H1866 H1866
swallow (bird), a small, swift-flying bird
This term identifies the swallow, a bird known for its swift, darting flight. Psalm 84:3 mentions the swallow alongside the sparrow, both finding a home at God's altar—a metaphor for the psalmist's longing for God's presence. Proverbs 26:2 uses the swallow's flight pattern to illustrate how an undeserved curse 'flits about' without landing or taking effect. The bird's rapid, unpredictable movement makes it an apt image for both restless seeking (Psalm) and ineffectual cursing (Proverbs).
Senses
1. sense 1 — The glosses ('swallow, golondrina, hirondelle') consistently identify this swift bird. Psalm 84:3 uses it in a longing for God's house: even the swallow finds a nest at the altar. Proverbs 26:2 employs its characteristic darting flight ('like a swallow in flying') to depict a groundless curse that never lands. The swallow's rapid, restless movement serves different metaphorical purposes—yearning devotion in Psalms, harmless futility in Proverbs. 2×
AR["كَ-السُنُونُو", "وَالسُّنُونُو"]·ben["এবং-পাখি", "দোয়েলের-মতো"]·DE["[כדרור]", "und-ein-verschlingen"]·EN["and-a-swallow", "like-a-swallow"]·FR["et-hirondelle", "כדרור"]·heb["ו-דרור", "כ-דרור"]·HI["और-अबाबील", "जैसे-अबाबील"]·ID["dan-burung-layang-layang", "seperti-burung-layang"]·IT["[ודרור]", "come-il-like-un-swallow"]·jav["kados-manuk-sriti", "lan-peksi-dèrès"]·KO["같이-제비", "제비-가"]·PT["como-andorinha", "e-a-andorinha"]·RU["и-ласточка", "как-ласточка"]·ES["como-golondrina", "y-golondrina"]·SW["kama-mbayuwayu", "na-mbayuwayu"]·TR["kırlangıç-gibi", "ve-kırlangıç"]·urd["اور-ابابیل", "جیسے-ابابیل"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. דְ��רוֹר n.f. ψ 84:4 swallow ψ 84:4 (‖ צִפּוֹר), Che (q.v.) makes simile of quiet, peace, security, and supplies ellipsis; in simile, Pr 26:2 כַּצִּפּוֹר לָנוּד כַּדְּרוֹר לָעוּף (of groundless curse, which does not alight, i.e. is not fulfilled).