The falcon is a bird of prey mentioned in the Bible, known for its keen eyesight and swift flight. In the biblical context, the falcon is often associated with themes of discernment and divine provision. The Hebrew word often translated as "falcon" is "נֵץ" (netz), which can also refer to other birds of prey.

Biblical References:

1. Leviticus 11:13-19: In the dietary laws given to the Israelites, the falcon is listed among the birds that are considered unclean and not to be eaten. The passage states: "These you shall regard as detestable among the birds; they must not be eaten, for they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the kite, any kind of falcon..." . This inclusion highlights the falcon's role in the natural order as a predator, which, according to the Mosaic Law, rendered it unsuitable for consumption.

2. Deuteronomy 14:12-18: This passage reiterates the dietary restrictions concerning birds, again listing the falcon among those that are unclean. The repetition of these laws underscores the importance of ritual purity and obedience to God's commandments for the Israelites.

3. Job 28:7: The falcon is indirectly referenced in a passage that speaks to the hidden wisdom and understanding of God. The verse states: "No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it" . Here, the falcon's exceptional vision is used metaphorically to illustrate the limits of human understanding compared to divine wisdom.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical symbolism, the falcon's sharp vision and ability to soar high in the sky can represent insight and the ability to perceive spiritual truths. However, its classification as an unclean bird also serves as a reminder of the distinction between the holy and the profane, a recurring theme in the Old Testament.

The falcon's role as a predator can be seen as a reflection of God's provision in the natural world, where each creature has its place and purpose. This understanding aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereignty over creation.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, birds of prey like the falcon were often associated with royalty and power due to their hunting prowess and majestic flight. This cultural backdrop may have influenced the biblical writers' use of the falcon as a symbol of discernment and divine insight.

The falcon's presence in the biblical text, though limited, invites reflection on the natural order and the moral and spiritual lessons that can be drawn from observing God's creation.1. (n.) One of a family (Falconidae) of raptorial birds, characterized by a short, hooked beak, strong claws, and powerful flight.

2. (n.) Any species of the genus Falco, distinguished by having a toothlike lobe on the upper mandible; especially, one of this genus trained to the pursuit of other birds, or game.

3. (n.) An ancient form of cannon.

FALCON

fo'-k'-n, fol'-k'-n, fal'-kun: The Hebrews did not know the word. Their bird corresponding to our falcon, in all probability, was one of the smaller kestrels covered by the word nets, which seemed to cover all lesser birds of prey that we include in the hawk family. That some of our many divisions of species were known to them is indicated by the phrase "after its kind." The word occurs in the Revised Version (British and American) in Job 28:7, to translation 'ayyah, Greek gups (compare Leviticus 11:14 Deuteronomy 14:13):

"That path no bird of prey knoweth,

Neither hath the falcon's eye seen it."

This substitutes "falcon" for "vulture" in the King James Version. The change weakens the force of the lines. All ornithologists know that eagles, vultures and the large hawks have such range of vision that they at once descend from heights at which we cannot see them to take prey on earth or food placed to tempt them. The falcons and sparrow hawks are small members of the family, some of which feed on little birds, some on insects. They are not celebrated for greater range of vision than other birds of the same location and feeding habits. The strength of these lines lay in the fact that if the path to the mine were so well concealed that the piercing eye of the vulture failed to find it, then it was perfectly hidden indeed.

Gene Stratton-Porter

344. ayyah -- a hawk, falcon, kite
... 343, 344. ayyah. 345 . a hawk, falcon, kite. Transliteration: ayyah
Phonetic Spelling: (ah-yaw') Short Definition: falcon. Word ...
/hebrew/344.htm - 6k

5322b. nets -- hawk, falcon (a bird of prey)
... 5322a, 5322b. nets. 5323 . hawk, falcon (a bird of prey). Transliteration:
nets Short Definition: hawk. Word Origin from an unused ...
/hebrew/5322b.htm - 5k

345. Ayyah -- "falcon," the name of a Horite, also of an Israelite
... 344, 345. Ayyah. 346 . "falcon," the name of a Horite, also of an Israelite.
Transliteration: Ayyah Phonetic Spelling: (ah-yaw') Short Definition: Aiah. ...
/hebrew/345.htm - 6k

1772. dayyah -- perhaps a kite (a bird of prey)
... vulture. Intensive from da'ah; a falcon (from its rapid flight) -- vulture. see
HEBREW da'ah. 1771, 1772. dayyah. 1773 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1772.htm - 6k

Whether Adam in the State of Innocence had Mastership Over the ...
... animals was not changed by man's sin, as if those whose nature now it is to devour
the flesh of others, would then have lived on herbs, as the lion and falcon. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether adam in the state 2.htm

Of the Divine Providence in General.
... perish by the fall of some house, kept himself all that day in the open country,
to escape his fate, and as he was standing up bareheaded, a falcon which held ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii of the divine.htm

Of the Second Consideration of the Sacred, Holy Stigmata
... For, through all that Lent, a falcon, whose nest was hard by his cell, awakened
him every night a little before the hour of Matins by her cry and the flapping ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/of the second consideration of.htm

Modern Library of the World's Best Books
... Sorrows of Werther (In Collected German Stories 108) GOGOL, NIKOLAI Dead Souls 40
GRAVES, ROBERT I, Claudius 20 HAMMETT, DASHIELL The Maltese Falcon 45 HAMSUN ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/modern library of the worlds.htm

What the Soul Ought to do in Internal Recollection.
... they are fought after, the Soul being drawn outwards to the external faculties)
there is no necessity of renewing them, as the mystical Falcon hath excellently ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap xiii what the soul.htm

The Knight's Leap: a Legend of Altenahr
... 'So now to show bishop, and burgher, and priest, How the Altenahr hawk can die:
If they smoke the old falcon out of his nest, He must take to his wings and fly ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the knights leap a legend.htm

How the Will Variously Governs the Powers of the Soul.
... If a slave be called he comes, if he be told to stop, he stops; but we must not
expect this obedience from a sparrowhawk or falcon: he that desires it should ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii how the will.htm

How Love is Practised in Hope.
... And as the unhooded falcon having her prey in view suddenly launches herself upon
the wing, and if held in her leash struggles upon the hand with extreme ardour ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xvi how love is.htm

The Sethian Theory Concerning "Mixture" and "Composition ...
... towards their own peculiar (substances), as iron towards the magnet, and the chaff
to the vicinity of amber, and the gold to the spur [554] of the sea falcon. ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xvi the sethian theory concerning.htm

Compendious Statement of the Doctrines of the Perat??.
... in every direction towards itself; nay rather, as the magnet (attracting) the iron
and not anything else, or just as the backbone of the sea falcon, the gold ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xii compendious statement of the.htm

Falcon (2 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) An ancient form of cannon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FALCON.
fo'-k'-n, fol'-k'-n, fal'-kun: The Hebrews did not know the word. ...
/f/falcon.htm - 8k

Falcon's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Falcon's (1 Occurrence). Job 28:7 That path no bird of
prey knows, neither has the falcon's eye seen it. (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/falcon's.htm - 6k

Kite (3 Occurrences)
... 14:13). The Hebrew word used, 'ayet, is rendered "vulture" in Job 28:7
in Authorized Version, "falcon" in Revised Version. It is ...
/k/kite.htm - 9k

Vulture (16 Occurrences)
... vulture" in the King James Version, the Septuagint elaphos, Vulgate (Jerome's Latin
Bible, 390-405 AD) correctly milous) are changed to "falcon" and "kite ...
/v/vulture.htm - 14k

Unclean (393 Occurrences)
... kite." Doubtless the three words, ha-da'ah, ha-'ayyah and ha-dayyah, are generic
and refer to different birds of the kite or perhaps falcon family, so it is ...
/u/unclean.htm - 39k

Gentle (48 Occurrences)
... gallop . 6. (n.) One well born; a gentleman. 7. (n.) A trained falcon. See
Falcon-gentil. 8. (n.) A dipterous larva used as fish bait. ...
/g/gentle.htm - 20k

Hawk (6 Occurrences)
... of the Dead Sea and over the ruins of deserted cities, seemed to be closest in
appearance to the birds we include in the general term "falcon." Their ate mice ...
/h/hawk.htm - 14k

Kinds (110 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Leviticus 11:14 and the kite, and the falcon after its kind, (See
JPS). Leviticus 11:15 every raven after its kind, (See JPS). ...
/k/kinds.htm - 36k

Birds (125 Occurrences)
... among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and
the gier-eagle, and the osprey, and the kite, and the falcon after its kind ...
/b/birds.htm - 62k

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