### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tᵉʼôw**, represented by `{{H8377}}`, refers to a species of antelope, also translated as **wild bull** or **wild ox**. The original form of the word is תּוֹא. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two biblical occurrences of `{{H8377}}` present the term in distinct contexts. In Deuteronomy, it is listed among the clean animals that the Israelites are permitted to eat, translated as the **wild ox** alongside the hart and the roebuck [[Deuteronomy 14:5]]. In Isaiah, it is used metaphorically to describe the sons of Jerusalem who have fainted from judgment, lying helpless "as a **wild bull** in a net" [[Isaiah 51:20]]. This image powerfully conveys the trapping of a strong creature, now rendered powerless by the rebuke of God.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a broader context for the animal and its symbolic use:
* `{{H354}}` **'ayâl** (hart): Defined as "a stag or male deer." This animal is listed with the **wild ox** as clean for consumption [[Deuteronomy 14:5]] and is used metaphorically to describe both intense longing for God [[Psalms 42:1]] and renewed strength [[Isaiah 35:6]].
* `{{H3180}}` **yachmûwr** (fallow deer): Meaning "a kind of deer." Like the **wild ox**, it is included in lists of permissible food [[Deuteronomy 14:5]] and was part of the provisions for Solomon's table [[1 Kings 4:23]].
* `{{H5968}}` **'âlaph** (faint): This verb, meaning "to be languid; faint," describes the condition of the sons who are compared to the **wild bull** in the net [[Isaiah 51:20]]. It conveys a state of utter exhaustion or helplessness, as when Jonah fainted from the sun's heat [[Jonah 4:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H8377}}` is drawn from its two distinct applications:
* **A Creature of Divine Provision:** By being listed among the clean animals in the law, the **wild ox** is part of God's provision for His people, sanctified for their consumption [[Deuteronomy 14:5]]. This places the creature within the framework of Israel's dietary laws and covenant relationship with God.
* **A Symbol of Strength Subdued by Judgment:** The imagery in [[Isaiah 51:20]] uses the **wild bull** to represent formidable strength rendered completely helpless when caught in a net. This powerfully illustrates the state of God's people ("Thy sons") when they are overcome by the "fury of the LORD" and His rebuke.
* **An Illustration of Frailty under Rebuke:** The comparison of the fainted sons to a trapped **wild bull** highlights a key theological theme: even the strong are made weak and languid when subjected to divine discipline [[Isaiah 51:20]]. The creature's plight becomes a vivid picture of human powerlessness before God.
### Summary
In summary, **tᵉʼôw** `{{H8377}}` is a term used only twice, yet it carries distinct significance in both instances. As a **wild ox**, it is identified as a clean animal acceptable for consumption under Mosaic law, marking it as part of God's provision. As a **wild bull** in a net, it becomes a potent prophetic symbol of strength that is completely overcome by divine judgment. These two uses show how a specific creature can feature in both the practical regulations and the profound theological imagery of scripture.
TRV