Lexical Summary teo: Wild ox, antelope Original Word: תְּאוֹ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wild bull ox And towt (the original form) {toh}; from ta'ah; a species of antelope (probably from the white stripe on the cheek) -- wild bull (ox). see HEBREW ta'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom taah Definition antelope NASB Translation antelope (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs תְּאוֺ noun masculine antelope (whether antilope leucoryx TrNHB 59; FFP 5, or oryx beatrix PostHast. DB Ox; on form see Ol§ 173 g); — absolute ׳ת Deuteronomy 14:5 (clean animal, compare Dr); construct תּוֺא Isaiah 51:20. תַּאֲוָה see תוה, I. אוה. תְּאָלָה see II. אלה. p. 16, 46, 1063 תאם (Buhl after BaNB § 182 b proposes Topical Lexicon Nature and Identification Teʾo is best understood as a large antelope native to the deserts and steppes east and south of Canaan, most likely the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). Ancient accounts describe an impressive white coat, long straight horns, sure-footedness on rocky slopes, and an ability to survive long periods without surface water—traits that match the environment and fauna of the Sinai and Negev regions frequented by Israel during the Exodus and conquest periods. Biblical Occurrences 1. Deuteronomy 14:5 lists the teʾo among animals permitted for Israelite consumption. Clean Status and Dietary Significance The inclusion of the teʾo among clean animals underscores two characteristics required in Leviticus 11: ruminating and a split hoof. By approving the antelope, the Mosaic law affirmed that Israel’s diet could safely incorporate certain wild game in addition to domestic herds. This distinction shows the law’s concern for both holiness and practical sustenance in a land where pastoral resources varied from lush pasture to arid wilderness. Symbolism in Isaiah’s Oracle Isaiah 51 addresses Zion’s desolation during divine discipline. The prophet pictures Judah’s sons as a teʾo ensnared in a net—alive yet helpless. The metaphor communicates: Historical and Cultural Background In Egyptian and Mesopotamian art, the oryx symbolized nobility and the desert’s untamed beauty. Its long, straight horns made it prized by hunters and monarchs, and its meat was considered delicacy. Israel’s familiarity with the species came through wilderness travel, Transjordanian trade routes, and occasional presence on the eastern slopes of the Jordan Rift. Because the oryx could thrive where cattle could not, it served pastoralists as a sign of divine provision in marginal lands. Theological Themes 1. Holiness: God’s dietary instructions separated Israel from surrounding nations while allowing enjoyment of His wider creation. Ministry Applications • Preachers can illustrate sin’s snare and Christ’s liberating work by comparing Isaiah’s antelope to believers rescued from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2). Forms and Transliterations וּתְא֥וֹ ותאו כְּת֣וֹא כתוא kə·ṯō·w keTo kəṯōw ū·ṯə·’ōw ūṯə’ōw uteOLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 14:5 HEB: וְאַקּ֥וֹ וְדִישֹׁ֖ן וּתְא֥וֹ וָזָֽמֶר׃ NAS: the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. KJV: and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. INT: the wild the ibex the antelope and the mountain Isaiah 51:20 2 Occurrences |
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III. agree as √ of following, but dubious; see Assyrian tu'âmu, Arabic 
, Syriac 
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