbidden birds for Israelite consumption in dietary laws. The choice of this name for the stork may reflect folk etymology associating the bird's behavior (noted in ancient observation for protective and nurturing actions toward its offspring) with the core idea of kindness or loyal love found in the root חָסַד. There is no evidence that the term was used symbolically for people or that it implied religious piety, though the English term 'stork' carries no such connotations. The translation 'feather' is based on post-biblical or later lexicographical misunderstanding; in biblical texts, the word consistently means 'stork.' The term does not shift significantly in meaning over biblical periods. Parallel fauna lists in the Hebrew Bible and Near Eastern literature confirm the identification with the stork.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of חָסִיד; the kind (maternal) bird, i.e. a stork; [idiom] feather, stork.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חסד (ḥ-s-d) — kindness, loyal love, covenantal devotion

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1136 בֶּן־חֶסֶד steadfast covenantal loyalty
H2616 חָסַד you show yourself loyal
H2617 חֵסֵד in steadfast loyalty
H2619 חֲסַדְיָה and Yahweh-has-shown-steadfast-love
H2623 חָסִיד loyal-love devotee

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2624-01 חֲסִידָ֣ה chasidah HNcfsa stork stork 3
H2624-02 הַ/חֲסִידָ֔ה hachasidah HTd/Ncfsa stork the stork 2
H2624-03 וְ/הַ֣/חֲסִידָ֔ה vehachasidah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the stork and the stork 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2624-02 Leviticus 11:19 הַ/חֲסִידָ֔ה hachasidah HTd/Ncfsa stork the stork
H2624-03 Deuteronomy 14:18 וְ/הַ֣/חֲסִידָ֔ה vehachasidah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the stork and the stork
H2624-01 Jeremiah 8:7 חֲסִידָ֣ה chasidah HNcfsa stork stork
H2624-02 Zechariah 5:9 הַ/חֲסִידָ֑ה hachasidah HTd/Ncfsa the stork the stork
H2624-01 Psalms 104:17 חֲ֝סִידָ֗ה chasidah HNcfsa the stork stork
H2624-01 Job 39:13 חֲסִידָ֥ה chasidah HNcfsa stork stork
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