### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yâʻên**, represented by `{{H3283}}`, is the term for **ostrich**. It is believed to be derived from the sound of its answering cry. Appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, its significance is found in its powerful symbolic use rather than frequent mention.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H3283}}` is in [[Lamentations 4:3]], where it serves as a potent simile for cruelty. The verse establishes a contrast between the maternal care of **sea monsters** `{{H8577}}`, which **draw out** `{{H2502}}` the breast to **give suck** `{{H3243}}` to their young, and the "daughter of my people." The people of God are described as having become **cruel** `{{H393}}`, their unnatural behavior compared to that of **ostriches** in the **wilderness** `{{H4057}}`.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its single context illuminate the meaning of `{{H3283}}`:
* `{{H393}}` **ʼakzâr** (cruel): This adjective is directly applied to the "daughter of my people," explicitly linking their unnatural behavior to that of the **ostriches** [[Lamentations 4:3]].
* `{{H8577}}` **tannîyn** (sea-monster): These creatures are presented as exhibiting natural maternal instincts, creating a sharp contrast that emphasizes the cruelty associated with the **ostriches** [[Lamentations 4:3]].
* `{{H1323}}` **bath** (daughter): Used figuratively to mean "the daughter of my people," this identifies the collective group whose actions are condemned as being like the **ostriches** [[Lamentations 4:3]].
* `{{H4057}}` **midbâr** (wilderness): As the habitat of the **ostriches** in this passage, the term evokes a setting of desolation and hardship that mirrors the moral state of the people.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3283}}` lies entirely in its use as a symbol of profound moral and spiritual failure.
* **Unnatural Cruelty:** The **ostrich** becomes a metaphor for a shocking and unnatural lack of compassion. By contrasting this with the instinctual care of **sea monsters** `{{H8577}}`, the text portrays the people's actions as a perversion of the natural order [[Lamentations 4:3]].
* **Covenantal Collapse:** The "daughter of my people" `{{H1323}}` becoming cruel like the **ostriches** represents a severe breakdown of their covenant relationship with God. Their behavior is a stark indicator of judgment and spiritual desolation.
* **Image of Judgment:** The association with the **wilderness** `{{H4057}}` frames the ostrich's cruelty within a context of barrenness and divine judgment, suggesting the people's harshness is both a cause and a feature of their desolate condition.
### Summary
In summary, though appearing only once, `{{H3283}}` **yâʻên** is a deeply impactful word. It functions not as a simple zoological reference but as a potent symbol of unnatural cruelty and maternal neglect. Its singular appearance in [[Lamentations 4:3]] offers a sharp rebuke, illustrating the depth of moral failure by comparing God's people unfavorably to wild animals, turning the **ostrich** into a lasting biblical image of inhumanity.
TRV