Carrion
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Carrion refers to the decaying flesh of dead animals and is often associated with uncleanliness and impurity in the biblical context. The concept of carrion is mentioned in various passages throughout the Bible, symbolizing death, corruption, and divine judgment.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, carrion is frequently associated with the consequences of disobedience and the judgment of God. In Deuteronomy 28:26 (BSB), as part of the curses for disobedience, it is stated, "Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, with no one to scare them away." This imagery underscores the disgrace and abandonment that comes with divine judgment.

The book of Isaiah also uses carrion as a metaphor for judgment. Isaiah 34:3 (BSB) describes the aftermath of divine wrath: "Their slain will be thrown out, and the stench of their corpses will rise; the mountains will flow with their blood." Here, carrion serves as a vivid representation of the devastation that follows God's retribution against the nations.

Symbolism and Implications

Carrion in the biblical narrative often symbolizes the ultimate end of those who oppose God. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion. The presence of carrion is a sign of desolation and abandonment, where the natural order is disrupted, and the land is left to the scavengers.

In the context of the Mosaic Law, touching or consuming carrion rendered a person ceremonially unclean. Leviticus 11:39-40 (BSB) states, "If an animal that you may eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass will be unclean until evening. Anyone who eats some of the carcass must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening." This regulation highlights the importance of purity and the avoidance of defilement in the life of the Israelites.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention carrion, the concept of spiritual purity and the avoidance of defilement continues to be significant. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize the importance of inner purity and the rejection of spiritual corruption. In Matthew 23:27 (BSB), Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity." This metaphor echoes the Old Testament imagery of carrion, highlighting the need for genuine righteousness.

Conclusion

Carrion in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of death, judgment, and impurity. It is a reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of maintaining spiritual and ceremonial purity. Through the imagery of carrion, the Scriptures convey the seriousness of divine judgment and the call to live in obedience to God's commands.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The dead and putrefying flesh of an animal; flesh so corrupted as to be unfit for food.

2. (n.) A contemptible or worthless person; -- a term of reproach.

3. (a.) of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion.

Greek
4430. ptoma -- a fall, hence a misfortune, ruin
... dead body, carcass, corpse. From the alternate of pipto; a ruin, ie (specially),
lifeless body (corpse, carrion) -- dead body, carcase, corpse. see GREEK pipto. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4430.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
7360. racham -- carrion vulture
... 7359, 7360. racham or rachamah. 7361 . carrion vulture. Transliteration: racham
or rachamah Phonetic Spelling: (raw-khawm') Short Definition: vulture. ...
/hebrew/7360.htm - 6k

5038. nebelah -- a carcass, corpse
... From nabel; a flabby thing, ie A carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often
collectively); figuratively, an idol -- (dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself ...
/hebrew/5038.htm - 6k

Library

The Carrion and the Vultures
... D.; ST. MATTHEW Chaps. XVIII to XXVIII THE CARRION AND THE VULTURES. 'Wheresoever
the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.'"Matthew 24:28. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the carrion and the vultures.htm

The Two Yokes
... habits. Here is a raven, to tutor it into cleanly living, it must forego
all carrion, it must feed upon these grains sweet and pure. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the two yokes.htm

Little Sins
... Well, said Rowland Hill, suppose some one should say to me, Mr. Hill, I understand
you eat carrion, and I should say, no, no, I don't eat carrion. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/little sins.htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... THE KING'S FAREWELL. TWO FORMS OF ONE SAYING. THE CARRION AND THE VULTURES. WATCHING
FOR THE KING. THE WAITING MAIDENS. DYING LAMPS. 'THEY THAT WERE READY'. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/

The Importunate Widow.
... He who thus simply brings sweet food from noisome carrion, has all power in heaven
and in earth; His ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xxviii the importunate widow.htm

Of the Prerogatives which the Elect Shall Enjoy in Heaven.
... O what an honour is it, that our bodies (falling more vile than carrion) should
thus arise in glory, like unto the body of the Son of God! (1 Thess. iv.1.). ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/3 of the prerogatives which.htm

A March
... and ice and snow and sleet; Aching backs and frozen feet; Knees which reel as marches
quicken, Ranks which thin as corpses thicken; While with carrion birds we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/a march.htm

Juventus Mundi
... boy lay, Tried to keep the blows away, Till they stiffened into clay, And the ruffian
rode away: Swooping o'er the tainted ground, Carrion vultures gathered ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/juventus mundi.htm

Contents
... TWO FORMS OF ONE SAYING (Matthew 24:13, RV; Luke 21:19). THE CARRION AND THE VULTURES
(Matthew 24:28). WATCHING FOR THE KING (Matthew 24:42-51). ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/contents 2.htm

Judging, Asking, and Giving
... Carrion flies that buzz with a sickening hum of satisfaction over sores, and prefer
corruption to soundness, are as good judges of meat as such critics are of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/judging asking and giving.htm

Thesaurus
Carrion (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on carrion.
Multi-Version Concordance Carrion (3 Occurrences). ...
/c/carrion.htm - 7k

Carrion-vulture (2 Occurrences)
Carrion-vulture. Carrion, Carrion-vulture. Carry . Multi-Version
Concordance Carrion-vulture (2 Occurrences). Leviticus ...
/c/carrion-vulture.htm - 6k

Raven (7 Occurrences)
... Ravens feed mostly on carrion, and hence their food is procured with difficulty
(Job 38:41; Psalm 147:9). When they attack kids or lambs or weak animals, it is ...
/r/raven.htm - 14k

Vulture (16 Occurrences)
... VULTURE. vul'-tur (da'ah; Septuagint gups, and iktinos; Latin Vulturidae): Any member
of a family of large birds that subsist wholly or in part on carrion. ...
/v/vulture.htm - 14k

Ossifrage (2 Occurrences)
... It differs from the vulture in that it is not a consistent carrion feeder, but prefers
to take prey of the size captured by some of the largest eagles. ...
/o/ossifrage.htm - 10k

Hyena
... They are large and strong, but cowardly. They feed chiefly on carrion, and are
nocturnal in their habits. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HYENA. ...
/h/hyena.htm - 9k

Eagle (27 Occurrences)
... There were many large birds and carrion eaters flocking over Palestine, attracted
by the offal from animals slaughtered for tribal feasts and continuous ...
/e/eagle.htm - 28k

Carrieth (10 Occurrences)

/c/carrieth.htm - 9k

Birds (125 Occurrences)
... hawk, sea-mew, hawk, little owl, cormorant, great owl, horned owl, pelican and vulture
were offensive because they were birds of prey or ate carrion or fish ...
/b/birds.htm - 62k

Resources
Why did Noah release a raven? Why did he later release a dove (Genesis 8)? | GotQuestions.org

What role does Iran play in the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Carrion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Carrion (3 Occurrences)

Leviticus 11:18
and the swan, and the pelican, and the carrion vulture,
(DBY JPS NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 14:17
and the pelican, and the carrion vulture, and the gannet,
(DBY JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 39:4
You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you, and all your hordes, and the peoples who are with you: I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the animals of the field to be devoured.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Carrion

Related Terms

Carrion (3 Occurrences)

Gannet (2 Occurrences)

Carry (246 Occurrences)

Carrieth
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