Biblical References:

Pelicans are mentioned in the Bible primarily in the context of desolation and mourning. The Hebrew word often translated as "pelican" is "קָאַת" (qa'ath), which appears in several Old Testament passages. The pelican is noted for its solitary nature and is used symbolically to represent desolation and abandonment.

1. Leviticus 11:18 and Deuteronomy 14:17 · In these passages, the pelican is listed among the unclean birds that the Israelites were forbidden to eat. The inclusion of the pelican in these lists underscores its status as a creature that is not to be consumed, aligning with the broader dietary laws given to the Israelites.

2. Psalm 102:6 · "I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert." Here, the psalmist uses the imagery of a pelican to express feelings of loneliness and desolation. The pelican, often found in deserted places, becomes a metaphor for the psalmist's sense of isolation and abandonment.

3. Isaiah 34:11 · "The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of destruction." While the BSB translates the word as "desert owl," other translations use "pelican." This passage describes the desolation that will come upon Edom, with the pelican symbolizing the emptiness and ruin that will follow divine judgment.

4. Zephaniah 2:14 · "Flocks and herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. The desert owl and screech owl will roost on her columns. Their calls will echo through the windows; rubble will be in the doorways, and the beams of cedar will be exposed." Similar to Isaiah, the pelican (translated as "desert owl" in some versions) is depicted as inhabiting the ruins of a once-thriving city, emphasizing the theme of desolation.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical literature, the pelican is often associated with themes of desolation, solitude, and divine judgment. Its presence in the wilderness and ruins serves as a powerful image of abandonment and the consequences of turning away from God. The pelican's solitary nature and its habitation in deserted places make it an apt symbol for expressing deep sorrow and lamentation.

The use of the pelican in these contexts reflects the broader biblical theme of God's judgment against sin and the resulting desolation that comes upon those who reject His ways. The imagery of the pelican, therefore, serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commandments.

Cultural and Natural Context:

Pelicans are large water birds known for their distinctive pouches and are typically found near water bodies. In the ancient Near East, their presence in deserted areas would have been a familiar sight, reinforcing their symbolic use in Scripture. The pelican's solitary behavior and its association with desolate landscapes made it a fitting metaphor for the themes explored in the biblical texts.

In summary, the pelican in the Bible is a symbol of desolation and divine judgment, reflecting the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant. Its depiction in Scripture serves as a vivid reminder of the spiritual truths conveyed through the lives and experiences of God's people.Are frequently met with at the waters of Merom and the Sea of Galilee. The pelican is ranked among unclean birds (Leviticus 11:18; Deuteronomy 14:17). It is of an enormous size, being about 6 feet long, with wings stretching out over 12 feet. The Hebrew name (kaath, i.e., "vomiter") of this bird is incorrectly rendered "cormorant" in the Authorized Version of Isaiah 34:11 and Zephaniah 2:14, but correctly in the Revised Version. It receives its Hebrew name from its habit of storing in its pouch large quantities of fish, which it disgorges when it feeds its young. Two species are found on the Syrian coast, the Pelicanus onocrotalus, or white pelican, and the Pelicanus crispus, or Dalmatian pelican.

The High Woods
... all our shouts. Schools of fish dimpled the water; and brown pelicans fell
upon them, dashing up fountains of silver. The trade-breeze ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vii the high woods.htm

Against vigilantius.
... century. 1. The world has given birth to many monsters; in [4944] Isaiah we
read of centaurs and sirens, screech-owls and pelicans. Job ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against vigilantius.htm

Trinidad
... and anchored in Cedros Bay, which he calls Curiapan, inside Punta Icacque and Los
Gallos"a bay which was then, as now, 'very full of pelicans.' The existence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter iii trinidad.htm

Philip and the Desposyni
... outstretched on the soft green turf, Philip was never tired of watching the eagles
soaring overhead in the deep blue, and the white pelicans winging their way ...
/.../chapter lxiv philip and the.htm

Monos
... Fish skipped over the clear calm water; and above, pelicans"the younger brown, the
older gray" wheeled round and round in lordly flight, paused, gave a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vi monos.htm

Ancient Chaldaea
... Pelicans, herons, cranes, storks, cormorants, hundreds of varieties of seagulls,
ducks, swans, wild geese, secure in the possession of an inexhaustible supply ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... White and black ibises, red flamingoes, pelicans, and cormorants enliven the waters
of the river, and animate the reedy swamps of the Delta in infinite variety ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

Outward Bound
... curiosity shop. These, and a flock of brown and gray pelicans sailing over
our head, were fresh tokens to us of where we were. As ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter i outward bound.htm

La Brea
... The only living things, save ourselves, which were visible were a few pelicans sleeping
on a skerry, and a shoal of dolphins rolling silently in threes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter viii la brea.htm

The First Theban Empire
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 2. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Pelicans

/p/pelicans.htm - 7k

Pelican (5 Occurrences)
... The brown pelicans were larger than the white. Each of them had a long beak, peculiar
throat pouch and webbed feet. They built large nests, 5 and 6 ft. ...
/p/pelican.htm - 11k

Gannet (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One of several species of sea birds of the genus
Sula, allied to the pelicans. Multi-Version Concordance Gannet (2 Occurrences). ...
/g/gannet.htm - 6k

Pelishtim

/p/pelishtim.htm - 6k

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