חֲסִידָה

From the study of Jeremiah 8:7

Range of meaning

The stork. It is listed among the unclean birds (Lev 11:19; Deut 14:18), nests in fir trees (Ps 104:17), and has strong wings (Zech 5:9).

Against the English

All major versions say 'stork'. The Vulgate says 'kite' (milvus).

Used elsewhere in the period

The name looks like the feminine of ḥāsîd, 'loyal, devoted' (from ḥesed). The Babylonian Talmud (Hullin 63a) explains the name as 'because it shows kindness to its companions'. Whether the name actually comes from ḥesed or only sounds like it is uncertain.

From the study of Leviticus 11:19

Range of meaning

The stork, most likely the white stork (Ciconia ciconia), possibly also the black stork. The form is the feminine of the adjective ḥāsîd, "loyal, devoted, godly," from the root ḥ-s-d, which also gives ḥesed, "steadfast covenant love."

Against the English

Every major English version says "stork." Here the translation is safe. What English loses is the sound of the name: a Hebrew speaker heard something like "the devoted one."

Used elsewhere in the period

Elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible: Jer 8:7, where "the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons," an image of reliable migration set against Israel's unfaithfulness; Ps 104:17, where it nests in tall trees; Zech 5:9, where women have "wings like a stork"; Deut 14:18, the parallel list. The rabbis made the link to the root explicit. The Talmud (Ḥullin 63a), followed by Rashi on this verse, explains the name: "why is it called ḥăsîdâ? Because it shows kindness to its companions with food." The Greek Septuagint uses erōdios (normally "heron") here, and the Latin Vulgate follows it, so the ancient translations did not settle on one bird for each name.