Dam

( אם , 'ēm , ordinary Hebrew word for "mother"): Hebrew law prohibited the destruction of the "dam" and the young of birds at the same time, commanding that if the young be taken from a nest the dam be allowed to escape ( Deuteronomy 22:6 , Deuteronomy 22:7 ). In the same spirit it enjoined the taking of an animal for slaughter before it had been seven days with its "dam" ( Exodus 22:30; Leviticus 22:27; compare Exodus 23:19 ).