Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 11:16/אבן עזרא על ויקרא י״א:ט״ז
אבת היענה. יש אומרים שהוא מין שלא ימצאו זכרים כמו הארנבת ואין מלת כיענים טענה כי אינם זכרים רק הם נקבות כמו יעלים ורחלים:
1AND THE OSTRICH. Some say that the bat ha-ya’anah (ostrich)37 is feminine. is a kind among whom males are not found.38 It is like the hare. There is no argument from the word ka-ye’enim (like the ostriches)39 is a masculine plural form. The singular of this form is ya’an. We thus see that males are found among the ostriches. (Lam. 4:3), for the reference is to females as in the case of ye’elim (wild goats) (Ps. 104:18)40 is a masculine plural form. However, it is the plural of ye’elah, which is feminine. and rechelim41, which is feminine. We thus see that there are instances in which a feminine singular has a plural masculine form. (ewes) (Gen. 32:15).
בואת התחמס. מגזרת חמס:
2AND THE NIGHT-HAWK. Tachmas (night-hawk) is related to the word chamas (violence) (Gen. 5:11).
גואת השחף. מוליד השחפת:
3THE SEA-MEW. The shachaf (sea-mew) gives birth to consumption (shachefet) (Lev. 26:16).
דוהנץ. יש לו נוצה רבה והקרוב שהוא הידוע הפורש כנפיו תמיד לפאת דרום כי יבקש מקום חם:
4AND THE HAWK. The netz (hawk) has many feathers.42. It most likely refers to the well-known bird which always spreads its wings to the south,43 (netz) soar by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? for it seeks a warm place.