Wing

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(πτέρυξ)

The term occurs but five times in the NT: three times in its usual significance, of birds ( Matthew 23:37,  Luke 13:34,  Revelation 12:14), and twice of imaginary creatures ( Revelation 4:8;  Revelation 9:9). The three passages which fall within the scope of apostolic history are very instructive.

1.  Revelation 4:8, ‘And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, which was and which is and which is to come.’ The Seer here combines in one picture the characteristics of Ezekiel’s cherubim ( Ezekiel 1:24-28) and of Isaiah’s seraphim ( Isaiah 6:1-4). It is the seraphim that supply the ‘wings.’ He ignores any differences which may originally have existed between cherubim and seraphim (cf. Enoch lxi. 10). Combined, they are here the representatives of redeemed creation, vicegerents of God, powerful and filled with judgment, praising God’s holiness, and confident of God’s victory in the tribulations which are sure to follow.

2.  Revelation 9:9, And they [the locusts] had breast-plates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to war.’ The picture here is that of a destructive swarm of weird locusts coming out of the smoke of the deep abyss, presenting a dire vision of judgment. The locusts are fancifully and preternaturally magnified by the Seer’s imagination; they have crowns of gold on their heads, the faces of men, the hair of women, the teeth of lions, breastplates of iron, ‘wings’ that sound like the sound of many chariots, and tails like the tails of scorpions (cf.  Joel 2:2-11). Arabian poets describe locusts in a similar manner.

3.  Revelation 12:14, ‘And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.’ In this picture the woman is the embodiment of light and the emblem of the historical Church of God. As such she has a mission in the world, but she must perform it in the midst of tribulation and severe persecution. The dragon is ever ready to oppose her and devour her offspring; he leads the hosts of darkness. But the woman is not forsaken in the contest. ‘The two wings of the great eagle’ of God’s protection are given her that she may fly into the wilderness, unto the place prepared of God for her protection. There is an emphasis apparently upon the ‘two,’ God’s protection being commensurate to her need of it.

George L. Robinson.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) Any membranaceous expansion, as that along the sides of certain stems, or of a fruit of the kind called samara.

(2): ( n.) Either of the two side petals of a papilionaceous flower.

(3): ( n.) One of the broad, thin, anterior lobes of the foot of a pteropod, used as an organ in swimming.

(4): ( n.) One of two corresponding appendages attached; a sidepiece.

(5): ( n.) A side building, less than the main edifice; as, one of the wings of a palace.

(6): ( n.) The longer side of crownworks, etc., connecting them with the main work.

(7): ( n.) An ornament worn on the shoulder; a small epaulet or shoulder knot.

(8): ( n.) The right or left division of an army, regiment, etc.

(9): ( n.) That part of the hold or orlop of a vessel which is nearest the sides. In a fleet, one of the extremities when the ships are drawn up in line, or when forming the two sides of a triangle.

(10): ( n.) One of the sides of the stags in a theater.

(11): ( n.) Any appendage resembling the wing of a bird or insect in shape or appearance.

(12): ( n.) Motive or instrument of flight; means of flight or of rapid motion.

(13): ( v. t.) To furnish with wings; to enable to fly, or to move with celerity.

(14): ( v. t.) To supply with wings or sidepieces.

(15): ( v. t.) To transport by flight; to cause to fly.

(16): ( v. t.) To move through in flight; to fly through.

(17): ( v. t.) To cut off the wings of; to wound in the wing; to disable a wing of; as, to wing a bird.

(18): ( n.) One of the large pectoral fins of the flying fishes.

(19): ( n.) Anything which agitates the air as a wing does, or which is put in winglike motion by the action of the air, as a fan or vane for winnowing grain, the vane or sail of a windmill, etc.

(20): ( n.) One of the two pairs of upper thoracic appendages of most hexapod insects. They are broad, fanlike organs formed of a double membrane and strengthened by chitinous veins or nervures.

(21): ( n.) Any similar member or instrument used for the purpose of flying.

(22): ( n.) One of the two anterior limbs of a bird, pterodactyl, or bat. They correspond to the arms of man, and are usually modified for flight, but in the case of a few species of birds, as the ostrich, auk, etc., the wings are used only as an assistance in running or swimming.

(23): ( n.) A side shoot of a tree or plant; a branch growing up by the side of another.

(24): ( n.) Passage by flying; flight; as, to take wing.

(25): ( n.) Any surface used primarily for supporting a flying machine in flight, whether by edge-on motion, or flapping, or rotation; specif., either of a pair of supporting planes of a flying machine.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Exodus 19:4 (a) How wonderfully our Lord took care of Israel through those rough days in the wilderness. They should have been at ease in their hearts and minds, as the baby bird is at rest on the mother's back. There should have been no fear. (See  Deuteronomy 32:11).

 Ruth 2:12 (a) In this sweet way is described the precious feeling of comfort, rest and safety that is experienced by those who trust their lives to the Lord of glory, and rest their souls in His care. (See also  Psalm 17:8;  Psalm 63:7;  Psalm 91:4).

 Proverbs 23:5 (a) Wealth, money and riches certainly do disappear, sometimes gradually, and sometimes suddenly. We may start out with a big bank account, but it gradually gets smaller and smaller until the tiny bit that is left disappears. This is as the eagle flies. It also gets smaller and smaller to the vision until it is lost in the skies. The eagle on our dollar certainly acts like this.

 Ezekiel 1:6 (b) These wings are emblematic of the great activity of the Lord Jesus and the speed with which He works His will. This is indicated in the Gospel of Mark, the "servant" book, where we find the words "immediately," "at once," "forthwith," "straightway," as they occur constantly throughout that Gospel. (See also  Revelation 4:8).

 Ezekiel 10:12 (a) These are the same wings referred to in  Ezekiel 1:6. The eyes indicate that these wings of power, speed and purpose are guided by the omniscience of the Holy Spirit who sees and knows, who directs and guides in all the activities of the Lord JESUS.

 Ezekiel 17:3 (b) The wings mentioned on these two eagles described in the passage represent speed, swiftness and ability in progress. These two kings (of Egypt and of Babylon) conquered easily and quickly the people of Israel, as the hawk swoops down onto its prey.

 Daniel 7:4 (b) The lion represents the King of Babylon, and the wings represent the power and swiftness, as well as the ease with which this king operated his kingdom and conquered his enemies.

 Daniel 7:6 (b) The leopard represents the King of Greece, Alexander the Great. The four wings represents the four generals who enabled him to fly from country to country in conquering power swiftly and speedily. The leopard is one of the swiftest of beasts, and when the wings are added it is to tell that he was unusually swift, and acted with unusual speed. History confirms this.

 Zechariah 5:9 (b) It may be that the two women represent Israel and Judah. The wings undoubtedly represent their ability to undertake great matters, and to carry heavy loads in their program, and to succeed in establishing a mighty work in their own land. The stork has very large wings capable of carrying heavy burdens.

 Malachi 4:2 (a) This type probably informs us that when our blessed Lord returns to heal the hurt that exists everywhere on this earth it will be with quickness and suddenness. The seraphim flew with the live coal to Isaiah. The father ran to greet the prodigal son. GOD hurries with His blessings. "The king's business requireth haste."  1 Samuel 21:8.

 Revelation 12:14 (b) This mysterious passage is not clearly understood. The woman undoubtedly is Israel. The wings probably represent speed and ability to overcome obstacles and hindrances. The wilderness probably refers to desolate places where the Jews are driven during that period. One cannot dogmatize on the meaning of this passage.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

Kânâph ( כָּנָף , Strong'S #3671), “wing.” The Hebrew word is represented in Semitic languages (Ugaritic, Akkadian, Aramaic, Syriac, and Arabic) and in Egyptian. Kânâph has maintained its meaning in rabbinic and modern Hebrew.

In the Old Testament kânâph occurs first in the Creation account: “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:21; cf. Ps. 78:27). In the biblical usage the idiom “every bird wing” denotes the class of birds; cf. “They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort” (Gen. 7:14). This phrase is translated in the KJV, “any winged fowl” (Deut. 4:17; cf. NASB, “any winged bird that flies in the sky”).

The word “wing” appears 109 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, with particular concentration in the description of the 2 cherubim of wood in Solomon’s temple and in Ezekiel’s vision of the “creatures,” or cherubim. Elsewhere the Bible speaks of “wings” of the cherubim (Exod. 25:20; 37:9) and of the seraphim (Isa. 6:2).

As an extension of the usage “wing,” kânâph signifies “extremity.” The seam or lower part of a garment was known as the kânâph. In the “fold” ( kânâph  ; KJV, “skirt”) of the garment one could carry things (Hag. 2:12). Saul tore the edge ( kânâph  ; KJV, “skirt”) of Samuel’s robe (1 Sam. 15:27). The extremity of a land on the world was also known by the word kânâph and is translated by “corner” in English: “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11:12; cf. Job 37:3; 38:13; Ezek. 7:2). In the metaphorical use God is said to protect His people as a bird protects her young with her “wings” (Deut. 32:11). The psalmist expressed God’s care and protection as a “shadow” of the “wings” (Ps. 17:8; cf. 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4). In keeping with this usage Malachi looked forward to a new age, when “the Sun of righteousness [will] arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall” (4:2).

When the nations are compared to birds, the association is that of terror and conquest. This is best expressed in Ezekiel’s parable of the two eagles and the vine: “And say, Thus saith the Lord God; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: he cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants” (Ezek. 17:3-4). The believer is enjoined to seek refuge with God when adversity strikes him or adversaries surround him: “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shall thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” Ps. 91:4)

The Septuagint gives the following translations: pteruks —(“wing; pinion”); pterugion (“end; edge”); and pteroros (“feathered; winged”) The KJV gives these senses: “wing; skirt; border; corner.”

King James Dictionary

WING, n.

1. The limb of a fowl by which it flies. In a few species of fowls, the wings do not enable them to fly as is the case with the dodo, ostrich, great auk, and penguin but in the two former, the wings assist the fowls in running. 2. The limb of an insect by which it flies. 3. In botany, the side petal of a papilionaceous corol also, an appendage of seeds, by means of which they are wafted in the air and scattered also, any membranous or leafy dilatation of a footstalk, or of the angles of a stem, branch or flower stalk, or of a calyx. 4. Flight passage by the wind as, to be on the wind to take wing. 5. Means of flying acceleration. Fear adds wings to flight. 6. Motive or incitement of flight.

Then fiery expedition be my wing.

7. The flank or extreme body or part of an army. 8. Any side-piece. 9. In gardening, a side-shoot. 10. In architecture, a side-building, less than the main edifice. 11. In fortification, the longer sides of hornworks, crown-works, &c. 12. In a fleet, the ships on the extremities, when ranged in a line, or when forming the two sides of a triangle. 13. In a ship, the wings are those parts of the hold and orlop deck, which are nearest the sides. 14. In Scripture, protection generally in the plural.  Psalms 63 .  Exodus 19 .

On the wings of the wind, with the utmost velocity.  Psalms 18 .

WING,

1. To furnish with wings to enable to fly or to move with celerity.

Who heaves old ocean, and who wings the storms.

2. To supply with side bodies as on either side well winged. 3. To transport by flight.

I, an old turtle, will wing me to some witherd bough.

Edge the keen sword, and wing th unerring ball.

To wing a flight, to exert the power of flying.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Πτέρυξ (Strong'S #4420 — Noun Feminine — pterux — pter'-oox )

is used of birds,  Matthew 23:37;  Luke 13:34; symbolically in  Revelation 12:14 , RV, "the two wings of the great eagle" (AV, "two wings of a great eagle"), suggesting the definiteness of the action, the "wings" indicating rapidity and protection, an allusion, perhaps, to  Exodus 19:4;  Deuteronomy 32:11,12; of the "living creatures" in a vision,  Revelation 4:8;  9:9 . Cp. pterugion, "a pinnacle."

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 1:21 Ruth 2:12 Jeremiah 48:40 Isaiah 40:31

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(prop. כָּנָ , Πτέρυξ ) . By this word the Hebrews understood not only the wings of birds, but also the lappet, skirt, or flap of a garment ( Ruth 3:9;  Jeremiah 2:34), the extremity of a country ( Job 38:13;  Isaiah 24:16); figuratively, the wings of the wind ( Psalms 18:10), sunbeam ( Malachi 4:2); and, metaphorically protection or defense ( Matthew 23:37). God says that he has borne his people on the wings of eagles ( Exodus 21:4; see also  Deuteronomy 32:11); that is, he had brought them out of Egypt as an eagle carries its young ones upon its wings. The prophet begs of God to protect them under his wings ( Psalms 17:8), and says that the children of men put their trust in the protection of his wings ( Psalms 36:7). Isaiah, speaking of the army of the kings of Israel and Syria who were coming against Judah, says, "The stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel"( Isaiah 8:8).