Swallow
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Smith's Bible Dictionary
Swallow

Heb. 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 of agur [CRANE]). The rendering of the Authorized Version for deror 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
Swallow

The 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. See CRANE, and SPARROW.

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 and Jeremiah 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
SWALLOW

swal'-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 in Jeremiah 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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2666.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
1104. bala -- to swallow 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. ...
/hebrew/1104.htm - 6k

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. ...
/hebrew/1866.htm - 6k

3886a. lua -- to swallow, swallow down
... lua. 3886b . to swallow, swallow down. Transliteration: lua Short Definition:
swallow. ... root Definition to swallow, swallow down NASB Word Usage swallow (1). ...
/hebrew/3886a.htm - 5k

3886. luwa' -- to swallow, swallow down
... 3885b, 3886. luwa'. 3886a . to swallow, swallow down. Transliteration: luwa'
Phonetic Spelling: (loo'-ah) Short Definition: swallow. swallow down up ...
/hebrew/3886.htm - 5k

3938. laat -- to swallow (greedily)
... 3937, 3938. laat. 3939 . to swallow (greedily). Transliteration: laat Phonetic
Spelling: (law-at') Short Definition: swallow. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3938.htm - 5k

1572. gama -- to swallow (liquids)
... 1571, 1572. gama. 1573 . to swallow (liquids). Transliteration: gama Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-maw') Short Definition: drink. Word Origin a prim. ... swallow, drink ...
/hebrew/1572.htm - 5k

5483a. sus -- a swallow, swift (type of bird)
sus or sus. 5483, 5483a. sus or sus. 5483b . a swallow, swift (type of
bird). Transliteration: sus or sus Short Definition: swallow. ...
/hebrew/5483a.htm - 5k

5483. cuwc -- a swallow, swift (type of bird)
... 5482b, 5483. cuwc. 5483a . a swallow, swift (type of bird). Transliteration:
cuwc Phonetic Spelling: (soos) Short Definition: crane. crane, horseback, ...
/hebrew/5483.htm - 5k

3859. laham -- to swallow greedily
... 3858b, 3859. laham. 3860 . to swallow greedily. Transliteration: laham Phonetic
Spelling: (law-ham') Short Definition: morsels. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3859.htm - 5k

5693. agur -- (a kind of bird) perhaps a crane
... swallow. Passive part (but with active sense) of an unused root meaning to twitter:
probably the swallow -- swallow. 5692, 5693. agur. 5694 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/5693.htm - 6k

Library

The Swallow
... The Swallow. I am fond of the swallow"I learn from her flight, Had I skill to improve
it, a lesson of love: How seldom on earth do we see her alight! ...
/.../cowper/translations from the french of madame de la mothe guion/the swallow.htm

Death Swallowed up in victory
... shall come. Then this destroyer shall be destroyed; he shall swallow no
more, but be swallowed up himself, in victory. Thus the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xliii death swallowed up.htm

On the Symbols of Pythagoras.
... For instance, the Samian counsels "not to have a swallow in the house;" that is,
not to receive a loquacious, whispering, garrulous man, who cannot contain ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter v on the symbols of.htm

Note what Jesus Says.
... They don't believe, in the swallowing of Jonah. They say it is impossible
that a whale could swallow Jonah"its throat is too small. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/note what jesus says.htm

Final Considerations to Induce to Exomologesis.
... with dittany. The swallow, if she blinds her young, knows how to give them
eyes again by means of her own swallow-wort. [8529] Shall ...
/.../tertullian/on repentance/chapter xii final considerations to induce.htm

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 to swallow it; so when the ...
/.../a short method of prayer and spiritual torrents/chapter ii first degree of.htm

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 and swallow the food ...
/.../guyon/a short and easy method of prayer/chapter ii the method of.htm

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 to swallow up all cries.". "But that won ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 7 i must not.htm

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 to swallow you up, and ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter l to geoffrey of.htm

Sparrows and Altars
... VOLUME II: PSALMS LI to CXLV SPARROWS AND ALTARS. 'Yea, the sparrow hath found an
house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/sparrows and altars.htm

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 ...
/s/swallow.htm - 24k

Crane (2 Occurrences)
... the words. "Crane or swallow" should be "swallow or crane," as in the Revised
Version. The rendering is there correct. The Hebrew ...
/c/crane.htm - 12k

Gulp (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To swallow eagerly, or in large draughts;
to swallow up; to take down at one swallow. 2. (n.) The ...
/g/gulp.htm - 6k

Sparrow (4 Occurrences)
... Another exquisite song describes the bird in its secure and happy hour: "Yea, the
sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she ...
/s/sparrow.htm - 13k

Gnat (1 Occurrence)
... "Strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel ... Multi-Version Concordance Gnat (1 Occurrence).
Matthew 23:24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! ...
/g/gnat.htm - 10k

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 to swallow it up...Job ...
/w/whale.htm - 13k

Nest (22 Occurrences)
... In Psalm 84:3 David sings, "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 ...
/n/nest.htm - 18k

Trample (34 Occurrences)
... in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day
long, he attacks and oppresses me. (See NAS RSV). Psalms ...
/t/trample.htm - 16k

Camel (13 Occurrences)
... To strain at (rather, out) a gnat and swallow a camel was also a proverbial expression
(Matthew 23:24), used with reference to those who were careful to avoid ...
/c/camel.htm - 21k

Gorge (19 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) The groove of a pulley. 9. (n.) To swallow; especially, to swallow
with greediness, or in large mouthfuls or quantities. 10. ...
/g/gorge.htm - 12k

Resources
Can a Christian be cursed? Will God allow a curse on a believer? | GotQuestions.org

What similarities are there between the Gilgamesh flood account and the biblical flood account? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that Jesus Christ conquered death? | GotQuestions.org

Swallow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Swallow (38 Occurrences)

Matthew 23:24
You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 12:40
and who swallow up the property of widows and then mask their wickedness by making long prayers: these men will receive far heavier punishment."
(WEY)

Luke 20:47
who swallow up the property of widows and mask their wickedness by making long prayers. They will be punished far more severely than others."
(WEY)

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up,
(YLT)

Revelation 12:16
The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Genesis 24:17
And the servant runneth to meet her, and saith, 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher;'
(YLT)

Genesis 25:30
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage . For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom.
(See JPS NAS)

Genesis 41:7
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:24
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me."
(Root in WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 14:9
Only don't rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don't fear them."
(See NIV)

Numbers 16:30
But if Yahweh make a new thing, and the ground open its mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain to them, and they go down alive into Sheol; then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 16:34
All Israel that were around them fled at the cry of them; for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV(

2 Samuel 20:19
I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 20:20
Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 2:3
And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from evil? and still he remaineth firm in his integrity, though thou movedst me against him, to swallow him up without cause.
(DBY YLT)

Job 7:19
How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Job 10:8
Thy hands have bound me together and made me as one, round about; yet dost thou swallow me up!
(DBY YLT)

Job 20:18
That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 21:9
You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. Yahweh will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 55:9
Swallow them up, Lord; divide their tongue: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
(DBY YLT)

Psalms 56:1
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant Lands." A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 56:2
My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 57:3
He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 69:15
Don't let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don't let the pit shut its mouth on me.
(WEB KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 84:3
Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 1:12
let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Isaiah 25:7
And swallowed up hath He in this mountain The face of the wrapping that is wrapped over all the peoples, And of the covering that is spread over all the nations.
(Root in YLT NAS)

Isaiah 25:8
He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 38:14
I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 42:14
I have kept silent from of old, I keep silent, I refrain myself, As a travailing woman I cry out, I desolate and swallow up together.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 8:7
Yes, the stork in the sky knows her appointed times; and the turtledove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people don't know Yahweh's law.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Hosea 8:7
For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Amos 8:4
Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Obadiah 1:16
For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so will all the nations drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Jonah 1:17
Yahweh prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Habakkuk 1:13
You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously, and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
(Root in WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Swallow

Swallow: Builds Its Nest in the Sanctuary

Swallow: Chattering of, Figurative of the Mourning of the Afflicted

Swallow: Migration of

Related Terms

Crane (2 Occurrences)

Gulp (1 Occurrence)

Sparrow (4 Occurrences)

Gnat (1 Occurrence)

Whale (2 Occurrences)

Nest (22 Occurrences)

Trample (34 Occurrences)

Camel (13 Occurrences)

Gorge (19 Occurrences)

Wickedness (232 Occurrences)

Trampled (41 Occurrences)

Engulf (5 Occurrences)

Drink (414 Occurrences)

Mask (3 Occurrences)

Chatter (5 Occurrences)

Spittle (3 Occurrences)

Strain (5 Occurrences)

Serpent (40 Occurrences)

Bird (65 Occurrences)

Property (212 Occurrences)

Stork (6 Occurrences)

Making (644 Occurrences)

Pit (110 Occurrences)

Swallowing (6 Occurrences)

Swallowed (43 Occurrences)

Dove (27 Occurrences)

Jonah (30 Occurrences)

Sheol (64 Occurrences)

Swift (35 Occurrences)

Devour (118 Occurrences)

Daily (111 Occurrences)

Yields (21 Occurrences)

Quaff (1 Occurrence)

Zoology

Zippor (7 Occurrences)

Needle (4 Occurrences)

Undeserved (1 Occurrence)

Uneaten (1 Occurrence)

Overflow (43 Occurrences)

Ostrich (9 Occurrences)

Overwhelm (18 Occurrences)

Oppresses (6 Occurrences)

Opponent (13 Occurrences)

Oaks (14 Occurrences)

Opens (30 Occurrences)

Oppresseth (8 Occurrences)

Outcry (56 Occurrences)

Jonath-elem-rehokim (1 Occurrence)

Jonathelem-rechokim (1 Occurrence)

Yielding (19 Occurrences)

Labored (35 Occurrences)

Laboured (34 Occurrences)

Locust (25 Occurrences)

Guides (24 Occurrences)

Glutton (4 Occurrences)

Gluttonous (4 Occurrences)

Weaken (5 Occurrences)

Waterflood (2 Occurrences)

Water-flood (1 Occurrence)

Instant (19 Occurrences)

Flying (22 Occurrences)

Flitting (1 Occurrence)

Fluttering (3 Occurrences)

Foemen (1 Occurrence)

Turtle (5 Occurrences)

Thrush (2 Occurrences)

Totally (27 Occurrences)

Terebinths (12 Occurrences)

Take (11064 Occurrences)

Turtledove (5 Occurrences)

Taunteth (4 Occurrences)

Tune (15 Occurrences)

Turtle-dove (5 Occurrences)

Twitter (1 Occurrence)

Runneth (36 Occurrences)

Reproacheth (12 Occurrences)

Rehokim (2 Occurrences)

Returns (27 Occurrences)

Entirely (39 Occurrences)

Swaddling-clothes
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