Crane

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (v. t.) To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; - with up.

(2): (v. t.) To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane the neck disdainfully.

(3): (v. i.) to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better; as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap.

(4): (n.) An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire.

(5): (n.) A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.

(6): (n.) A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.

(7): (n.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., - generally used in pairs. See Crotch, 2.

(8): (n.) A measure for fresh herrings, - as many as will fill a barrel.

(9): (n.) A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; - so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. of Derrick.

(10): (n.) Any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end, used for supporting a suspended weight.

(11): (n.) The American blue heron (Ardea herodias).

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

In  Isaiah 38:14 , and  Jeremiah 8:7 , two birds are mentioned, the שיש and the ענור . The first in our version is translated crane, and the second swallow; but Bochart exactly reverses them, and the reasons he adduces are incontrovertible. Aristophanes curiously observes, that "it is time to sow when the crane migrates clamouring into Africa; she also bids the mariner suspend his rudder and take his rest, and the mountaineer to provide himself with raiment;" and Hesiod, "When thou hearest the voice of the crane, clamouring annually from the clouds on high, recollect that this is the signal for ploughing, and indicates the approach of showery winter."

Where do the cranes or winding swallows go, Fearful of gathering winds and failing snow?

Conscious of all the coming ills, they fly To milder regions and a southern sky. Prior

The Prophet Jeremiah mentions this bird, thus intelligent of the seasons by an instinctive and invariable observation of their appointed times, as a circumstance of reproach to the chosen people of God, who, although taught by reason and religion, "know not the judgment of the Lord."

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Crane . In   Isaiah 38:14 and   Jeremiah 8:7 sûs or sîs is rendered in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘crane,’ RV [Note: Revised Version.] correctly ‘Swallow’ [wh. see]. In the same passages ‘agûr is rendered in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘swallow,’ RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘crane.’ The crane ( Grus communis ) is the largest bird which visits W. Palestine; its length is four feet. They arrive in large flocks in the winter (  Jeremiah 8:7 ). Its trumpeting note is strangely described (in   Isaiah 38:14 EV [Note: English Version.] ) as ‘chattering,’ and this makes the translation somewhat doubtful.

E. W. G. Masterman.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In  Isaiah 38:14   Jeremiah 8:7 , two birds are mentioned, the sus and the Agur , the first rendered in our version crane, the second swallow. Bochart says the sus, or sis, is the swallow; the agur, the crane. The numidian crane, supposed to be referred to, is about three feet in length, is bluish-grey, with the cheeks, throat, breast, and tips of the long hinder feathers black, with a tuft of white feathers behind each eye. "Like a crane, or a swallow, so did I chatter:" there is peculiar force and beauty in the comparison here made between the dying believer and migratory birds about to take their departure to a distinct but more genial clime. They linger in the scenes which they have frequented, but instinct compels them to remove.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 Isaiah 38:14, "like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter" (rather "twitter"); rather "like a swallow or a crane": Sus 'Agur . A plaintive and migratory ( Jeremiah 8:7) bird is implied by Sus ; Italian Zisilla , "swallow." Gesenius takes Gahur as an epithet, "like the circling swallow." Thirteen manuscripts of Kennicott read Isis for Sus or Sis ; that goddess having been, according to Egyptian fable, changed into a swallow; a fable transferred to the Greek mythology, in the story of Procne.

King James Dictionary

CRANE, n. Gr., the plant, cranes-bill.

1. A migratory fowl of the genus Ardea, belonging to the grallic order. The bill is straight, sharp and long, with a furrow from the nostrils towards the point the nostrils are linear, and the feet have four toes. These fowls have long legs, and a long neck, being destined to wade and seek their food among grass and reeds in marshy grounds. The common crane is about four feet in length, of a slender body, with ash-coloured feathers. 2. A machine for raising great weights, consisting of a horizontal arm, or piece of timber, projecting from a post, and furnished with a tackle or pulley. 3. A siphon, or crooked pipe for drawing liquors out of a cask.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Crane. A large bird measuring four feet in height and seven feet from tip to tip of its extended wings. When upon the wing it is usually noisy, and its cry is hoarse and melancholy: hence the allusion of  Isaiah 38:14. These birds return in the spring with great regularity from their migrations, and nocks of thousands pass over Palestine.  Jeremiah 8:7. But the two Hebrew words Sus and Agur, rendered "crane" and "swallow," may signify the "swallow twittering" or "chattering."

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Two things are said of this bird in scripture: it chatters or makes a querulous noise,  Isaiah 38:14; and it knows its time of migration.  Jeremiah 8:7 . The common crane answers to both of these characteristics. In the above passages the swallow is mentioned after the crane, the Hebrew words being sis and agur; many hold that the translators have transposed the words, and that sis refers to the swallow, and agur to the crane. It is so translated by the Revisers and by Mr. Darby.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Isaiah 38:14 (a) Hezekiah uses this word to illustrate the emptiness of his heart and the loneliness of his spirit when he was on his sick bed.

 Jeremiah 8:7 (a) Israel is said to know less about GOD's dealings than the crane knows about her own life. The crane knows what to do and when to do it, but Israel did not seem to know.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Crane. The crane ( Grus cinerea ) is a native of Europe and Asia. It stand about four feet high. Its color is ashen gray, with face and neck nearly black. It feeds on seeds, roots, insects and small quadrupeds. It retires in winter to the warmer climates.  Jeremiah 8:7.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Isaiah 38:14 Jeremiah 8:7 Isaiah 38:14Birds

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Isaiah 38:14 Jeremiah 8:7 'Agur

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Fig. 137—Numidian Crane: Grus Virgo

Crane . The correctness of the translation in these passages has however been called in question, for if the 'crane' of Europe had been meant by either denomination, the clamorous habits of the species would not have been expressed as 'chattering;' and it is most probable that the striking characteristics of that bird, which are so elegantly and forcibly displayed in Hesiod and Aristophanes, would have supplied the lofty diction of prophetical inspiration with associations of a character still more exalted. It is supposed, therefore, that the 'Ardea virgo' of Linn, the 'Grus virgo' of later writers, and 'Anthropoides virgo' of some, is the bird really meant, though not coming from the north, but from Central Africa, down the Nile, and in the spring arriving in Palestine, while troops of them proceed to Asia Minor, and some as far north as the Caspian. They are frequently found portrayed on Egyptian monuments, and Hasselquist, who saw them on the Nile, afterwards shot one near Smyrna: they visit the swamp above that city, and the lake of Tiberias, and depart in the fall, but do not utter the clangor of the crane, nor adopt its flight in two columns, forming an acute angle, the better to cleave the air. This bird is not more than three feet in length; it is of a beautiful bluish grey, with the cheeks, throat, breast, and tips of the long hinder feathers and quills black, and a tuft of delicate white plumes behind each eye. It has a peculiar dancing walk, which gave rise to its French denomination of 'demoiselle.'

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

krān ( עגוּר , ‛āghūr  ; γέρανος , géranos  ; Latin Grus cinerea ): A bird of the family gruidae . The crane is mentioned twice in the Bible: once on account of its voice ( Isaiah 38:14 : "Like a swallow or a crane, so did I chatter"); again because of the unforgettable picture these birds made in migration (  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." Some commentators have adduced reasons for dropping the crane from the ornithology of the Bible, but this never should be permitted. They were close relatives of stork, heron and ibis; almost as numerous as any of these, and residents of Palestine, except in migration. The two quotations concerning them fit with their history, and point out the two features that made them as noticeable as any birds of Palestine. Next to the ostrich and pelican they were the largest birds, having a wing sweep of 8 ft. from tip to tip and standing 4 ft. in height. In migration such immense flocks passed over Palestine as to darken the sky, and when they crossed the Red Sea they appeared to sweep from shore to shore, and so became the most noticeable migratory bird, for which reason, no doubt, they were included in Isaiah's reference to spring migration with the beloved doves, used in sacrifice and for caged pets, and with the swallows that were held almost sacred because they homed in temples. Not so many of them settled in Palestine as of the storks, but large flocks lived in the wilderness South of Jerusalem, and a few pairs homed near water as far north as Merom. The grayish-brown cranes were the largest, and there were also a crested, and a white crane. They nested on the ground or in trees and laid two large eggs, differing with species. The eggs of the brown bird were a light drab with brown speckles, and those of the white, rough, pale-blue with brown splotches. They were not so affectionate in pairs or to their young as storks, but were average parents. It is altogether probable that they were the birds intended by Isaiah, because they best suited his purpose, the crane and the swallow being almost incessant talkers among birds. The word "chatter," used in the Bible, exactly suits the notes of a swallow, but is much too feeble to be used in describing the vocalizing of the crane. They migrated in large wedge-shaped companies and cried constantly on wing. They talked incessantly while at the business of living, and even during the watches of the night they scarcely ceased passing along word that all was well, or sending abroad danger signals. The Arabs called the cry of the cranes "bellowing." We usually express it by whooping or trumpeting. Any of these words is sufficiently expressive to denote an unusual voice, used in an unusual manner, so that it appealed to the prophet as suitable for use in a strong comparison.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Crane'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/c/crane.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.