Stork

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

תסידה , Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18; Job 39:13; Psalms 104:17; Jeremiah 8:7; Zechariah 5:9; a bird similar to the crane in size, has the same formation as to the bill, neck, legs, and body, but is rather more corpulent. The colour of the crane is ash and black; that of the stork is white and brown. The nails of its toes are also very peculiar; not being clawed like those of other birds, but flat like the nails of a man. It has a very long beak, and long red legs. It feeds upon serpents, frogs, and insects, and on this account might be reckoned by Moses among unclean birds. As it seeks for these in watery places, nature has provided it with long legs; and as it flies away, as well as the crane and heron, to its nest with its plunder, therefore its bill is strong and jagged, the sharp hooks of which enable it to retain its slippery prey. It has long been remarkable for its love to its parents, whom it never forsakes, but tenderly feeds and cherishes when they have become old, and unable to provide for themselves. The very learned and judicious Bochart has collected a variety of passages from the ancients, in which they testify this curious particular. Its very name in the Hebrew language, chasida, signifies mercy or piety: and its English name is taken, if not directly, yet secondarily, through the Saxon, from the Greek word στοργη , which is often used for natural affection.

The stork's an emblem of true piety; Because, when age has seized and made his dam

Unfit for flight, the grateful young one takes His mother on his back, provides her food, Repaying thus her tender care of him

Ere he was fit to fly.

BEAUMONT.

It is a bird of passage, and is spoken of as such in Scripture: "The stork knoweth her appointed time," Jeremiah 8:7 .

Who bid the stork, Columbus like, explore

Heavens not its own, and worlds unknown before?

Who calls the council, states the certain day, Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way?

POPE.

Bochart has collected several testimonies of the migration of storks. AElian says, that in summer time they remain stationary, but at the close of autumn they repair to Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia. "For about the space of a fortnight before they pass from one country to another," says Dr. Shaw, "they constantly resort together, from all the adjacent parts, in a certain plain; and there forming themselves, once every day, into a ‘douwanne,' or council, (according to the phrase of these eastern nations,) are said to determine the exact time of their departure, and the place of their future abodes." See SWALLOW .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Stork. (Hebrew, chasidah). A large bird of passage of the heron family; one of the largest and most conspicuous of land birds, standing nearly four feet high, the jet black of its wings and its bright red beak and legs contrasting finely with the pure white of its plumage. Zechariah 6:9. In the neighborhood of man, it devours readily all kinds of offal and garbage. For this reason, doubtless, it is placed in the list of unclean birds by the Mosaic law. Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18.

The range of the white stork extends over the whole of Europe, except the British isles, where it is now a rare visitant, and over northern Africa and Asia, as far at least as Burmah. The black stork, (Ciconia nigra), though less abundant in places, is scarcely less widely distributed, but has a more easterly range than its congener. Both species are very numerous in Palestine. While the black stork is never found about buildings, but prefers marshy places in forests and breeds on the tops of the loftiest trees, the white stork attaches itself to man, and, for the service which it renders in the destruction of reptiles and the removal of offal, it has been repaid from the earliest times by protection and reverence.

The derivation of chasidah, (from chesed, "kindness"). Points to the paternal and filial attachment of which the stork seems to have been a type, among the Hebrews, no less than the Greeks and Romans. It was believed that the young repaid the care of their parents by attaching themselves to them for life, and tending them in old age. That the parental attachment of the stork is very strong has been proved on many occasions, Few migratory birds are more punctual to the time of their reappearance than the white stork. The stork has no note, and the only sound it emits is that caused by the sudden snapping of its long mandibles.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Four feet high, with jet black wings and bright red beak and legs (Zechariah 5:9). Chacidah , the white stork, Ciconia , alba , unclean because of its unclean feeding (Leviticus 11:19). From Hebrew chacid , "dutiful," "piously affectionate." The black stork is more common in the East (but Septuagint translated "heron".) Its confiding nature toward man, its utility in clearing away offal and reptiles, its attachment to its young, and kindness to the old and feeble, its grave contemplative look, and its predilection for pinnacles of temples, mosques, and churches, have made it in all ages an object of man's special regard and protection; so that in Thessaly it was a capital crime to kill a stork (Pliny, H. N. 10:21).

In the burning of Delft formerly, and more lately in the battle of Friedland, a mother stork, having vainly tried to extricate her young, perished in the flames herself. The stork punctually observes "her appointed times" of migration at the end of March and beginning of April; in Holland she remains until October. Storks' nests, unless disturbed, are rebuilt for generations on the same site (Jeremiah 8:7). Regularly they return every spring from their winter abodes in sunnier climes, but God's people will not return to Him even when "the winter" of His wrath is past and He invites them back to "the spring" of His favor. They build their large nests in lofty trees, in the absence of lofty towers and ruins, to which their liking for man's society attracts them (Psalms 104:17). (On Job 39:13, sSee OSTRICH.)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Its Hebrew name signifies kindness or mercy, and its Greek name natural affection, probably because of the tenderness which it is said to manifest towards its parents-never, as is reported, forsaking them, but feeding and defending them in their decrepitude. In modern times, parent storks are known to have perished in the effort to rescue their young from flames; and it has been a popular, but perhaps ill-founded opinion, that in their migratory flights, the leader of the flock when fatigued is partially supported by others as he falls into the rear. In Jeremiah 8:7 , allusion is made to the unerring instinct of the stork as a bird of passage, and perhaps to its lofty flight: "the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times." Moses places it among unclean birds, Leviticus 11:19 Deuteronomy 14:18 . The psalmist says, "As for the stork, the fir-trees are her house," Psalm 104:17 . In the climate of Europe, she commonly builds her nest on some high tower or ruin, or on the top of a house; but in Palestine, where the coverings of the houses are flat, she builds in high trees.

The stork has the beak and legs long and red; it feeds on field mice, lizards, snakes, frogs, and insects. Its plumage would be wholly white, but that the extremities of its wings, and some small part of its head and thighs, are black. It sits for the space of thirty days, and lays but four eggs. Storks migrate to southern countries in August, and return in the spring. They are still the objects of much veneration among the common people in some parts of Europe and Asia.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

chasidah. There are three particulars mentioned in scripture respecting this bird.

1. It makes its nest in the fir trees. Psalm 104:17 . This agrees with the stork; it is a large bird, and selects a tree that is high and yet one that will well support its nest.

2. It is represented as in the heaven. Jeremiah 8:7 . The stork flies very high, especially when migrating.

3. It has powerful wings. Zechariah 5:9 . This also agrees with the stork, its wings extending to more than six feet. The same Hebrew word occurs in Job 39:13; see margin.

The word chasidah is kindred to the word translated 'merciful,' and the bird is remarkable for its tender care, not only of its young, but of the aged. In the Levitical list it is classed among the unclean birds. Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18 . This we might expect, as it feeds upon mice, snakes, and other reptiles, etc.

Both the black stork ( ciconia nigra ), and the white stork ( c. alba ) are numerous in Palestine. The former associate together in secluded and marshy districts, often in flocks. White storks prefer the habitations of man, where they roam about the streets, devouring the offal. They are much respected, and it would fare ill with any one who would injure them. In some places they are of much value on account of their attacks upon the serpents.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

STORK ( chăs îdâh , Leviticus 11:19 , Deuteronomy 14:18 , Job 39:13 , Psalms 104:17 , Jeremiah 8:7 , Zechariah 5:9 ). The stork (Arab [Note: Arabic.] , abu said ‘father of good luck’) is a bird much loved in Palestine, where in its migration northwards it arrives in the spring ( Jeremiah 8:7 ); it does great good by clearing the crops of caterpillars and locusts: when the storks arrive plentifully, it is anticipated that the harvests will be unusually good. These birds may be seen walking through the grain or circling round and round in groups high in the heavens. No doubt this powerful flight caused its wings to be noted ( Job 39:13 , Zechariah 5:8 ). No native would dream of harming it; its sacred character may have caused it to be an ‘unclean’ bird ( Leviticus 11:19 , Deuteronomy 14:18 ). Its Heb. name, implying ‘lovingkindness,’ was given because of its tender care of its young. The above remarks apply specially to the white stork ( Ciconia alba ); a black stork ( C. nigra ) has also been identified in the Holy Land.

E. W. G. Masterman.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Stork, the pious. A bird of passage, much like the crane, but larger. It feeds on insects, snails, frogs, and offal, and was reckoned among unclean birds. The common stork (Ciconia alba) stands nearly four feet high, and is white except the extremities of the wings, which are black. Its long legs enable it to seek its food in the water as well as on the land, and its bill is so formed as to retain its slippery prey. In Palestine it builds its nest on trees. Psalms 104:17. "The beauty and power of the stork's wings are seized on as an illustration by Zechariah:'The wind was in their wings, for they had wings like the wings of a stork.' Zechariah 5:9. The black pinions of the stork, suddenly expanded from their white body, have a striking effect, having a spread of nearly seven feet, and the bird on the wing, showing its long, bright-red bill and steering itself by its long red legs, stretched out far behind its tail, is a noble sight. The stork has no organs of voice, and the only sound it emits is caused by the sharp and rapid snapping of its bill, like the rattle of castanets."—Tristram.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Leviticus 11:19Deuteronomy 14:18Jeremiah 8:7

In Job 39:13 (A.V.), instead of the expression "or wings and feathers unto the ostrich" (marg., "the feathers of the stork and ostrich"), the Revised Version has "are her pinions and feathers kindly" (marg., instead of "kindly," reads "like the stork's"). The object of this somewhat obscure verse seems to be to point out a contrast between the stork, as distinguished for her affection for her young, and the ostrich, as distinguished for her indifference.

( Zechariah 5:9 ) alludes to the beauty and power of the stork's wings.

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) Any one of several species of large wading birds of the family Ciconidae, having long legs and a long, pointed bill. They are found both in the Old World and in America, and belong to Ciconia and several allied genera. The European white stork (Ciconia alba) is the best known. It commonly makes its nests on the top of a building, a chimney, a church spire, or a pillar. The black stork (C. nigra) is native of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Leviticus 11:19Birds

King James Dictionary

STORK, n. A large fowl of the genus Ardea or Heron kind.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

stôrk ( הסידה , ḥăṣı̄dhāh  ; variously rendered in the Septuagint: Leviticus 11:19 , ἐρωδιός , erōdiós  ; Deuteronomy 14:18 , πελεκάν , pelekán  ; Job 39:13 , ἁσιδά , hasidá (transliteration of Hebrew); Zechariah 5:9 , (ἔποψ , épops  ; Latin Ciconia alba ): A large wading bird of the family Ardeidae , related to crane, ibis, heron and bittern. The stork on wing is a bird of exquisite beauty. The primary, secondary and a few of the tertiary wing feathers are black, the remainder, also the head, neck, and back and under parts white, the bill and legs red. When a perching white bird suddenly unfolds these wonderful wings, having at times a sweep of 7 ft., and sails away, it makes a very imposing picture. Zechariah in a vision saw a woman having the wings of a stork; Zechariah 5:9 , "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came forth two women, and the wind was in their wings; now they had wings like the wings of a stork; and they lifted up the ephah between eaxth and heaven." These birds winter in Africa. In their spring migration many pairs pause in Palestine, others cross the Mediterranean and spread over the housetops, ruins and suitable building-places of Europe as far north as Rolland and England. Always and everywhere the bird has been more or less protected on account of its fidelity to a chosen location, its fearlessness of man and the tender love between mated pairs and for its young.

The stork first appears among the birds of abomination, and it is peculiar that the crane does not, for they are closely related. But the crane eats moles, mice, lizards and smaller animals it can capture, also frogs and fish. To this same diet the stork adds carrion and other offensive matter, and the laws of Moses, as a rule, are formulated with good reason. Yet at one time, storks must have been eaten, for Pliny quoted Cornelius Nepos, who died in the days of Augustus Caesar, as saying that "in his time storks were holden for a better dish at board than cranes." Pliny adds: "Yet see, how in our age now, no man will touch a stork if it be set before him on the board, but everyone is ready to reach into the crane and no dish is more in request." He also wrote that it was a capital crime in Thessaly to kill storks, because of their work in slaying serpents. This may have been the beginning of the present laws protecting the bird, reinforced by the steady growth of respect and love for its tender, gentle disposition. The Hebrew word ḥaı̄dhah , from which the stork took its name, means "kindness."

There is a smaller stork having a black neck and back, that homes in Palestine, but only in small numbers as compared with the white. These birds flock and live in forests around the borders of waste and desert places, and build in trees. The young of both species remain a long time in the nest and are tenderly cared for, so much so indeed that from their performances and love of building on housetops arose the popular tradition that the stork delivers newly born children to homes. The birds first appear in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18 . Jeremiah noticed that the stork was migratory; see Jeremiah 8:7 : "Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Yahweh." The Psalmist referred to their nesting in the cedars of Lebanon, for in Palestine these birds could not build on housetops, which were flat, devoid of chimneys and much used by the people as we use a veranda today; see Psalm 104:17 : "Where the birds make their nests: As for the stork, the fir-trees are her house."

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography InformationMcClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Stork'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/s/stork.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.