In biblical literature, the concept of "swoops" is not directly mentioned as a specific term, but the imagery and action of swooping can be found in various passages, often associated with birds of prey or divine intervention. The act of swooping typically involves a sudden, swift movement, often for the purpose of capturing or rescuing.

Biblical Imagery of Swooping

1. Eagles and Birds of Prey: The Bible frequently uses the imagery of eagles and other birds of prey to convey messages of strength, swiftness, and divine judgment. In Deuteronomy 28:49 , it is written, "The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand." Here, the swooping eagle symbolizes the rapid and overwhelming approach of a foreign nation as an instrument of God's judgment.

2. Divine Rescue and Protection: The imagery of swooping is also used to describe God's protective and rescuing actions. In Exodus 19:4 , God reminds the Israelites, "You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself." This metaphor of being carried on eagles' wings suggests a swift and powerful deliverance, akin to the swooping action of an eagle rescuing its young.

3. Prophetic Warnings: The prophets often employed the imagery of swooping to warn of impending judgment. In Habakkuk 1:8 , the Chaldeans are described: "Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their horsemen charge ahead; their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour." This passage uses the swooping eagle to illustrate the speed and ferocity of the approaching Babylonian army.

Theological Significance

The concept of swooping in the Bible underscores themes of divine sovereignty, judgment, and protection. The swift and decisive nature of a swoop reflects God's ability to act powerfully and unexpectedly in the affairs of nations and individuals. It serves as a reminder of God's control over history and His capacity to execute His will with precision and authority.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons

For believers, the imagery of swooping can serve as both a warning and a comfort. It warns of the suddenness with which God's judgment can come upon those who are unrepentant, urging a life of vigilance and obedience. Conversely, it offers comfort in the assurance of God's protective care, as He is able to swiftly rescue and uphold those who trust in Him.

In summary, while the term "swoops" itself is not explicitly found in the Bible, the action and imagery associated with it are woven throughout Scripture, providing rich symbolism for understanding God's interaction with His creation.2907. tus -- to rush, dart
... tus. 2908 . to rush, dart. Transliteration: tus Phonetic Spelling: (toos) Short
Definition: swoops. ... root Definition to rush, dart NASB Word Usage swoops (1). ...
/hebrew/2907.htm - 5k

1675. daah -- to fly swiftly, dart through the air
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to fly swiftly, dart through the air NASB Word
Usage fly swiftly (1), sped (1), swoop (1), swoops down (1). fly. ...
/hebrew/1675.htm - 6k

Stirring the Eagle's Nest.
... Then what does she do? "She beareth them on her pinions." She swoops beneath them,
catches them on her wings, and bears them up. What is she doing? ...
/.../food for the lambs or helps for young christians/stirring the eagles nest.htm

Christ Stills the Storm on the Lake of Galilee.
... asleep, for very weariness and hunger, in the stern of the ship, His head on that
low wooden bench, while the heavens darken, the wild wind swoops down those ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxiv christ stills the.htm

The Letter of the Same Holy Synod of Ephesus, to the Sacred Synod ...
... But there are times when bitter and intolerable grief swoops down upon the mind,
and has the effect of cruelly beclouding it, so as to carry it away from the ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the letter of the same.htm

The Word that Scatters Fear
... and across the plain of Jezreel. The night falls, and down he swoops upon
them and scatters them. Coming back he had interviews ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the word that scatters fear.htm

Parallels from the Prophets to Illustrate Christ's Teaching in the ...
... No one pilfers or plunders his own property, but he [4673] rather acts the part
of one who swoops down on the things of another, and alienates man from his Lord ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxix parallels from the prophets.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
Jerusalem Sinner Saved. <. ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the jerusalem sinner saved.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

Swoops (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Swoops (2 Occurrences). ... Job 9:26 They have passed away
as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey. (WEB DBY NAS). ...
/s/swoops.htm - 6k

Skiffs (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Skiffs (1 Occurrence). Job 9:26 They pass by like skiffs
of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey. (DBY RSV). ...
/s/skiffs.htm - 6k

Swooping (4 Occurrences)

/s/swooping.htm - 7k

Swift (35 Occurrences)
... (See JPS ASV RSV). Job 9:26 They have passed away as the swift ships, as
the eagle that swoops on the prey. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS). ...
/s/swift.htm - 19k

Swoop (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) To fall on at once and seize; to catch
while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken. 2. (n.) To ...
/s/swoop.htm - 8k

Sardis (3 Occurrences)
... can take him. Again and again he swoops down like an eagle out of the sky,
in one quarter of the region or another. From time immemorial ...
/s/sardis.htm - 13k

Slip (22 Occurrences)
... Jezreel." (See RSV NIV). Job 9:26 They have passed away as the swift ships,
as the eagle that swoops on the prey. (See NAS). Job 12:5 ...
/s/slip.htm - 16k

Prey (105 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Job 9:26 They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that
swoops on the prey. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/prey.htm - 42k

Eagle (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 9:26 They have passed away
as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey. ...
/e/eagle.htm - 28k

Sword (427 Occurrences)

/s/sword.htm - 43k

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