Lexical Summary peteinon: Bird, fowl Original Word: πετεινόν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bird, fowl. Neuter of a derivative of petomai; a flying animal, i.e. Bird -- bird, fowl. see GREEK petomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom peteinos; from petomai Definition winged NASB Translation birds (14). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4071: πετεινόςπετεινός, πετεινη, πετεινόν (Attic for πετηνος, from πέτομαι),.flying, winged; in the N. T. found only in neuter plural πετεινά and τά πετεινά, as a substantive, flying or winged animals, birds: Matthew 13:4; Mark 4:4 (G L T Tr WH); Luke 12:24; Romans 1:23; James 3:7; τά πετεινά τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (the Sept. for הַשָׁמַיִם עוף; see οὐρανός, 1 b.), the birds of heaven, i. e. flying in the heavens (air), Matthew 6:26; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 13:32; Mark 4:4 (Rec), Topical Lexicon General Survey of New-Testament Occurrences Strong’s number 4071 gathers fourteen uses of the word for “birds,” spread across the Gospels, Acts, Romans, and James. In every instance the writers employ common bird life to display divine truths—ranging from God’s fatherly provision, to the mystery of the kingdom, to the missionary opening of the Gentiles, to ethical exhortation. Creation, Providence, and Trust (Matthew 6:26; Luke 12:24) In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus directs anxious hearers to “Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). Luke’s parallel adds that birds “have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them” (Luke 12:24). The argument is a fortiori: if the Father faithfully sustains even these small, seemingly insignificant creatures, how much more will He sustain His covenant people. This appeal does not encourage passivity; rather, it leads believers to diligent labor freed from faithless worry, resting in the character of God revealed from Genesis onward (Genesis 8:22; Psalm 104:10-17). Discipleship and Costly Commitment (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58) When a would-be follower approaches Jesus, He responds, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). The secure habitations of birds expose the voluntary homelessness of the Messiah and warn disciples that allegiance to Him surpasses earthly comfort. The imagery underscores the Incarnation’s self-emptying (Philippians 2:6-8) and summons believers to similar sacrificial devotion. Parables of the Sower and the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:4, 32; Mark 4:4, 32; Luke 8:5; 13:19) 1. Sower: In each Synoptic account birds devour seed fallen by the path. Jesus later interprets the birds as “the evil one” (Matthew 13:19) or “Satan” (Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12) who snatches the word before it can germinate. The takeaway for Christian ministry is twofold: proclaimers must scatter the gospel widely, and hearers must guard the heart lest the adversary remove saving truth. Peter’s Vision and the Mission to the Gentiles (Acts 10:12; 11:6) Peter’s rooftop vision includes “all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and birds of the air.” The command to “kill and eat” overturns ceremonial distinctions and prepares Peter to welcome Cornelius. Birds here function within the wider menagerie to depict the totality of creation now declared clean through Christ. The repetition in Acts 11:6 emphasizes divine intentionality, strengthening the apostolic conviction that “God shows no favoritism” (Acts 10:34). Idolatry Exposed (Romans 1:23) Paul indicts humanity for exchanging “the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:23). Birds stand among the catalog of created forms that pagans deified. The apostle’s argument, rooted in Genesis 1’s hierarchy, brands such worship as a tragic inversion: instead of stewarding birds, sinners bow to them. The verse underscores the need for gospel proclamation to redirect worship toward the Creator through Christ. The Untamable Tongue (James 3:7) James observes, “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by man” (James 3:7), yet the human tongue remains stubbornly wild. Birds serve as one quadrant of the created order subjugated under mankind’s Genesis mandate. By contrast the tongue, though small, resists control apart from sanctifying grace, calling believers to Spirit-enabled speech that blesses rather than curses. Theological Synthesis 1. Providence: Birds testify daily to God’s meticulous care, inviting believers into freedom from anxiety. Historical and Cultural Notes First-century Palestine teemed with sparrows, pigeons, doves, and migratory species. Birds were trapped for food (Matthew 10:29), used in sacrifice (Leviticus 14:22), and featured in rabbinic parables. Jesus’ outdoor teaching likely occurred within sight and sound of such creatures, lending immediacy to His illustrations. Roman culture also employed bird augury, heightening Paul’s polemic against idolatry in Romans 1. Pastoral Application • Encourage believers to cultivate “creation-awareness,” letting commonplace birds redirect thought to the Father’s faithfulness. Forms and Transliterations πετεινα πετεινά πετεινὰ πετεινοίς πετεινόν πετεινού πετεινώ πετεινων πετεινών πετεινῶν peteina peteinà peteinon peteinôn peteinōn peteinō̂nLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 6:26 N-ANPGRK: εἰς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ NAS: Look at the birds of the air, KJV: Behold the fowls of the air: for INT: at the birds of the air Matthew 8:20 N-NNP Matthew 13:4 N-NNP Matthew 13:32 N-ANP Mark 4:4 N-NNP Mark 4:32 N-ANP Luke 8:5 N-NNP Luke 9:58 N-NNP Luke 12:24 N-GNP Luke 13:19 N-NNP Acts 10:12 N-NNP Acts 11:6 N-ANP Romans 1:23 N-GNP James 3:7 N-GNP Strong's Greek 4071 |
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