Ostrich in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What is an Ostrich?
OS'TRICH
, a remarkable bird of the hot regions of Africa and Arabia, often attaining the height of 7 feet, of which the head and neck make 3. It is also 7 feet from the head to the end of the tail when the neck is stretched horizontally on a line with the body. The ostrich loves solitary and desolate places, and is the bird intended in Job 30:29; Isa 13:21; Isa 34:13; Jer 50:39; Mic 1:8 (though called the owl), and its cry is piercing and mournful. The plumage of the ostrich is white and black. Its weight (which is often 75 or 80 pounds) and the construction of its body prevent its flying. The habits of this bird are described with scientific accuracy in Job 39:13-18. Its timidity is such that the least noise frightens it from the nest, which is often made on the ground and in the most exposed places; and from the same cause the young of the ostrich are often suddenly abandoned. Hence she seems to be regarded as lacking the usual share of instinct or natural affection. Lam 4:3. A modern traveller tells us that the Arabs meet sometimes with whole nests of these eggs (containing from thirty to fifty in number), 5 inches in diameter, and weighing several pounds; some of them are sweet and good, others are addled and corrupted; others, again, have their young ones of different growth, according to the time, it may be presumed, since they have been forsaken of the dam. They often meet with a few of the little ones no bigger than well-grown pullets, half starved, straggling and moaning about like so many distressed orphans for their mother. In this manner the ostrich may be said to be "hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labor," in hatching and attending them, being "vain, without fear" or the least concern of what becomes of them afterward. The most remarkable characteristic of the ostrich is the rapidity with which it runs, and which the fleetest horse cannot equal. The surprising swiftness of this bird is expressly mentioned by Xenophon. Speaking of the desert of Arabia, he states that ostriches are frequently seen there; that none could take them, the horsemen who pursue them soon giving it over, for they escaped far away, making use both of Ostrich. their feet to run and of their wings, when expanded, as a sail to waft them along. This representation is confirmed by the writer of A Voyage to Senegal, who says, "She sets off at a hard gallop, but, after being excited a little, she expands her wings as if to catch the wind and abandons herself to a speed so great that she seems not to touch the ground. I am persuaded," continues the writer, "she would leave far behind the swiftest English courser." See Owl, Peacock.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'ostrich' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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