Word Study for H5776 (עוֹף) | Strong's Concordance

ʻôwph /ofe/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to עוֹף

Meaning(a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively)

KJV usagefowl.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻôwph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word ʻôwph, represented by H5776, refers to a fowl or bird. It appears just 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition describes a bird as covered with feathers or as covering with its wings, and it is often used as a collective term.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H5776 is used in two distinct contexts in the book of Daniel. First, it represents a part of the natural world over which humanity is given dominion, where the "beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven" are placed under a ruler's hand Daniel 2:38. Second, it is used symbolically in a prophetic vision, where a beast resembling a leopard is described as having "four wings of a fowl" Daniel 7:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide additional context for the meaning of H5776:

H1611 gaph (a wing; wing): This word is directly linked to H5776 in the description of the visionary beast having "wings of a fowl" Daniel 7:6. It emphasizes the avian characteristic.
H2423 chêyvâʼ (an animal; beast): This term appears alongside H5776 in both of its occurrences, connecting fowl with other created animals, whether as part of the natural order Daniel 2:38 or as symbolic creatures in visions Daniel 7:6.
H8065 shâmayin (the sky; heaven): This word defines the domain of the fowl. The phrase "fowls of the heaven" establishes their place within the created order over which God gives authority Daniel 2:38.

Theological Significance

The significance of H5776 is seen in its dual application within the book of Daniel.

Component of Creation: In Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, fowl are listed as part of the world over which God grants dominion, highlighting themes of divine sovereignty and human stewardship Daniel 2:38.
Symbol in Prophecy: In Daniel's own vision, the "wings of a fowl" are used as a symbolic feature on a beast, contributing to the imagery that represents a world power. This shows how elements of the natural world are employed in visionary language to convey specific characteristics Daniel 7:6.

Summary

In summary, while H5776 is a very rare word, its usage is notable. It functions both literally, as a class of creatures within the domain of "heaven," and symbolically, as an element within the complex imagery of prophetic visions. Its meaning is closely tied to the concepts of the animal kingdom and the sky, illustrating its role in descriptions of both earthly dominion and divine revelation.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

עוֹף
עוֹף

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.