Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SPARROW

A general designation for many types of small birds that inhabited the areas around houses and gardens (Deut. 4:17; Ps. 84:3[MT 4]; 104:17; Eccl. 9:12). Sparrows (Heb. ṣippôr; Gk. strouthíon) are small brown and gray birds that swarm in groups throughout Palestine. They build their nests in many places such as walls, gardens, vineyards, houses, and bushes, and feed on seeds, worms, and small insects. They were considered a clean bird (Deut. 14:11). The sparrow was used in sacrifices but was too small to be cut in half and placed on the altar (Gen. 15:10). A leper was commanded to offer two live, clean birds as a testimony to his or her cleansing (Lev. 14:4). The poor were allowed to offer a small bird for the sin offering if they could not afford a lamb (Lev. 5:7). The sparrow was hunted and snared but provided little meat for consumption (Ps. 124:7; Prov. 6:5). Sparrows were plentiful in NT times, and two could be purchased for a penny (Matt. 10:29; cf. Luke 12:6).

A man who pursued a prostitute or fell into great debt was compared to a bird that was captured in the snare of a hunter (Prov. 6:5; 7:23; 27:8). Jesus taught that God’s care for the sparrow was an indication of God’s greater care and value of human beings (Matt. 10:31; Luke 12:6).

Bibliography. G. R. Driver, “Birds in the Old Testament — Part 1: Birds in Law,” PEQ 87 (1955): 5-20; “Part 2: Birds in Life,” PEQ 87 (1955): 129-40.

John A. McLean

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SPARROW

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)