Topical Bible: The Eagle: Greatness of Its Wings Alluded To

◄ The Eagle: Greatness of Its Wings Alluded To ►

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The eagle, a majestic bird of prey, is frequently mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing strength, swiftness, and the grandeur of God's creation. The greatness of its wings is particularly alluded to in various passages, highlighting both the physical attributes of the eagle and the spiritual lessons derived from its characteristics.

Symbol of Strength and Protection

The eagle's wings are often used as a metaphor for God's protection and care for His people. In Exodus 19:4, God reminds the Israelites of His deliverance from Egypt, saying, "You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself." This imagery conveys the strength and security provided by God, akin to the powerful and protective wings of an eagle.

Renewal and Youthfulness

The eagle's ability to renew its strength is another aspect highlighted in Scripture. Isaiah 40:31 states, "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint." Here, the eagle's wings symbolize the renewal and vigor that come from trusting in the Lord, suggesting that believers can experience spiritual rejuvenation and endurance.

Swiftness and Majesty

The swiftness of the eagle is also noted in the Bible, often in the context of speed and majesty. In Deuteronomy 28:49, the eagle is used to describe the rapid approach of a foreign nation: "The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down." This passage emphasizes the eagle's ability to cover great distances quickly, underscoring the impending and unstoppable nature of God's judgment.

Vision and Insight

The eagle's keen eyesight is another attribute that is metaphorically significant. While not directly related to the wings, the eagle's vision complements the imagery of its wings, representing insight and perception. Job 39:29-30 describes the eagle's ability to spot its prey from afar: "From there it spies out food; its eyes see it from afar. Its young ones feast on blood, and where the slain are, there it is." This passage highlights the eagle's acute vision, which can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual discernment and awareness.

Majestic Flight

The grandeur of the eagle's flight is a testament to its powerful wings. Proverbs 23:5 uses the imagery of the eagle's flight to illustrate the fleeting nature of wealth: "When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky." The comparison to the eagle's soaring flight underscores the transitory and elusive nature of earthly riches.

In summary, the eagle's wings in the Bible serve as a powerful symbol of God's strength, protection, and the spiritual renewal available to believers. The eagle's attributes of swiftness, vision, and majesty are woven throughout Scripture, offering profound insights into the nature of God's care and the spiritual life of His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 17:3,7
And say, Thus said the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came to Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Wagner -- I am a Voice
... If ever soul encompassed this greatness, it was that of John the ... in vigorous flight,
it crawls along the earth, like an eagle whose wings ... A voice has its echo. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/wagner i am a.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... neck and ears of a fox, and the wings and beak of an eagle, wandered over ... Kharkhar,
securely entrenched behind its triple ramparts, assumed the position ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

Homilies on the Statues.
... escape snares, [628]441; caught, cannot use wings, [629]441 ... Dignity of a city is
its virtue, [915]456; of ... Eagle, under man's dominion, [931]416; a king so styled ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/homilies on the statues.htm

Life of Bunyan
... acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.'". ... and directs his companions
along its gentler slopes ... was he standing there, than his eagle-eye detected ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hamilton/life of bunyan/life of bunyan.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... indeed, in this he doth show both the greatness of his ... 5. It might be also built
with its face towards the ... coming he will bring healing in his wings; for from ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Evangelical Revival.
... on disputed points of doctrine among its members. ... these weaknesses detract but little
from the greatness and nothing ... In this I am carried as on eagle's wings. ...
/.../chapter ix the evangelical revival.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... as having the head of a falcon or an eagle, perhaps by ... a space which the fire blackens
with its smoke." And ... as lions with bulls' heads, and the wings and claws ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm