Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VULTURE

Any large bird of prey common to the ancient Near East, including vultures, eagles, falcons, and owls. Several Hebrew words (nešer, ʿayi, peres, ʿoznîyâ, rāḥām) are variously translated as “vulture,” “eagle,” “hawk,” “bird of prey,” and “ravenous” or “carrion bird,” although nešer (cf. NT Gk. aetós) is the most common. The birds designated by these terms share many of the same characteristics. All are large carrion eaters, have long wing spans and heavy bodies, and soar at great heights.

While the vulture is regarded as a devourer, it portrays several images in the Bible. It is described as swiftly flying over its prey (Deut. 28:49; Job 9:26; Prov. 30:17; Hab. 1:8), unclean (Lev. 11:13; Deut. 14:12), soaring (Prov. 23:5; 30:19), one nurturing its young (Deut. 32:11; cf. Exod. 19:4), and a cherubim in a vision (Ezek. 1:10-14).

Three different large birds are named as being unclean for food, representing three different Hebrew words (nešer, peres, ʿayi). Translations vary for each type of bird, including “eagle,” “vulture,” “osprey,” and “buzzard.”

The NT translates Gk. aetós as “vulture” when describing a bird flying over a corpse (Matt. 24:28 = Luke 17:37), but “eagle” for all other images.

As a scavenger in the walled cities and villages of Egypt, the vulture’s work was so valued that the death penalty was given to anyone guilty of killing the bird. At altars throughout the ancient Near East vultures ate the entrails of cattle, lambs, goats, and birds being prepared for sacrifice.

Bibliography. G. R. Driver, “Birds in the Old Testament,” PEQ 87 (1955): 5-20, 129-40; “Once Again: Birds in the Bible,” PEQ 90 (1958): 56-58; Y. Leshem, “Trails in the Sky: Fall Migration of Raptors over Israel,” Israel Land and Nature 10 (1984-85): 70-77.

Michelle Ellis Taylor







Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

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