Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

EAGLE

A large raptor. In the OT Heb. nešer designates both the vulture and the eagle. The unclean carrion vulture or gier eagle (Heb. rāḥām or rāḥāmâ; Lev. 11:18; Deut. 14:17), which could not be eaten, is different than the nešer. Almost all uses of nešer refer to the eagle, and most of the time the references are metaphorical.

For the biblical writers, the eagle was a symbol of speed (Deut. 28:49; 2 Sam. 1:23; Jer. 4:13; Lam. 4:19), notable for building its nest in lofty places (Jer. 49:16), for soaring swiftly to the heights (Prov. 23:5), and for attacking its prey ferociously and swiftly (Job 9:26; Hab. 1:8). Other characteristics that were prized included its lofty grandeur (Obad. 4), its gentle and protective care for its young (Exod. 19:4-6; cf. Deut. 32:11), and its youthful vigor (Ps. 103:5; Isa. 40:31, “they shall mount up with wings like eagles”). In Ezekiel’s vision of the throne chariot (Ezek. 1:10) the prophet saw four cherubim, each having four faces (of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle). The writer of Revelation borrowed from this image in his vision of the lamb on the throne, circled by four creatures, which are like a lion, an ox, a human, and an eagle (Rev. 4:7; Gk. aetós). John also employed the greatness of the eagle and its capacity for flight (or escape) in reference to the woman of Rev. 12:14 (cf. 8:13). Apart from those references, the eagle is mentioned in the NT only in Matt. 24:28 ( = Luke 17:37), where the reference is clearly to carrion-eating birds and not the noble eagle of the OT.

Richard A. Spencer

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

EAGLE

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)