### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **qippôwz**, represented by `{{H7091}}`, is identified as the **great owl**. Its base definition suggests a connection to an unused root meaning "to contract" or "spring forward," also implying an "arrow-snake (as darting on its prey)." This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H7091}}` is found in a prophecy describing a desolate land. In this context, the **great owl** is depicted engaging in nesting activities: it will "make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow" [[Isaiah 34:15]]. This imagery places the creature within a scene where wild animals reclaim a once-inhabited space, alongside vultures that are also gathered there.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words used alongside `{{H7091}}` in [[Isaiah 34:15]] provide a fuller picture of its activity:
* `{{H7077}}` **qânan** (make...nest): A primitive root meaning to nestle or build a nest. It is used to describe the nesting of birds [[Psalms 104:17]] and fowls of heaven [[Ezekiel 31:6]].
* `{{H1234}}` **bâqaʻ** (hatch): Defined as a primitive root meaning to cleave, rend, break, or open. While translated as "hatch" in this context, it is also used for the dividing of waters [[Exodus 14:21]] and the breaking up of the fountains of the deep [[Genesis 7:11]].
* `{{H6738}}` **tsêl** (shadow): This word means shade, whether literal or figurative, and also defence. The great owl gathers its young under its **shadow**, a term elsewhere used to describe God's protective presence, as in "the shadow of thy wings" [[Psalms 17:8]].
### Theological Significance
While appearing only once, the context of `{{H7091}}` carries theological implications related to divine judgment and sovereignty.
* **Signifier of Judgment:** The **great owl** is listed among the creatures that will inhabit a land judged and left desolate by God, marking the absence of human civilization [[Isaiah 34:15]].
* **Continuation of Natural Order:** In the midst of ruin, the **great owl** is depicted carrying out the natural cycle of life: it makes a nest, lays eggs, hatches them, and gathers its young. This illustrates that God's created order persists even in a place of judgment.
* **Execution of God's Word:** The arrival of the **great owl** and its mate is presented as a fulfillment of God's command. The text specifies that God's own mouth "hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them," underscoring divine control over all creation [[Isaiah 34:16]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7091}}` **qippôwz** is a specific term used a single time in Scripture to denote the **great owl**. Its appearance in [[Isaiah 34:15]] places it squarely within a scene of divine judgment and desolation. Though a symbol of a forsaken land, the detailed description of its nesting and maternal care highlights the endurance of the natural order. Ultimately, the presence of the **great owl** serves as a testament to God's sovereign command over the wild places of the earth.
TRV