### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻayiṭ**, represented by `{{H5861}}`, refers to a **hawk or other bird of prey**. It appears **8 times** in **6 unique verses**, often translated as "fowl," "bird," or "ravenous bird." The term is used to describe literal birds of prey as well as to serve as a powerful symbol for forces of judgment and the natural world.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H5861}}` appears in both narrative and prophetic contexts. In a literal sense, Abram drives away the **fowls** `{{H5861}}` that descend upon his sacrifice, protecting the sanctity of his offering [[Genesis 15:11]]. More frequently, it is used metaphorically. God is depicted as calling a "ravenous **bird**" `{{H5861}}` from the east to execute His counsel [[Isaiah 46:11]]. In passages of judgment, the bodies of the wicked are left for the **fowls** `{{H5861}}` of the mountains to consume ([[Isaiah 18:6]], [[Ezekiel 39:4]]). The word also represents the limits of natural knowledge, describing a path that "no **fowl** knoweth" [[Job 28:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the role and context of `{{H5861}}`:
* `{{H344}}` **ʼayâh** (the screamer, i.e. a hawk; kite, vulture): This term for another type of raptor appears in [[Job 28:7]] alongside `{{H5861}}`, emphasizing that even the most keen-eyed birds cannot perceive God's hidden paths.
* `{{H2416}}` **chay** (life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; (wild) beast): This word for "beasts" is often paired with `{{H5861}}`, as seen in [[Jeremiah 12:9]] and [[Ezekiel 39:4]], where birds of prey and beasts of the field are both summoned to devour.
* `{{H402}}` **ʼoklâh** (food; consume, devour, eat, food, meat): This noun describes the purpose for which the ravenous birds are gathered. In [[Ezekiel 39:4]], the fallen armies are given to the birds "to be devoured" `{{H402}}`, linking the creature directly to the act of consumption in judgment.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5861}}` is seen in its symbolic applications.
* **Instrument of Divine Judgment:** The ravenous bird is used as an agent of God's will. God calls `{{H7121}}` the **bird** `{{H5861}}` to fulfill his purpose [[Isaiah 46:11]] and gives the fallen to the birds to be devoured [[Ezekiel 39:4]], illustrating divine sovereignty over life and death.
* **Symbol of Desolation and Conflict:** In [[Jeremiah 12:9]], God’s heritage is compared to a speckled **bird** `{{H5861}}` that other **birds** `{{H5861}}` are against, a potent metaphor for being isolated, attacked, and made vulnerable.
* **Benchmark for Natural Limitation:** [[Job 28:7]] uses the **fowl** `{{H5861}}` to represent the peak of creaturely perception. By stating there is a path this bird does not know, the text elevates God's wisdom far beyond the limits of the natural world.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5861}}` is more than just a zoological term. While it can refer to a literal bird of prey as seen with Abram [[Genesis 15:11]], its primary significance is found in its use as a symbol. It functions as an executor of God’s judgment, a metaphor for devastating conflict, and a standard against which the unsearchable wisdom of God is measured. The word **ʻayiṭ** demonstrates how scripture employs elements of the created order to reveal profound truths about divine power and purpose.
TRV