The pelican is a large water bird known for its distinctive long beak and large throat pouch, which it uses for catching fish. In the Bible, the pelican is mentioned in several contexts, often symbolizing desolation and abandonment. The pelican's presence in the Scriptures provides insight into the natural world as understood in biblical times and serves as a metaphor for certain spiritual and emotional states.

Leviticus 11:18; Deuteronomy 14:17
In the Mosaic Law, the pelican is listed among the unclean birds that the Israelites were forbidden to eat. "The stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat" (Leviticus 11:19) are also mentioned alongside the pelican, indicating its classification among birds that were not to be consumed due to their scavenging nature and association with unclean environments.

Psalm 102:6
The psalmist uses the pelican to express a deep sense of loneliness and desolation: "I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert" . Here, the pelican is depicted as a solitary creature, dwelling in desolate places, which reflects the psalmist's feelings of isolation and abandonment. This imagery underscores the emotional depth and vividness of the psalmist's lament.

Isaiah 34:11
In a prophetic vision concerning the judgment of Edom, Isaiah describes a scene of utter desolation where the pelican is one of the creatures inhabiting the ruins: "The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will dwell in it" . The presence of the pelican in this context emphasizes the complete devastation and abandonment of the land, as it becomes a haunt for creatures associated with desolation.

Zephaniah 2:14
Zephaniah prophesies the destruction of Nineveh, where the pelican is again mentioned as a symbol of desolation: "Flocks and herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns" . The imagery of the pelican and other birds inhabiting the ruins of a once-great city serves as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and the consequences of sin.

In these scriptural references, the pelican is consistently associated with themes of desolation, judgment, and the consequences of turning away from God. Its depiction as a solitary and unclean bird serves as a poignant reminder of the spiritual desolation that can result from sin and disobedience.Leviticus 11:18
And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
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Deuteronomy 14:17
And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant,
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Psalm 102:6
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
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The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... the understanding also,' in which he proves from the sacred scriptures that prayer ...
called his garments, in Revelation the first, and in the general they show us ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... I told you then, also, what I saw concerning his wife and children, and how unwilling
they were to go with him on pilgrimage, insomuch that he was forced to go ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

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