Topical Encyclopedia
The swallow is a small bird mentioned in the Bible, known for its swift flight and migratory patterns. In the biblical context, the swallow is often associated with themes of freedom, restlessness, and the search for a home. The Hebrew word for swallow is "deror," which can also mean "freedom," reflecting the bird's agile and unencumbered nature.
Biblical References:1.
Psalm 84:3 : "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God." This verse highlights the swallow's instinct to find a safe and secure place for its offspring, symbolizing the soul's yearning for the presence and protection of God. The imagery of the swallow nesting near the altars of the Lord underscores the idea of finding refuge and peace in God's dwelling.
2.
Proverbs 26:2 : "Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest." Here, the swallow's erratic and unpredictable flight is used metaphorically to describe the ineffectiveness of an undeserved curse. Just as a swallow does not settle easily, so too does a baseless curse fail to find its mark.
3.
Jeremiah 8:7 : "Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the turtledove, swift, and thrush observe the time of their migration. But My people do not know the requirements of the LORD." In this passage, the swallow is grouped with other migratory birds, emphasizing its natural instinct to follow the seasons. This serves as a contrast to the people of Israel, who are criticized for their failure to recognize and adhere to God's laws and timing.
Symbolism and Themes:·
Freedom and Restlessness: The swallow's swift and agile flight is often seen as a symbol of freedom and the soul's restless search for a place of belonging. This is reflected in its migratory behavior, as it travels great distances in search of a suitable habitat.
·
Divine Protection and Refuge: The swallow's nesting near the altars of God, as mentioned in
Psalm 84:3, symbolizes the believer's desire to dwell in the presence of the Lord, finding safety and comfort under His care.
·
Natural Order and Divine Wisdom: In
Jeremiah 8:7, the swallow's adherence to the natural order and its migratory patterns serve as a reminder of God's wisdom in creation. The bird's instinctual behavior is contrasted with human disobedience, highlighting the importance of recognizing and following divine guidance.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Israel, the swallow was a common bird, familiar to the people and often observed in their daily lives. Its presence in biblical literature reflects its significance in the natural world and its role as a metaphor for spiritual truths. The swallow's migratory nature would have been well-known, making it an apt symbol for themes of movement, change, and the search for a spiritual home.
Overall, the swallow in the Bible serves as a poignant reminder of the soul's journey towards God, the importance of divine protection, and the wisdom inherent in following God's ordained paths.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
SwallowHeb.deror in (Psalms 84:3;Proverbs 26:2) Heb.agur in (Isaiah 38:14;Jeremiah 8:7) but "crane" is more probably the true signification ofagur [CRANE]). The rendering of the Authorized Version forderor seems correct. The characters ascribed in the passages where the names occur are strictly applicable to the swallow, viz., its swiftness of flight, its meeting in the buildings of the temple, its mournful, garrulous note, and its regular migrations, shared indeed in common with several others. Many species of swallow occur in Palestine. All those common in England are found.
ATS Bible Dictionary
SwallowThe well-known bird of passage, which is so common both in our country, in Europe, and in the East,Psalm 84:3;Isaiah 38:14;Jeremiah 8:7. SeeCRANE, andSPARROW.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Hebrews sis (Isaiah 38:14;Jeremiah 8:7), the Arabic for the swift, which "is a regular migrant, returning in myriads every spring, and so suddenly that while one day not a swift can be seen in the country, on the next they have overspread the whole land, and fill the air with their shrill cry." The swift (cypselus) is ordinarily classed with the swallow, which it resembles in its flight, habits, and migration.
(2.) Hebrews deror, i.e., "the bird of freedom" (Psalm 84:3;Proverbs 26:2), properly rendered swallow, distinguished for its swiftness of flight, its love of freedom, and the impossibility of retaining it in captivity. In Isaiah 38:14 andJeremiah 8:7 the word thus rendered (`augr) properly means "crane" (as in the R.V.).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight.
2. (n.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.
3. (n.) The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves.
4. (v. t.) To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink.
5. (v. t.) To draw into an abyss or gulf; to engulf; to absorb -- usually followed by up.
6. (v. t.) To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.
7. (v. t.) To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up.
8. (v. t.) To occupy; to take up; to employ.
9. (v. t.) To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume.
10. (v. t.) To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions.
11. (v. t.) To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult.
12. (v. i.) To perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow.
13. (n.) The act of swallowing.
14. (n.) The gullet, or esophagus; the throat.
15. (n.) Taste; relish; inclination; liking.
16. (n.) Capacity for swallowing; voracity.
17. (n.) As much as is, or can be, swallowed at once; as, a swallow of water.
18. (n.) That which engulfs; a whirlpool.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SWALLOWswal'-o (deror; strouthos, in Proverbs and Psalms, chelidon, in Isaiah; Latin Hirundo rustica): A small long-winged bird of exhaustless flight, belonging to the family Hirundinidae. Deror means the bird of freedom, and as the swallow is of tireless wing, it has been settled upon as fitting the requirements of the text. In the passages where `aghur is translated "swallow," there is a mistake, that word referring to the crane. There is also a word, cuc or cic, that means a rushing sound, that is incorrectly translated "swallow," when it should be "swift" (Cypselus apus).
These birds are near relatives and so alike on the wing as to be indistinguishable to any save a close observer. Yet the Hebrews knew and made a difference. The swallow is a trifle larger and different in color. It remains all the year, while in numerous instances the swift migrates and is a regular sign of returning spring. The swallow is of long and tireless flight. The swift is so much faster that the sound of its wings can be heard when passing. The swallow plasters a mud nest under eaves, on towers, belfries, and close to human habitations. The swifts are less intimate, building in deserted places, under bridges and on rocky crevices. The swallows utter constantly a rather sweet low note; the swifts chatter harshly and incessantly at their nests. These differences are observable to the most careless people. Scientists separate the birds on account of anatomical structure also. Despite this, the birds are confused in most of our translations.
"Like a swallow or a crane, so did I chatter;
I did moan as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward:
O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety"
(Isaiah 38:14).
Here `aghur is translated "swallow" and cuc "crane," which is clearly interchanging words, as the Arabic for "swift" is cuc, the same as the Hebrew. The line should read, "swift and crane." And another reason for changing swallow to swift, in this passage, lies in the fact that of the two birds the swift is the incessant and raucous chatterer, and this was the idea in the mind of Hezekiah when he sang his Trouble Song. Another incorrect reference is found inJeremiah 8:7: "Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Yahweh." Few swallows migrate. Returning swifts are one of the first signs of spring.
"As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless alighteth not" (Proverbs 26:2).
This reference might apply to either, remembering always that the swift took its name from its exceptional flight, it being able to cover over 80 miles an hour. However, the swallow is credited with 800 miles in a night.
"Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even thine altars, O Yahweh of hosts,
My King, and my God" (Psalm 84:3).
Here is one instance, at least, where the swallow is at home and the translation correct. The swift might possibly have built in the temple: the swallow was sure to be there.
Gene Stratton-Porter
Greek
2666. katapino -- to drink down... to drink down. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katapino Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ap-ee'-no) Short Definition: I
swallow, devour, destroy Definition: I
...Strong's Hebrew
1104. bala -- toswallow down,swallow up, engulf... bala. 1105 . to
swallow down,
swallow up, engulf. Transliteration: bala Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-lah') Short Definition: swallowed. Word Origin a prim.
...1866. deror --swallow (a kind of bird)
... 1865, 1866. deror. 1867 .swallow (a kind of bird). Transliteration: deror
Phonetic Spelling: (der-ore') Short Definition:swallow....
3886a. lua -- toswallow,swallow down
... lua. 3886b . toswallow,swallow down. Transliteration: lua Short Definition:
swallow.... root Definition toswallow,swallow down NASB Word Usageswallow (1)....
3886. luwa' -- toswallow,swallow down
... 3885b, 3886. luwa'. 3886a . toswallow,swallow down. Transliteration: luwa'
Phonetic Spelling: (loo'-ah) Short Definition:swallow.swallow down up...
3938. laat -- toswallow (greedily)
... 3937, 3938. laat. 3939 . toswallow (greedily). Transliteration: laat Phonetic
Spelling: (law-at') Short Definition:swallow. Word Origin a prim....
1572. gama -- toswallow (liquids)
... 1571, 1572. gama. 1573 . toswallow (liquids). Transliteration: gama Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-maw') Short Definition: drink. Word Origin a prim....swallow, drink...
5483a. sus -- aswallow, swift (type of bird)
sus or sus. 5483, 5483a. sus or sus. 5483b . aswallow, swift (type of
bird). Transliteration: sus or sus Short Definition:swallow....
5483. cuwc -- aswallow, swift (type of bird)
... 5482b, 5483. cuwc. 5483a . aswallow, swift (type of bird). Transliteration:
cuwc Phonetic Spelling: (soos) Short Definition: crane. crane, horseback,...
3859. laham -- toswallow greedily
... 3858b, 3859. laham. 3860 . toswallow greedily. Transliteration: laham Phonetic
Spelling: (law-ham') Short Definition: morsels. Word Origin a prim....
5693. agur -- (a kind of bird) perhaps a crane
...swallow. Passive part (but with active sense) of an unused root meaning to twitter:
probably theswallow --swallow. 5692, 5693. agur. 5694 . Strong's Numbers
Library
TheSwallow
... TheSwallow. I am fond of theswallow"I learn from her flight, Had I skill to improve
it, a lesson of love: How seldom on earth do we see her alight!...
Death Swallowed up in victory
... shall come. Then this destroyer shall be destroyed; he shallswallow no
more, but be swallowed up himself, in victory. Thus the...
On the Symbols of Pythagoras.
... For instance, the Samian counsels "not to have aswallow in the house;" that is,
not to receive a loquacious, whispering, garrulous man, who cannot contain...
Note what Jesus Says.
... They don't believe, in the swallowing of Jonah. They say it is impossible
that a whale couldswallow Jonah"its throat is too small....
Final Considerations to Induce to Exomologesis.
... with dittany. Theswallow, if she blinds her young, knows how to give them
eyes again by means of her ownswallow-wort. [8529] Shall...
First Degree of Prayer --Meditation and Meditative Reading --The...
... an excellent meat would not be nourished by it, although he would be sensible of
its taste, unless he ceased this movement in order toswallow it; so when the...
The Method of Prayer
... as a person may enjoy the flavour of the finest viand in mastication, yet receive
no nourishment therefrom, if he does not cease the action andswallow the food...
I must not Go on Describing what Cannot be Described...
... what it is like. Somehow, I can't say how, it tells me that all is right;
that it is coming toswallow up all cries.". "But that won...
Letter L to Geoffrey, of Lisieux
... like the dead of this world; and now it is a matter for little surprise that you
are descending into the belly of hell, which is hasting toswallow you up, and...
Sparrows and Altars
... VOLUME II: PSALMS LI to CXLV SPARROWS AND ALTARS. 'Yea, the sparrow hath found an
house, and theswallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even...
Thesaurus
Swallow (38 Occurrences)... on the next they have overspread the whole land, and fill the air with their shrill
cry." The swift (cypselus) is ordinarily classed with the
swallow, which it
...Crane (2 Occurrences)
... the words. "Crane orswallow" should be "swallow or crane," as in the Revised
Version. The rendering is there correct. The Hebrew...
Gulp (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Toswallow eagerly, or in large draughts;
toswallow up; to take down at oneswallow. 2. (n.) The...
Sparrow (4 Occurrences)
... Another exquisite song describes the bird in its secure and happy hour: "Yea, the
sparrow hath found her a house, And theswallow a nest for herself, where she...
Gnat (1 Occurrence)
... "Strain at a gnat, andswallow a camel... Multi-Version Concordance Gnat (1 Occurrence).
Matthew 23:24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, andswallow a camel!...
Whale (2 Occurrences)
... that they cannot pass?" "The serpent of the sea, which was but the wild, stormy
sea itself, wound itself around the land, and threatened toswallow it up...Job...
Nest (22 Occurrences)
... In Psalm 84:3 David sings, "Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And theswallow
a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, O...
Trample (34 Occurrences)
... in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants toswallow me up. All day
long, he attacks and oppresses me. (See NAS RSV). Psalms...
Camel (13 Occurrences)
... To strain at (rather, out) a gnat andswallow a camel was also a proverbial expression
(Matthew 23:24), used with reference to those who were careful to avoid...
Gorge (19 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) The groove of a pulley. 9. (n.) Toswallow; especially, toswallow
with greediness, or in large mouthfuls or quantities. 10....
Resources
Can a Christian be cursed? Will God allow a curse on a believer? | GotQuestions.orgWhat similarities are there between the Gilgamesh flood account and the biblical flood account? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus Christ conquered death? | GotQuestions.orgSwallow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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