Ravens are large, black birds belonging to the Corvidae family, known for their intelligence and adaptability. In the Bible, ravens are mentioned in various contexts, often symbolizing God's provision and care, as well as serving as instruments in His divine plans.

Old Testament References

1. Noah's Ark: The first mention of ravens in the Bible occurs in the account of Noah's Ark. After the floodwaters began to recede, Noah sent out a raven to see if the waters had abated from the earth. The raven "kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth" (Genesis 8:7). This act demonstrated the raven's role in the process of determining the state of the post-flood world.

2. Provision for Elijah: In 1 Kings 17:4-6, God uses ravens to provide for the prophet Elijah during a time of drought and famine. The Lord commands Elijah to hide by the Kerith Ravine, where He promises, "I have commanded the ravens to feed you there" (1 Kings 17:4). The ravens brought Elijah bread and meat in the morning and evening, showcasing God's miraculous provision through these birds.

3. Symbol of God's Care: In Job 38:41, God challenges Job by asking, "Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?" . This rhetorical question highlights God's sovereignty and care for all His creation, including the ravens, emphasizing His ability to provide for even the most seemingly insignificant creatures.

New Testament References

1. Teaching of Jesus: In the New Testament, Jesus uses ravens to illustrate God's provision and the futility of worry. In Luke 12:24, Jesus says, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" . This teaching underscores the importance of trusting in God's provision and care for His people, as He does for the ravens.

Symbolism and Interpretation

Ravens, often seen as unclean animals under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11:15), are used by God in the Bible to demonstrate His power and provision. Despite their status, God employs them to fulfill His purposes, illustrating that He can use any part of His creation to achieve His divine will. The presence of ravens in biblical narratives serves as a reminder of God's omnipotence and His attentive care for all His creatures, encouraging believers to trust in His providence and sovereignty.2876. korax -- a raven
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a raven NASB Word Usage ravens (1). raven. Perhaps
from korennumi; a crow (from its voracity) -- raven. see GREEK korennumi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2876.htm - 6k6158. oreb -- a raven
... Short Definition: raven. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a raven
NASB Word Usage raven (6), ravens (4). raven. Or mowreb ...
/hebrew/6158.htm - 6k

Elijah Fed by Ravens.
... ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS. ... And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook;
and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/elijah fed by ravens.htm

Elijah Fed by Ravens(S). 1Ki 17:06
... I KINGS Hymn 35 ELIJAH fed by ravens(s). 1Ki 17:6. John Newton 8,8,8,8a. ELIJAH
fed by ravens(s). 1Ki 17:6. Elijah's example declares,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 35 elijah fed by.htm

A Prophet's Strange Providers
... and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.4. And it shall be,
that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a prophets strange providers.htm

Elijah and the Widow's Son.
... and hide in the deep valley of the Cherith, a small stream running between high
banks down to the river Jordan"a place of caves where many ravens had their ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/elijah and the widows son.htm

Elijah the Great Heart of Israel.
... "Thou shalt drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there,"
said the Lord. ... [Illustration: Ravens bringing food to Elijah]. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvii elijah the great.htm

Psalm CXLVII.
... God defraudeth not His flock of their food through men, for whose "service He maketh
the grass to grow." "And to the young of the ravens that call upon Him ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxlvii.htm

Travailing for Souls
... The bread and meat which were brought to Elijah were not less nourishing because
the ravens brought them, but the ravens remained ravens still. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/travailing for souls.htm

The Two Yokes
... I doubt not, that when he uttered those words, "Consider the lilies," he stooped
down and plucked a lily; and when he said, "Consider the ravens," he pointed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the two yokes.htm

From Fasts Absolute Tertullian Comes to Partial Ones and ...
... When the ravens had been wont to satisfy him with "bread and flesh," [1069] why
was it that afterwards, at Beersheba of Judea, that certain angel, after ...
/.../chapter ix from fasts absolute tertullian.htm

Elijah and the Widow's Son
... You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.".
So he obeyed the command of Jehovah and lived near the Brook Cherith. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/elijah and the widows son.htm

Ravens (5 Occurrences)
...Ravens (5 Occurrences). Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they
don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. ...
/r/ravens.htm - 7k

Raven (7 Occurrences)
...Ravens feed mostly on carrion, and hence their food is procured with difficulty
(Job 38:41; Psalm 147:9). When they attack kids or lambs or weak animals, it is ...
/r/raven.htm - 14k

Torrent (49 Occurrences)
... (DBY). 1 Kings 17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the torrent;
and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. (DBY). ...
/t/torrent.htm - 22k

Stream (96 Occurrences)
... Jordan. (BBE). 1 Kings 17:4 The water of the stream will be your drink, and
by my orders the ravens will give you food there. (BBE). ...
/s/stream.htm - 42k

Elijah (104 Occurrences)
... Having delivered his message to Ahab, he retired at the command of God to a
hiding-place by the brook Cherith, beyond Jordan, where he was fed by ravens. ...
/e/elijah.htm - 71k

Valuable (17 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap,
they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How ...
/v/valuable.htm - 11k

Vultures (6 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother,
The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat ...
/v/vultures.htm - 8k

Value (138 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no
store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than ...
/v/value.htm - 37k

Nourish (16 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, nor reap, to which there is no
barn nor storehouse, and God doth nourish them; how much better are ye than ...
/n/nourish.htm - 13k

Nest (22 Occurrences)
... sticks and twigs on the cleft of a mountain (Job 39:27 Jeremiah 49:16 Obadiah
1:4); hawks prefer trees; vultures, hollow trees or the earth; ravens, big trees ...
/n/nest.htm - 18k

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