- *G3732 *3 ὄρνεον (or'-neh-on) : neuter of a presumed derivative of G3733; a birdling:--bird, fowl.
- ορνεου
- Revelation 18:2 ... unclean and hateful bird.
- ορνεοις
- Revelation 19:17 ... voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, ...
- ορνεα
- Revelation 19:21 ... mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
16. Creation story
In the creation story in Genesis, birds are created of every sort.
Genesis 7:14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. [kjv]
The
LXX (Septuagint) mentions the bird kind only once.
και παντα τα θηρια κατα γενος και παντα τα κτηνη κατα γενος και παν ερπετον κινουμενον επι της γης κατα γενος και παν πετεινον κατα γενος [lxx]
And all the wild beasts after their kind, and all cattle after their kind, and every reptile moving itself on the earth after its kind, and every flying bird after its kind, [bs3]
17. Genesis 7:14
KJV: They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
Hebrew: המה וכל החיה למינה וכל הבהמה למינה וכל הרמש הרמש על הארץ למינהו וכל העוף למינהו כל צפור כל כנף׃
Greek: και παντα τα θηρια κατα γενος και παντα τα κτηνη κατα γενος και παν ερπετον κινουμενον επι της γης κατα γενος και παν πετεινον κατα γενος
Brenton: And all the wild beasts after their kind, and all cattle after their kind, and every reptile moving itself on the earth after its kind, and every flying bird after its kind,
18. Flying birds
The creation account says that birds of every kind were created. There are non-flying birds, such as "
Big Bird".
Here, we are only interested in certain types of bird references.
Let us first mention some of the bird types in which we are not interested in this discussion.
19. Doves and pigeons
20. Matthew 3:16
KJV: And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Greek: και βαπτισθεις δε ο ιησους ανεβη ευθυς ανεβη απο του υδατος και ιδου ανεωχθησαν ηνεωχθησαν αυτω οι ουρανοι και ειδεν πνευμα το πνευμα του θεου καταβαινον ωσει περιστεραν και ερχομενον επ αυτον
Latin: baptizatus autem confestim ascendit de aqua et ecce aperti sunt ei caeli et vidit Spiritum Dei descendentem sicut columbam venientem super se
Luther: Und da Jesus getauft war, stieg er bald herauf aus dem Wasser; und siehe, da tat sich der Himmel auf über ihm. Und Johannes sah den Geist Gottes gleich als eine Taube herabfahren und über ihn kommen.
Spanish: Y Jesús, después que fue bautizado, subió luego del agua; y he aquí los cielos le fueron abiertos, y vio al Espíritu de Dios que descendía como paloma, y venía sobreÉl.
21. Sparrows
Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? [kjv]
12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. [kjv]
We are not interested in "
sparrows" although some of the verses are related to the current topic.
22. Eagles and vultures
We are not interested in birds such as "
eagles" or, sometimes, "
vultures", as in "
birds of prey".
The Greek word for "
eagle" appears many times in the
LXX and
GNT (Greek New Testament).
23. Flying dragon and dinosaurs
24. Roosters
We are not interested in "
hens" that brood and sit on nests or in "
roosters" as associated with Peter's denial of Christ where Peter is targeted by Satan.
Back to the generic "
birds" of the Bible.
25. Roosters and weather vanes
26. Notre Dame Cathedral rooster
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The rooster at Notre Dame Cathedral in France is well-known.
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The Apostolic Clock at the Hershey Museum has a depiction of Peter's denial of Jesus. At the denial, the Jesus figure turns his back.
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A "
rooster" makes a "
voice" just as a "
pipe" in on "
organ" is said to make a "
voice". The settings on an "
organ" are called "
voices".
27. Matthew 13:31-32 KP3 Parable of the mustard seed
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: [kjv]
13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. [kjv]
The
"mustard seed" :
is not the "smallest" of all "seeds".
is not the "greatest" of all "herbs".
grows into a bush, not a tree.
The
"birds" do
not (usually) nest in small bushes. Are the
"birds" good? What is a
"mustard seed"? What does a
"tree" represent?
The
KJV (King James Version) translates as
"least" the Greek word that means
"smallest". There is another Greek word for "
least".
28. Matthew 13:4,19 Birds and the evil one
At the request of the disciples, Jesus provides the code-word meaning of the "
birds" or "
fowls" as those of the "
wicked one". This happens when one does "
not understand" as in "
deception" (including self-deception).
Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [kjv]
13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. [kjv]
The "
catcheth away" is related to the word for "
rapture". The
KJV translates as "
evil" or "
wicked" the Greek word that means "
oppression" or "
oppressor".
29. Verse with Greek
Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [kjv]
και εν τω σπειρειν αυτον α μεν επεσεν παρα την οδον και ελθοντα τα πετεινα κατεφαγεν αυτα [gnt]
13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. [kjv]
παντος ακουοντος τον λογον της βασιλειας και μη συνιεντος ερχεται ο πονηρος και αρπαζει το εσπαρμενον εν τη καρδια αυτου ουτος εστιν ο παρα την οδον σπαρεις [gnt]
The Greek for "
snatch away" is the word used for "
rapture" and the source of the English word
"harpoon". It is also used as "
ravenous" in terms of "
wolves".
Saying:
You'll be birdseed. The "
seed" that was "
snatched away" in parable 1 appears to have been deposited (by the
"birds") in parable 2 as "
weeds" and then grows into a "
tree" in parable 3 so that those "
birds" have a place to make their "
nests".
30. Matthew 8:20 Birds of the air
Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. [kjv]
και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη [gnt]
… Foxis … briddis of heuene … [wy]
Is the
"kingdom of heaven" actually "
heaven" as in the
"kingdom of God"?
"βασίλεια των ουρανών" ≈ "kingdom of heaven" or "kingdom of the air".
"πετεινα του ουρανου" ≈ "birds of the air" or "birds of heaven".
Wycliffe uses the phrase "briddis of heuene" or "birds of heaven".
Some will attempt to "
fix" a perceived "
error" in the Bible text by asserting their opinion (or glory) that
"kingdom of God" and
"kingdom of heaven" are the same thing.
If birds represent "
evil" or "
oppression" (parable 1), are there any birds in heaven?
31. Matthew 8:20
KJV: And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Greek: και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη
Wessex: Ða cweð se haelend to hym. Foxas haebbeð holo. & heofene fugeles nyst. soðlice mannes sune naefð hwaer he hys heafod änhelde.
Wycliffe: And Jhesus seide to hym, Foxis han dennes, and briddis of heuene han nestis, but mannus sone hath not where`he schal reste his heed.
Tyndale: And Iesus sayd vnto him: the foxes have holes and the bryddes of the ayer have nestes but ye sonne of the man hath not whero to rest his heede.
Luther: Jesus sagte zu ihm: Die Füchse haben Gruben, und die Vögel unter dem Himmel haben Nester; aber des Menschen Sohn hat nicht, da er sein Haupt hinlege.
32. Revelation 18:2 Cagey birds
Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. [kjv]
και εκραξεν εν ισχυρα φωνη λεγων επεσεν επεσεν βαβυλων η μεγαλη και εγενετο κατοικητηριον δαιμονιων και φυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαθαρτου και φυλακη παντος ορνεου ακαθαρτου και μεμισημενου [gnt]
In Revelation, Babylon is described as a
"watch" of every "
unclean" and "
hateful" type of
"bird". Are they
"watching" those in the
"watch"?
Some Greek manuscripts add a "
beast" as a
land animal.
In Matthew 7, the house built on sand will be "
cut off" and
"fall".
33. Revelation 18:2 Bird watching
Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. [kjv]
και εκραξεν εν ισχυρα φωνη λεγων επεσεν επεσεν βαβυλων η μεγαλη και εγενετο κατοικητηριον δαιμονιων και φυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαθαρτου και φυλακη παντος ορνεου ακαθαρτου και μεμισημενου [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"φυλάσσω" ≈ "watch" is related to
"φυλακή" ≈ "watch, prison". The
KJV translates the same word as
"hold" and then
"cage" and takes a viewpoint on who is
"watching" and who is being
"watched".
Discuss: How might the world be a "
cage" or "
watch" for a believer?
The Greek word for "cage" is that of a "prison" as in something that is "watched".
The Greek word for "bird" is not the word used in Matthew but is that of "fowl", as used by John, or "hen", as used in Matthew and Luke.
34. Revelation
A few chapters later, birds are mentioned again twice.
Revelation 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; [kjv]
19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. [kjv]
35. Revelation 19:17
KJV: And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Greek: και ειδον ενα αγγελον εστωτα εν τω ηλιω και εκραξεν εν φωνη μεγαλη λεγων πασιν τοις ορνεοις τοις πετωμενοις πετομενοις εν μεσουρανηματι δευτε και συναγεσθε συναχθητε εις το δειπνον το μεγα του μεγαλου θεου
36. Revelation 19:21
KJV: And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Greek: και οι λοιποι απεκτανθησαν εν τη ρομφαια του καθημενου επι του ιππου τη εκπορευομενη εξελθουση εκ του στοματος αυτου και παντα τα ορνεα εχορτασθησαν εκ των σαρκων αυτων
37. Matthew
The first of the four places that "
birds" are mentioned by Jesus in Matthew is in Matthew 6:26. This verse was saved for last so that the background of all the other verses have already beet covered.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
The full context in Matthew 6 is interesting and relevant but is beyond the scope of the current discussion. Let us look at the verse before and after this verse.
38. Verse before
Here is the verse before the verse with "
birds of the air".
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? [kjv]
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Details are left as a future topic.
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39. Matthew 6:25
KJV: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Greek: δια τουτο λεγω υμιν μη μεριμνατε τη ψυχη υμων τι φαγητε και η τι πιητε μηδε τω σωματι υμων τι ενδυσησθε ουχι η ψυχη πλειον εστιν της τροφης και το σωμα του ενδυματος
40. Verse after
Here is the verse after the verse with "
birds of the air" in Matthew.
Matthew 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? [kjv]
The Greek for "
stature" has a meaning of "
age". The word "
cubit" can be taken in the sense of time as in extending the span of life.
41. Translations
42. Matthew 6:27
KJV: Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Greek: τις δε εξ υμων μεριμνων δυναται προσθειναι επι την ηλικιαν αυτου πηχυν ενα
43. Fowls of the air
Let us return to Matthew 6:26 and the "
fowls of the air".
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
44. Matthew 6:26
KJV: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Greek: εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων
Latin: respicite volatilia caeli quoniam non serunt neque metunt neque congregant in horrea et Pater vester caelestis pascit illa nonne vos magis pluris estis illis
45. Luke
Luke uses "
ravens" for "
birds of the air". This is the only place "
raven" is used in the
GNT.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? [kjv]
Since Luke, a Greek, interviewed people and wrote the book of Luke many years later, while Matthew was an eye witness who, as a tax collector, could read, write, take detailed notes in shorthand (as required for his work), etc., Matthew is often taken as being more exact as to what Jesus actually said.
The Greek word for "
raven", like the English word for "
crow" is onomatopoeic in that it sounds like the sound that the bird makes as a call.
46. Luke 12:24
KJV: Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Greek: κατανοησατε τους κορακας οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν οις ουκ εστιν ταμειον ουδε αποθηκη και ο θεος τρεφει αυτους ποσω μαλλον υμεις διαφερετε των πετεινων
Latin: considerate corvos quia non seminant neque metunt quibus non est cellarium neque horreum et Deus pascit illos quanto magis vos pluris estis illis
47. Ecclesiastes 11:4
Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. [kjv]
τηρων ανεμον ου σπερει και βλεπων εν ταις νεφελαις ου θερισει [lxx]
The "
wind" may be related to the "
birds" who do not "
sow" neither do they "
reap".
48. Greek
49. Strongs - raven
- *G2876 *1 κόραξ (kor'-ax) : perhaps from G2880; a crow (from its voracity):--raven.
- κορακας
- Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow ...
50. Birds
The "
birds" do
not do the following.
- sow
- reap
- gather into barns
When Jesus talks, what is not said can be as important as what is said.
What step in the literal process is missing that the birds appear to then
do?
51. Step 1
The first step is sowing the seed. The "seed" is the word and Jesus in the parable of the sower "sows" the "seed". This is the first kingdom parable in Matthew 13.
The "birds" do not "sow" in this good sense. They could sow "weeds" as in the second kingdom parable. When might they do this?
Let us leave the second step for last.
52. Step 3
The third step is to "
reap". In the second kingdom parable in Matthew 13, Jesus says that the "
angels" are the reapers.
Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. [kjv]
The "
birds" do not "
reap" in this sense but they have pecked away "
seeds" and sown "
weeds". This can be reflexive in that the birds can sow themselves as weeds.
53. Step 4
The fourth step is to "
store" into "
barns".
This comes after the "
reaping" of the "
harvest" at the "
end of the age".
The "
birds" do not "
store" into "
barns" in this sense.
54. Step 2
That leaves the second step which is to work what grows until the harvest. This is done by the "
workers" or "
laborers".
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; [kjv]
Note that the "
workers" help to "
grow" the "
fruit" for the "
harvest". A reflexive relationship exists in that the "
workers" are also part of the "
harvest" as "
fruit".
55. Kingdom of the birds
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
The step omitted by Jesus is the "
grow" part. The "
birds" work the growing harvest by "
pecking" and taking part of the harvest (first parable), and, in turn, sowing "
weeds" (second parable). You are "
rather different" (at least you should be). The
KJV, influenced by the Latin, says "
much better".
The "
birds" are used by Jesus as a symbol of "
false teachers" who "
prey", rather than "
pray", on others. The "
wolf" or "
wolf-dog", as contrasted to a "
sheep-dog", and the "
snake" or "
viper" appear to be used in the same manner.
56. Omitted step
The "
ask", "
seek" and "
knock" sequence can be seen in the "
sow", "
grow" and "
harvest" sequence.
The "
Holy Spirit" is part of the "
worker" process as in the "
kingdom of heaven" or the "
kingdom of the air" where one must deal with the "
birds of the air".
57. Seed picker
A term for "
babbler" in Greek is that of a "
bird" that goes around pecking at seeds as in talking but not doing real work.
In Acts 17 at Mars Hill, Paul is ridiculed as doing what the people saying it about him are doing.
Acts 17:18 Then certain philosophers ... said, What will this babbler say? ... [kjv]
τινες δε και των επικουρειων και στωικων φιλοσοφων συνεβαλλον αυτω και τινες ελεγον τι αν θελοι ο σπερμολογος ουτος λεγειν οι δε ξενων δαιμονιων δοκει καταγγελευς ειναι οτι τον ιησουν και την αναστασιν ευηγγελιζετο [gnt]
… seminiverbius … [v]
… sowere of wordis … [wy]
The ancient Greek word
"σπερμόλογος" ≈ "picking up seeds" as does a bird. Figuratively it meant gossiping.
58. Strongs - seed-picker
- *G4691 *1 σπερμολόγος (sper-mol-og'-os) : from G4690 and G3004; a seed-picker (as the crow), i.e. (figuratively) a sponger, loafer (specially, a gossip or trifler in talk):--babbler.
- σπερμολογος
- Acts 17:18 ... What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth ...
59. Feeding the birds
Let us return to Matthew 6:26.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
The "
Father" feeds the "
birds" even though they sow "
weeds". The "
birds" appear to "
work" but do not do useful "
work".
The "
laborers" are needed for the future "
harvest". We see other verses where the "
Father" feeds both the "
birds" and the others.
60. The reign/rain of Jesus
Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [kjv]
7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [kjv]
7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. [kjv]
Jesus says that the Father sends rain on both the
just and the
unjust. Some of that "
rain" is sent on houses built on "
sand" and on "
rock", with different results.
61. Matthew 5:45
KJV: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Greek: οπως γενησθε υιοι του πατρος υμων του εν ουρανοις οτι τον ηλιον αυτου ανατελλει επι πονηρους και αγαθους και βρεχει επι δικαιους και αδικους
Geneva: That ye may be the children of your father that is in heauen: for he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill, and the good, and sendeth raine on the iust, and vniust.
62. Houses and rain
63. Matthew 7:25
KJV: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Greek: και κατεβη η βροχη και ηλθον ηλθαν οι ποταμοι και επνευσαν οι ανεμοι και προσεπεσον προσεπεσαν τη οικια εκεινη και ουκ επεσεν τεθεμελιωτο γαρ επι την πετραν
64. Matthew 7:27
KJV: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Greek: και κατεβη η βροχη και ηλθον ηλθαν οι ποταμοι και επνευσαν οι ανεμοι και προσεκοψαν τη οικια εκεινη και επεσεν και ην η πτωσις αυτης μεγαλη
65. Better than birds
Let us return to Matthew 6:26.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
What does it mean to be "
better" or "
much better" than the "
birds"?
66. Deferring on a difference of opinion on differences
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
In many places in the
GNT, the Greek verb for "
difference" as in "
making a difference" is translated as "
better".
A rephrased ending of the verse might be "
Are you not rather different than the birds?".
67. Comparison
If the "
birds" are the "
evil ones", we find other verses in the previous chapter, Matthew 5, that describe this idea that we should be "
different" than "
birds". Two successive verses in Matthew 5:13-14 (the previous chapter and part of the same discourse) appear to refer to how we are to be "
different" than "
birds".
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [kjv]
5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [kjv]
68. Matthew 5:13
KJV: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Greek: υμεις εστε το αλας της γης εαν δε το αλας μωρανθη εν τινι αλισθησεται εις ουδεν ισχυει ετι ει μη βληθηναι βληθεν εξω και καταπατεισθαι υπο των ανθρωπων
69. Matthew 5:14
KJV: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Greek: υμεις εστε το φως του κοσμου ου δυναται πολις κρυβηναι επανω ορους κειμενη
70. Summary
In the Bible, the generic terms "birds" and "birds of the air" are not used an a nice sense.
It appears that when Jesus uses the word "birds" a secondary meaning can be inferred in addition to the first more literal meaning.
It appears we are to be "different" than the "birds".
71. End of page
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
At one time, Angry Birds was a very popular game and mobile application that eventually had a movie named after it.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [kjv]
εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου οτι ου σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας και ο πατηρ υμων ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα ουχ υμεις μαλλον διαφερετε αυτων [gnt]
8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. [kjv]
13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [kjv]
13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. [kjv]
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus ... saw the Spirit of God descending like a pigeon, and lighting upon him: [kjv]
βαπτισθεις δε ο ιησους ευθυς ανεβη απο του υδατος και ιδου ηνεωχθησαν αυτω οι ουρανοι και ειδεν πνευμα το πνευμα του θεου καταβαινον ωσει περιστεραν ερχομενον επ αυτον [gnt]
… Taube … [lu]
… paloma… [es]
Phrase: "One foot in the grave" (distance with time meaning).
