Lexical Summary notsah: Blossom, Flower Original Word: נוֹצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance feathers, ostrich Or notsah {no-tsaw'}; feminine active participle of natsah in the sense of flying; a pinion (or wing feather); often (collectively) plumage -- feather(-s), ostrich. see HEBREW natsah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom natsah Definition plumage NASB Translation feathers (1), plumage (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs נוֺצה noun feminine plumage (compare possibly Arabic  hair over forehead, fore-lock of horse, Lane3033; see also Assyrian na-aƒ kappe); — of eagle ׳מָלֵא הַגּ Ezekiel 17:3 (figurative of Nebuch.; + כָּנָף, אֵבֶר); also ׳רַב נ Ezekiel 17:7 (figurative of king of Egypt; + כָּנָף); of ostrich נֹצָה Job 39:13 ("" כנף, + אֶבְרָה; compare Di Bu). Here belongs probably also בְּנֹצָתָהּ Leviticus 1:16, read בְּנֹצָתֹה (Dr-WhHpt), בנצתו (⅏), or וְ(אֶתֿ) נֹצָתוֺ (compare Di), its feathers, of bird for burnt-offering; ᵐ5 σὺν τοῖς πτεροῖς, ᵑ9 et plumas; so AV RVm; > with its filth (i.e. of the crop) ᵑ7Onk ᵑ6 Ges Kn Ke Kal Ew RV, meaning without evidence elsewhere. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery נֹוצָה depicts a bird’s plumage—its outer covering of feathers and extended pinions. In Scripture the term conveys beauty, vitality, mobility, and, by contrast, elements to be discarded when consecrating an offering. The metaphor of feathers evokes protection (as under a wing), majesty (a great bird in flight), and earthly glory that can wither or be plucked away. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Leviticus 1:16 – At the bronze altar the worshiper “is to remove the crop with its contents”. The priest discards the plumage of the burnt-offering bird with its refuse east of the altar. Nōtsāh stands here for what is unfit for the flame of consecration. Even the smallest impurity must be taken away before the whole offering ascends to God, prefiguring the sinless perfection of the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 9:14). 2. Job 39:13 – “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but are her pinions and plumage like those of the stork?”. In God’s discourse the ostrich’s feathers illustrate apparent grandeur that masks weakness. The bird runs yet cannot fly; its nōtsāh is impressive but limited. The Creator’s question underscores His sovereign wisdom and exposes the folly of human pride. 3–4. Ezekiel 17:3, 7 – The prophet’s riddle describes two imperial eagles, each “full of feathers of many colors” (17:3) and “with great wings and many feathers” (17:7). The lavish plumage symbolizes political might, wealth, and far-reaching power—first Babylon, then Egypt. Judah’s misplaced trust in dazzling plumage rather than in the covenant LORD leads to judgment (17:19–21). The same chapter promises a modest shoot that God Himself will plant and exalt, an early picture of the Messiah’s kingdom (17:22–24). Theological Significance • Purity of worship: Leviticus implicates feathers in what must be removed before fire touches the sacrifice. God requires complete holiness; externals that seem attractive can still be unclean when presented to Him. Historical Background In ancient Near Eastern culture, feathers adorned royal standards and priestly garments, signaling authority. Israel’s sacrificial system, however, treated the bird’s plumage as refuse, reminding the worshiper that God’s standards overturn human notions of splendor. Ezekiel’s audience, familiar with Assyrian and Babylonian avian emblems, would recognize the political satire in the prophet’s feathered eagles. Practical Ministry Application • Worship leaders and believers should guard against offering God outward show without inward consecration. Summary נֹוצָה, though rare, weaves through Scripture as a subtle thread that exposes vanity, insists on purity, and lifts eyes toward the true King whose kingdom is not of this world. The feathers that fascinate the eye finally point beyond themselves to the God who alone can shelter, cleanse, and exalt. Forms and Transliterations בְּנֹצָתָ֑הּ בנצתה הַנּוֹצָ֔ה הנוצה וְנֹצָֽה׃ ונצה׃ נוֹצָ֑ה נוצה bə·nō·ṣā·ṯāh bənōṣāṯāh benotzaTah han·nō·w·ṣāh hannoTzah hannōwṣāh nō·w·ṣāh noTzah nōwṣāh venoTzah wə·nō·ṣāh wənōṣāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 1:16 HEB: אֶת־ מֻרְאָת֖וֹ בְּנֹצָתָ֑הּ וְהִשְׁלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜הּ NAS: its crop with its feathers and cast KJV: his crop with his feathers, and cast INT: take crop feathers and cast beside Job 39:13 Ezekiel 17:3 Ezekiel 17:7 4 Occurrences |
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