ὄρνις
ornis
hen
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ὄρνις (orris) is a noun that refers to a hen. It is classified under the semantic domain of Animals & Creatures, indicating its literal meaning. The word appears only twice in the Bible, suggesting it is used in specific contexts to convey a particular idea or image. Given its definition as a hen, the word likely conveys a sense of domesticity, nurturing, and familiarity. As a lowly creature, the hen may also symbolize humility or simplicity. The limited occurrences of this word in the Bible imply that it is used to add specificity or emphasis to a passage, rather than to convey a broad or abstract idea. The significance of ὄρνις lies in its ability to evoke a concrete image of a common animal, which can be used to illustrate a point or convey a message in a way that is relatable and accessible to the audience.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
Luke 13:34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!