נוֹצָה
a pinion (or wing feather); often (collectively) plumage
Definition
The Hebrew noun נוֹצָה (nôwtsâh) refers primarily to a single wing feather or pinion, but it is often used collectively to mean plumage or the full set of feathers on a bird. In Leviticus 1:16, it specifies the specific part of a sacrificial bird (the crop with its feathers) that the priest must remove. In poetic and prophetic contexts, like Ezekiel 17:3 and 17:7, it symbolizes the totality of a bird's wings, representing power and mobility. The word can also denote the ostentatious plumes of an ostrich, as implied in Job 39:13, which contrasts the ostrich's seemingly careless attitude with the majestic wings it possesses.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only four times in the Old Testament, in legal, poetic, and prophetic books. Its usage in Leviticus 1:16 is technical and ritualistic, detailing the preparation of a bird offering. In the poetic book of Job (39:13), it is used in a description of the ostrich within God's speech about creation. The two occurrences in Ezekiel 17:3 and 17:7 are metaphorical, where the 'wing' and 'full plumage' of an eagle represent the power and reach of a king (Nebuchadnezzar) in a prophetic allegory.
Etymology
The word נוֹצָה is derived from the root נָצָה (nātsâh, H5327), which means 'to fly away' or 'to flee.' As a feminine active participle of this root, נוֹצָה carries the sense of 'that which flies' or specifically 'a flying feather.' This etymological connection to flight directly informs its meaning, linking the physical object (the feather) to its primary function in enabling a bird to take wing.
Semantic Range
While a concrete noun, נוֹצָה gains theological weight in its metaphorical use. In Ezekiel 17, plumage symbolizes imperial power and protection, which God ultimately controls and can strip away (Ezekiel 17:9-10). In Job 39:13, it is part of a catalog of creation that highlights God's sovereign and sometimes inscrutable design, even in creatures considered foolish. Understanding this term enriches readings of sacrifice (Leviticus), divine sovereignty over nations (Ezekiel), and the mystery of God's created order (Job).
In the ancient Near Eastern context, birds and their feathers held symbolic significance. Eagles' wings and plumage were common symbols of speed, military power, and divine protection (as seen in Egyptian and Mesopotamian art). The detailed instruction in Leviticus 1:16 reflects the precision required in Israel's sacrificial system, where every part of the offering had prescribed handling. The ostrich, noted for its impressive feathers but considered foolish and unfit for food (Leviticus 11:16), provided a vivid contrast in wisdom literature.
כָּנָף (kānāph, H3671) — A broader term for 'wing' or extremity, not specifically a feather. עֵבֶר (‘ēber, H84) — Refers to a pinion or wing, often the extremity; used more for the limb itself than the feathers (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:11).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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