Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia The term "ossifrage" appears in the Bible as part of the dietary laws given to the Israelites, specifically in the context of clean and unclean birds. The word is found in Leviticus 11:13 and Deuteronomy 14:12, where it is listed among the birds that the Israelites were forbidden to eat. The Berean Standard Bible translates the Hebrew word "peres" as "bearded vulture" or "ossifrage," which is understood to refer to a bird of prey known for its bone-crushing habits.Biblical References: · Leviticus 11:13 : "Additionally, you are to detest the following birds, and they must not be eaten because they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture." · Deuteronomy 14:12 : "But these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture." Identification and Characteristics: The ossifrage, or bearded vulture, is a large bird of prey known scientifically as Gypaetus barbatus. It is distinguished by its unique feeding habits, primarily consuming bone marrow. The bird is capable of breaking bones by dropping them from great heights onto rocks, a behavior that aligns with the meaning of "ossifrage," which literally means "bone breaker." The bearded vulture is characterized by its striking appearance, with a wingspan that can exceed nine feet, a feathered face with a distinctive "beard" of feathers, and a predominantly dark plumage with lighter underparts. Its habitat ranges across mountainous regions in Europe, Asia, and Africa, which aligns with the geographical context of the biblical narrative. Symbolism and Cultural Significance: In the biblical context, the ossifrage is grouped with other birds of prey, which are often associated with uncleanliness due to their scavenging nature. The prohibition against eating such birds underscores the broader Levitical theme of distinguishing between clean and unclean, holy and profane. The dietary laws served not only as health regulations but also as a means of setting the Israelites apart from surrounding nations. The ossifrage's role as a scavenger and its bone-crushing ability may symbolize judgment and destruction, themes that resonate throughout the biblical text. Birds of prey are often used metaphorically in Scripture to depict divine judgment or the consequences of sin, as seen in passages like Hosea 8:1 and Revelation 19:17-18. Theological Implications: From a theological perspective, the inclusion of the ossifrage in the list of unclean birds highlights the importance of obedience to God's commandments. The dietary laws, including the prohibition of certain birds, were part of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, serving as a constant reminder of their call to holiness and separation from pagan practices. The ossifrage, as a creature that thrives on what is dead, contrasts with the biblical call to choose life and purity. This distinction between clean and unclean, life and death, is a recurring theme in Scripture, pointing ultimately to the need for spiritual discernment and the pursuit of righteousness. In summary, the ossifrage, or bearded vulture, is a significant figure within the biblical dietary laws, symbolizing themes of judgment, separation, and the call to holiness. Its mention in Scripture serves as a reminder of the Israelites' unique identity and their covenantal obligations to God. Smith's Bible Dictionary Ossifrage(the bone-breaker). The Hebrew word occurs, as the name of an unclean bird, in (Leviticus 11:13) and Deuteronomy 14:12 It is probably the lammergeyer , or bearded vulture as it is sometimes called, one of the largest of the birds of prey. It well deserves its name ossifrage, bone breaker , for "not only does he push kids and lambs and even men off the rocks, but he takes the bones of animals that other birds of prey have denuded of the flesh high up into the air and lets them fall upon a stone in order to crack them and render them more digestible even for his enormous powers of deglutition. Marrow-bones are the dainties he loves. This is probably the bird that dropped a tortoise on the bald head of poor old AEschylus." --N. H. Simpson. ATS Bible Dictionary OssifrageBone-breaker; in Hebrew Peries, to break; an unclean bird of the eagle family, Le 11:13 De 14:12. Some interpreters think the vulture is intended; others, a mountain bird like the lammergeyer of the Alps, which breaks the bones of wild goats by hunting them over precipices. Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews peres = to "break" or "crush", the lammer-geier, or bearded vulture, the largest of the whole vulture tribe. It was an unclean bird (Leviticus 11:13; Deuteronomy 14:12). It is not a gregarious bird, and is found but rarely in Palestine. "When the other vultures have picked the flesh off any animal, he comes in at the end of the feast, and swallows the bones, or breaks them, and swallows the pieces if he cannot otherwise extract the marrow. The bones he cracks [hence the appropriateness of the name ossifrage, i.e., "bone-breaker"] by letting them fall on a rock from a great height. He does not, however, confine himself to these delicacies, but whenever he has an opportunity will devour lambs, kids, or hares. These he generally obtains by pushing them over cliffs, when he has watched his opportunity; and he has been known to attack men while climbing rocks, and dash them against the bottom. But tortoises and serpents are his ordinary food...No doubt it was a lammer-geier that mistook the bald head of the poet AEschylus for a stone, and dropped on it the tortoise which killed him" (Tristram's Nat. Hist.). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) The lammergeir.2. (n.) The young of the sea eagle or bald eagle. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia OSSIFRAGEos'-i-fraj (perec; gups; Let Ossifraga): The great bearded vulture known as the lammer-geier (Leviticus 11:13 Deuteronomy 14:12 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "gier-eagle"). The Hebrew name perec means "to break." Let oasis, "bone," and frangere, "to break," indicate the most noticeable habit of the bird. It is the largest of the vulture family, being 3 1/2 ft. in length and 10 in sweep. It has a white head, black beard on the chin, and the part of the eye commonly called the "white" in most animals, which is visible in but few birds, in this family is pronounced and of a deep angry red, thus giving the bird a formidable appearance. The back is grayish black, the feathers finely penciled, the shaft being white, the median line tawny. The under parts are tawny white and the feet and talons powerful. 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. It took its name from the fact that after smaller vultures and eagles had stripped a carcass to the last shred of muscle, the lammergeier then carried the skeleton aloft and dropped it repeatedly until the marrow from the broken bones could be eaten. It is also very fond of tortoise, the meat of which it secures in the same manner. As this bird frequents Southern Europe, it is thought to be the one that mistook the bald head of Aeschylus, the poet, for a stone and let fall on it the tortoise that caused his death. This bird also attacks living prey of the size of lambs, kids and hares. It is not numerous and does not flock, but pairs live in deep gorges and rocky crevices. It builds an enormous nest, deposits one pinkish or yellowish egg, and the young is black. It requires two years to develop the red eyes, finely penciled plumage and white head of the adult bird. It was included among the abominations because of its diet of carrion. Strong's Hebrew 6538. peres -- (a bird of prey) perhaps bearded vulture... claw, ossifrage. From parac; a claw; also a kind of eagle -- claw, ossifrage. see HEBREW parac. 6537b, 6538. peres. 6539 . Strong's Numbers. /hebrew/6538.htm - 6k Library That the Scriptures are Divinely Inspired. Thesaurus Ossifrage (2 Occurrences)... The bones he cracks [hence the appropriateness of the name ossifrage, ie, "bone-breaker"] by letting them fall on a rock from a great height. ...OSSIFRAGE. ... /o/ossifrage.htm - 10k Ospray (2 Occurrences) Sea-eagle (2 Occurrences) Ostentation (1 Occurrence) Osprey (4 Occurrences) Gier-eagle (4 Occurrences) Giereagle Abominate (10 Occurrences) Fowls (61 Occurrences) Fowl (73 Occurrences) Resources Ossifrage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Ossifrage (2 Occurrences)Leviticus 11:13 Deuteronomy 14:12 Subtopics Related Terms |
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