night-hawk Summary and Overview

(Heb. tahmas) occurs only in the list of unclean birds (Lev. 11:16; Deut. 14:15). This was supposed to be the night-jar (Caprimulgus), allied to the swifts. The Hebrew word is derived from a root meaning "to scratch or tear the face," and may be best rendered, in accordance with the ancient versions, "an owl" (Strix flammea). The Revised Version renders "night-hawk."

The Hebrew word so translated, #Le 11:10; De 14:15| probably denotes some kind of owl.

NIGHT-HAWK , a species of bird unclean by the Levitical law, Lev 11:16, but not the bird known to us by this name. The translators supposed that the common night-jar (Caprimulgus) was the bird alluded to by the Hebrew tachmas, but probably the screech-owl (Strix flammea), which lodges in the large buildings or ruins of Egypt and Syria, and sometimes even in the dwelling-houses, is intended. See Owl. The Night-jar (Caprimulgus).