African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) by Africaddict

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5)

Using e-Sword’s search for just the word “fly,” there are 15 verses in the AMP, 16 in the ESV, and 25 in the KJV. They can’t all refer to a bird flying around, so let’s see how many actually refer to the birds.

Here are the verses from the KJV:

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (Gen_1:20)

Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? (1Sa_15:19)

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. (2Sa_22:11)

Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. (Job_5:7)

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. (Job_20:8)

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? (Job_39:26)

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. (Psa_18:10)

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psa_55:6)

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psa_90:10)

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Pro_23:5)

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (Isa_6:2)

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. (Isa_7:18)

But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. (Isa_11:14)

Rock Dove (Columba livia) ©WikiC

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? (Isa_60:8)

For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. (Jer_48:40)

Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. (Jer_49:22)

Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. (Eze_13:20)

Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. (Dan_9:21)

As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. (Hos_9:11)

Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. (Hab_1:8)

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Rev_12:14)

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (Rev_14:6)

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; (Rev_19:17)

How many do you think directly relate to birds? Some refer to their speed of flying. How many birds were actually named?

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) by Daves BirdingPix

I trust you enjoy digging into God’s Word more than just reading it. If you have a program like e-Sword (free) or something similiar or a good concordance, you can do these type of searches.

Back to the questions – which verses have birds mentioned?

fowl that may fly above the earth (Gen_1:20)

hawk fly (Job_39:26)

dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psa_55:6)

fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Pro_23:5)

fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? (Isa_60:8)

shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. (Jer_48:40)

fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah (Jer_49:22)

their glory shall fly away like a bird, (Hos_9:11)

fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. (Hab_1:8)

two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness (Rev_12:14)

all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven (Rev_19:17)

The Bible tells us:

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; (Job 12:7 NKJV)

If you had never watched a bird fly, would any of those verses above make sense to you? The Lord not only has given all the numerous birds for us to enjoy, but also to teach us lessons.

Would you understand “…for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5) if you had not seen how fast an eagle flies? How fast can we waste our riches?

Thinking about how birds fly, reread the verses above, even the ones that do not mention birds and see if that doesn’t help explain parts of the verse.

See:

• Birds of the Bible
• Birds of the Bible – Eagles
• Birds of the Bible – Doves and Pigeons

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