Coming across crows or ravens might be a displeasing occasion due to the noise they create.
But it may also make you question their spiritual significance.
Crows are often confused with ravens.
Bible mentions about ravens but not a single verse about crows but both have same characteristics and belong to the same family.
They have some interesting characteristics like:
- They are super smart;
- They mate for life;
- They can remember faces.
Are crows mentioned in the Bible?
Images of scriptures echo powerfully in our culture. Every creature that appears in the Bible retains the heightened significance.
The raven or crow is mentioned ten times in the Old Testament and one time in New Testament.
No other creature appears in such varied contexts, or with such symbolic ambiguity, as the crow or raven.
In human imagination crows always have been the creature of extremes.
They are playful and solemn, noisy and articulate, sacred and profane. The Bible has a single Hebrew word, orev, for many varieties of crow.
It may be derived from erev, meaning evening, because the dark color of the bird is like the darkness at the end of the day.
There are many biblical references to such birds as ravens, with their austere and terrifying beauty.
Luke 12:24, ESV: “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”
It shows how God is the only one who feeds every creature that he ever created. It is a message for us to stop fretting about future.
God is the one who provides us.
Everything is predetermined, the pens have been lifted and the ink has dried. What has been decreed, has been written.
The Bible tells how Noah and his wife survived a flood that survived the remainder of humanity by building a boat.
The water had finally begun to recede and the boat came to rest on the mountain.
To send out birds to see in which direction they would fly was a common practice among mariners in the ancient world, used to determine the proximity of the land.
Noah sent out a raven, but it did not return.
Genesis 8:7: “And he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.”
In Bible it is also mentioned that Israelites were prohibited to eat ravens they were defined as unclean in Bible.
Elijah was wondering in the wilderness, God send ravens to bring him food in his hour of need.
Kings 17:4: “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”
What do crows symbolize in the Bible?
Crows have paradoxical meanings throughout the Bible.
They represent both the good and the bad.
They represent duality, on one hand they are called unclean and on the other hand they are send to bring food to Elijah.
They have been connected to the symbols of extremes. When Noah sent out raven to find out how much land is visible, it did not return. It is believed that it found something to scavenge on.
It is also used as the symbol of God’s provision. In Luke 12:24, it is mentioned that consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds.
It is a reminder of God’s love and mercy towards its creation. It also delivers a message that you should shower love and care towards other living beings.
Crow also symbolizes uncleanliness. They are defined as unclean birds because they eat other unclean animals.
Cleanliness and purity are among the scripture ideals, anything that is unclean should be avoided at all costs. It also symbolizes to avoid those deeds, which are unclean. As they may taint your soul.
It also symbolizes a punishment for disobedience, resilience and survival.
Read the spiritual meaning of seeing 3 crows together.
Symbolism of crows in Christianity
In Christianity, the crow is connected to the symbols of death, sin and evil.
They are represented as the powerful symbols of change and transition.
Because of its black color, it is associated with the darkness, sin, evil and temptation.
They are believed to takeout its prey’s eyeballs, sometimes even before its prey is dead leads to its association with the sign of death.
They point towards the darker aspects.
9 Messages from crows in the Bible
In Bible, no other animal appeared with such context as crows. They represents extreme symbolism throughout Bible.
They represents duality and paradoxical meaning. To further understand let’s dive deep into the meanings represented by crows.
1) God’s provision
Luke 12:24, ESV: Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds.
In the above mentioned verse, God shows his provision towards mankind by using raven as an example.
It says that these creatures doesn’t sow or reap like humans nor they have any store food in storehouses and barns, yet God still provides them with food.
It is a message for us to not fret about future.
We will surely get which is predetermined for us. It is a reminder for us of God’s kindness and mercy. It shows how God takes care of every creature that he ever created.
May be you are in a situation, where the unknown future is making you anxious.
So, it is a message from heavens that God is your provider and he will take care of everything. You just have to keep faith in him.
2) A Messenger
In Bible, they are also used as a messenger by Noah to enquire, whether the flood has subsided.
But the raven never returned, it is believed that it might have found something to scavenge on.
In ancient times, they were used by mariners to determine the proximity of land.
3) Uncleanliness
In Bible they were also defined as unclean.
Israelites were prohibited to eat it as these birds are called unclean.
It is believed that they are unclean because they eat other unclean animals.
Ideally you should stay away from unclean things and deeds, as it will taint your soul.
4) Punishment for Disobedience
In proverbs 30:17, it is recorded:
“The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.”
In the above mentioned verse, they are used as a sign of punishment for disobedience.
Coming across it, may point towards your disobedient behavior with your elders. It is a warning sign for you.
5) Resilience
These birds carries the symbol of resilience.
It is a reminder for us to be resilient in every tough situation, to be able to bounce back from those dark corners.
This worldly life is full of challenges, to overcome them you should have a strong and resilient nature.
6) Survival
In the destruction of Edom, it was prophesied that everyone will be killed except few animals and raven was one of them.
As recorded in Isaiah 34:11:
“The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of desolation.”
It shows the surviving abilities of these birds.
It is a reminder for you to be strong and resilient in life threatening situations.
7) Reminder of Death
These birds feed on dead corpses of animals.
In Bible, there is also a reference where it fed on a dead servant of God, who was unable to get buried.
This leads to its connection to the symbol of death. In many cultures and religions, these birds are used as a symbol of death.
8) Devil’s Messenger
In Middle Ages hundred and thousands of people died due to plague.
Their corpses were throw out into the streets and these birds fed on them.
Because of this people started to link it to death and churches called it the envoy of devil.
9) Forecast of Pestilence
Since the massive pandemic of Black Death, these birds are highly associated with the bringer of diseases.
Coming across one may be a forecast of pestilence.
Is the Biblical significance of crows positive or negative?
Crows have immense spiritual significance throughout the Bible.
They represent dual symbolism both negative and positive.
Coming across one used to signal towards death but now in modern spiritualism they are seen in the positive light.
They are connected to the symbols of Intelligence and wisdom.
Are crows bad omens?
Every different culture and religion have their own perspective about crows.
Some view them as a good omen and some view them as bad omen.
It depend on which part of the globe are you.
It might be a bad omen representing death, looming diseases, evil, sins and temptations or maybe a good omen representing intelligence, wisdom, resilience and survival.
Final Words
Crows are really fascinating creatures.
They have paradoxical significance.
Coming across one might signal good or bad omen, all it depends on your perspective.
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Thank you, Pastor Eric.
This helped me understand something I had been praying about and really alleviated some concerning misconceptions I had found in my own research. I was looking into a sign that I had received recently after praying.
This lines up with what’s going on in my life at the moment, and I really appreciate your insights!
Thank you, and God Bless!
Paije Keegan
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