### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nesher**, represented by `{{H5404}}`, is defined as the **eagle** or another large bird of prey. Its definition comes from an unused root meaning to lacerate. This term appears **26 times** across **26 unique verses** in the Bible. It is used to symbolize great speed, height, strength, and is often employed in descriptions of God's judgment and His care for His people.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical imagery, `{{H5404}}` is used to illustrate several powerful concepts. It represents the swiftness of an invading army, as when the LORD brings a nation from afar "as swift as the **eagle** flieth" [[Deuteronomy 28:49]]. It symbolizes God's protective deliverance, where He tells Israel "I bare you on **eagles**' wings, and brought you unto myself" [[Exodus 19:4]]. The eagle also serves as a metaphor for spiritual renewal for those who wait on the LORD, who "shall mount up with wings as **eagles**" [[Isaiah 40:31]]. Finally, it is one of the four faces of the living creatures seen in visions, alongside the man, the lion, and the ox [[Ezekiel 1:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words enhance the meaning associated with the eagle:
* `{{H1361}}` **gâbahh** (to soar, be lofty): This word describes the eagle's characteristic high flight and nesting. It is used to warn against pride, stating, "Though thou exalt thyself as the **eagle**... thence will I bring thee down" [[Obadiah 1:4]].
* `{{H5927}}` **ʻâlâh** (to ascend, mount): This term is directly linked to the eagle's upward movement, symbolizing a rise in strength. It appears in the promise that those who wait for the Lord "shall **mount up** with wings as eagles" [[Isaiah 40:31]].
* `{{H1675}}` **dâʼâh** (to dart, i.e. fly rapidly): This captures the eagle's speed, often in the context of a swift enemy. An invading nation is described as flying rapidly like an eagle [[Deuteronomy 28:49]], and a conqueror is said to "come up and **fly** as the eagle" [[Jeremiah 49:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5404}}` is significant and multifaceted.
* **Divine Judgment:** The eagle's speed and predatory nature are used to symbolize the swift and terrifying arrival of God's judgment through enemy nations ([[Deuteronomy 28:49]], [[Hosea 8:1]]).
* **God's Tender Care:** In a contrasting image, God's relationship with Israel is compared to an eagle caring for its young, stirring up its nest and bearing them on its wings [[Deuteronomy 32:11]]. This demonstrates His protection and guidance.
* **Spiritual Strength and Renewal:** The eagle is a powerful symbol of renewed vitality and spiritual elevation. Believers find their strength renewed and "mount up with wings as eagles" [[Isaiah 40:31]], and their youth is renewed "like the eagle's" [[Psalms 103:5]].
* **Pride and Humbling:** The high-flying eagle is used as a metaphor for human pride and self-exaltation, which the Lord promises to bring down ([[Jeremiah 49:16]], [[Obadiah 1:4]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5404}}` is a rich biblical term that conveys far more than the image of a bird. It is a dual-sided symbol, representing both the fearsome, swift agent of divine judgment and the gentle, powerful image of God's personal care and deliverance. From the swiftness of invading armies to the height of human pride and the promise of spiritual renewal, the **nesher** serves as a vivid illustration of God's power, justice, and mercy.
TRV